Photographing the Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia

When most people think of Cappadocia, they picture those iconic selfies on hotel balconies, a lavish breakfast spread, and a sky filled with hot air balloons floating at sunrise. And while that’s a stunning scene, when I first saw photos of this unique destination, I didn’t just see a tourist attraction—I saw a photography adventure.

Getting to Cappadocia

Reaching Cappadocia is fairly straightforward—once you’ve made it to Istanbul, that is. From there, it’s a quick one-hour flight, followed by a two-hour drive with a shuttle to your hotel. Okay, maybe not so easy! But the good news is that most hotels offer transfers for a reasonable fee, making the journey a little smoother.

Booking a Balloon Ride

When it comes to hot air balloon companies, they all seem to offer a similar experience. I didn’t personally organise my ride, so I don’t have a specific recommendation, but from what I’ve read and heard, most companies are highly rated and provide a fantastic experience. A quick Google search and reading reviews should help you find the right one for you.

The Night Before… Rain.

Cappadocia is truly enchanting, with its otherworldly landscapes and fairy-tale charm, but when I arrived, the weather was far from ideal. Dark clouds loomed overhead, and the air felt heavy with the promise of rain. Still, I wandered through the town, camera in hand, capturing what I could of the unique rock formations and sweeping valleys.

As I took in the views, the sky grew darker, the wind picked up, and soon the rain came down. I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy—would the balloon flights be cancelled? Locals reassured me that the weather looked set to clearby morning and, more importantly, that the wind was expected to settle down. I learned that wind—not rain—is the biggest reason balloons don’t fly. Even if the skies are clear, strong winds can ground them completely.

The Morning of the Flight

At 3:30 AM, I was picked up and taken to a pre-flight breakfast and safety briefing. The excitement was building, but so was the uncertainty—would the conditions hold?

After breakfast, we were driven to the launch site, where balloons were being inflated in the early morning light.Luckily, my balloon was scheduled to depart a little later than others, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.It gave me time to shoot the spectacle from the ground, capturing the balloons glowing as they inflated and slowly lifting off one by one.

By the time we finally took off, the sky was dotted with dozens of balloons, creating the perfect scene to photograph. Just as the locals had predicted, the rain had passed, and the wind had calmed. And, thanks to the lingering storm clouds from the night before, the sky was filled with a dramatic mix of colour and texture—a photographer’s dream.

As you’ll see in the photos, it turned out to be an absolutely spectacular morning.

Preparing to Shoot – What Gear?

This was my first time travelling with two camera bodies, and I couldn’t have picked a better opportunity to put them to the test. With fast-changing conditions and a once-in-a-lifetime view, I knew having both wide and telephoto options would allow me to capture a diverse range of perspectives.

For this trip, my camera setup was:

• Fujifilm X-T3 paired with the 10-24mm F4 (Optical Image Stabilisation on) for wide-angle shots.

• Fujifilm X-Pro2 with the 50-140mm F2.8 (also with OIS) to capture unique telephoto perspectives.

I brought a spare battery, but thankfully, I didn’t need it and could focus entirely on shooting from the sky.

I also packed my Really Right Stuff travel tripod, but with the fast-paced nature of the morning, I only managed a few quick shots from the ground before it was time to jump into the balloon basket.

Shooting with Two Cameras in a Fast-Paced Environment

Using two camera bodies while on the move was definitely a challenge—switching between focal lengths while navigating the shifting light wasn’t easy. But despite the juggling act, I was so glad I had both setups. The ability to seamlessly switch from sweeping wide shots to zoomed-in details gave me a much richer collection of images than I would have had with just one lens.

While it was a little stressful at times, the results were absolutely worth it.

Up, Up, and Away!

Once in the balloon, I was lucky to land a corner position, which gave me an incredible vantage point. While everyone gets an unobstructed view, being on the corner meant I had more flexibility to shoot in multiple directions—a huge advantage when trying to capture the scale and beauty of the scene.

Space in the basket is tight, so managing two camera bodies was definitely a challenge. That said, the balloon climbs slowly and steadily, making it easy to stay focused and compose shots without the rush or turbulence you might experience in other aerial photography situations.

Floating high above the valleys of Cappadocia, the experience felt almost surreal—like drifting on air. Apart from the occasional blast of fire from the burner, it was peaceful, giving me time to take it all in, frame my shots, and truly enjoy the moment.

An Amazing Sunrise

It was truly an amazing sunrise—one of those moments that every photographer dreams of. I was spoiled with god rays, a phenomenon where beams of sunlight break through the clouds and light up the sky in dramatic fashion. Fortunately, I had the telephoto lens on hand to capture the god rays and compress the scene between the balloons and the sky, creating some stunning shots.

As the sunrise unfolded, everyone in the balloon, myself included, was in complete awe. The light gradually illuminated the balloons, the landscape, and the sky, transforming everything into a breathtaking scene. There was so much to capture—from the balloons in the distance to the sheer number of balloons floating against the unique volcanic terrain of Cappadocia.

The golden light lasted for a good half hour, just giving and giving, until eventually the clouds rolled in and covered the sun. By that point, though, I had captured everything I wanted, so I could simply enjoy the rest of the flight, floating on top of the world. And, of course, it was the perfect way to end the experience: landing with a glass of champagne in hand.

Why I Loved It

There’s something truly special about aerial photography—whether it’s hanging out of a helicopter strapped in by a harness, floating in a balloon like this, or capturing shots from a Cessna (stay tuned for that post!). Every time I take to the skies, I’m able to capture a unique perspective that brings fresh inspiration and allows me to express what I’m seeing in a way that feels completely different from ground-level photography.

This experience, in particular, really fueled my creativity and pushed me to shoot with purpose. I’m excited to share these images with you, and I hope they convey the awe and beauty of Cappadocia as I experienced it.

Thank you for reading, and if you’d like to see more of my travels and photography, feel free to follow me on Instagram: @stephenvincentgrace.