Balloons over Cappadocia

Sunrise reaches Cappadocia as hot air balloons drift above the pale rock valleys. A large striped balloon fills the left side, with smaller balloons scattered toward the horizon. Below them, cave rooms, footpaths and pointed fairy chimneys catch the warm light while cooler shadows settle into the gullies.

Vertical seams divide the nearest balloon into long colored panels. Smaller balloons repeat that rounded shape above the valley, each with a tiny dark basket below. On the ground, deep cave openings interrupt pale rock faces. The openings are darker than most of the shadows between the ridges. Paths curve around the rock formations rather than cutting straight across them, leaving thin lines to follow through the lower part of the picture.