People from different country possess different facial features, skin color, hair color despite how we are all of the same species. The range of variety that we all show makes it a beautiful thing to observe and capture. That is exactly what Mustafa Çankaya, an Istanbul photographer captures the portrait of people across the world who had a layover or were leaving Istanbul.

Mustafa sees this as a land filled with gems. He has so many things to capture, so many people showing the beauty of diversity, that there is not just one the definition of a beautiful face. He started a project called "100 faces 100 countries". He loves to visit the transit area, the place where people with various purposes, background and origin gather. Currently, he has captured 117 portraits from 77 countries.

This is one project that easily brings everyone across the world together because of the differences!

More info: Instagram

#1 Nicole From Ukraine

Nicole is a tattoo artist from Odessa. She was starting a tour in Europe for tattoo lovers.

#2 Freya From Scotland

Freya studies Human Sciences at University of Oxford. She was flying to Kenya for her studies.

#3 Ibrahim Zethy From Rwanda

This is what happens if you meet a dancer from Rwanda at the airport. Thanks to Ibrahim Zethy!

#4 Bash From Lebanon

Bash arrived from the Burning Man festival, the dust is still on his shoes. He is a percussion artist playing djembe drum.

#5 Katirina From Bulgaria

Katirina was on work & travel program at New Jersey with her friend. I met them on the way back to Bulgaria.

#6 Jussi From Finland

Jussi owns a tattoo studio in Helsinki. We met before his flight to Africa. He was going to have a long journey to the middle of the jungle.

#7 Shayma From Kuwait

Shayma was following the project before we met. She wrote me between her connecting flight to Greece. She studies medicine in Malta and also volunteers for refugees in Athens.

#8 Kavinthida From Thailand

Kavinthida had holidays in Denmark. She had a very long layover.

#9 Frédéric From France

Frédéric is a teacher in Nigeria. After 2 months summer vacation he was flying back to start the new semester. By the way, the jacket is his own design.

#10 Parl From Estonia

Parl is a heptathlete from Estonia. Hereby I've learned that "hepta" means seven in Greek. We have met before her flight Houston.

#11 Idris From Nigeria

Idris is a fashion stylist from Nigeria. You can hire him both in Nigeria and Kenya! He travels a lot and we met just before his flight to New York.

#12 Christophe From Belgium

His T-shirt rocks! It even made me ask Christophe to join the project.

#13 Indrė From Lithuania

Indrė was heading to California to spend her summer there.

#14 May From Lebanon

May loves to travel. She volunteered at a refugee camp and was on the way to Egypt for work.

#15 Sebastian From Poland

Sebastian's last adventure was the trip to the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan. He climbed to the Peak Korzhenevskaya which is 7105 m high and it took him 8 days. He was there at the same time (13th August) when the helicopter crash happened and three Russian climbers and two Tajik pilots died in the accident.

#16 Jargal From Mongolia

I have met Jargal before her flight to Ulaanbaatar. She studies in Frankfurt, Germany.

#17 Gorana From Serbia

Gorana was having a quick drink before her flight to Belgrade.

#18 Luna From Chile

Luna had holidays with her friends in Kenya. She lives in Germany.

#19 Sara From Iran

Happy to have Sara in the project! She studies dentistry and design in Moscow.

#20 Sara From Tanzania

Sara was in Barcelona for holidays. I really love the natural look in this picture.

#21 Jacob From Sweden

Jacob is a medical student from Sweden. He was on the way to Sudan with a group of international students.

#22 Frankie J From England

Frankie J is one of the best house dancers on the planet. We have met before at Istanbul Street Dance Carnival. He was the judge for House Dance contest and I was a photographer there.

#23 Ed From Kenya

Ed has both British & Kenya nationalities. He was waiting for his flight to Nairobi country.

#24 Anja From Slovenia

Anja is the third face from Slovenia and as you see Slovenians travel a lot! I’ll probably meet half of the country until the end of the project.

#25 Gerd From Denmark

Gerd denied my offer to participate in my project at first. But, she had enough time to think about it when she was in Niger! When she came back, she explained that she liked the way this project connects people from all over the world. We met again on her way back to Denmark and had enough time for a photoshoot and a conversation.

#26 Ilya From Russia

Ilya Varlamov is one of the most famous bloggers & reporters from Russia. He was preparing a video for his YouTube channel when we met. Thanks to Ilya, most of the project followers are from Russia.

#27 Lubna From Egypt

Lubna is a psytrance Dj from Egypt. She lives in Sharm el Sheikh.

#28 Rahma From Tunisia

Rahma is a sports teacher. She was on the way to Romania.

#29 Paris From United States

Her full name is Paris London. What a beautiful name! She had lovely holidays in Greece and was heading home.

#30 Martina From Austria

Thanks for spreading love Martina!