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Cappadocia's Cold Shoulder: A Photographer's Frozen Adventure

@Silas Dean2/10/2026blog
Cappadocia's Cold Shoulder: A Photographer's Frozen Adventure

okay, so i'm standing in this otherworldly landscape, fingers turning into icicles while my camera's battery dies faster than my patience. cappadocia's got this vibe where the rocks look like melted candles and the air bites back. i just checked and it's currently 5.56°C outside with that *feels-like-2.21°C punch that makes you question life choices. hope you enjoy the kind of weather where your nose hairs freeze.


"you haven't seen cappadocia 'til you're chasing sunrise balloons with a tripod and thermos. just don't trip over those fairy chimneys - locals say they're cursed."


"that cave restaurant? totally overrated unless you like testi kebab served with side-eye from turkish grandmas."


"balloon rides get cancelled more often than my plans. heard they only fly when the wind's drunk enough to cooperate."

aerial view of cappadocia during daytime

hot air balloons in cappadocia morning

cave dwellings in cappadocia


spent three days shooting like a madman. the
underground cities are confusing mazes that make you feel like a rat in a maze. someone told me that locals still use secret tunnels to smuggle cheese - no idea if true but it makes for good bar stories. if you run out of rock formations to photograph (impossible), nevşehir's pottery bazaar is a short drive away. probably more useful than my frozen toes.


"avoid the 'authentic' carpet shops unless you enjoy aggressive bargaining and questionable tea."


packing list for fellow shutterbugs:
- waterproof gloves (
non-negotiable)
- hand warmers disguised as batteries
- lens wipes for condensation meltdowns
- a flask of something stronger than turkish coffee


"real photographers shoot at 4am. amateurs use umbrellas."


found this gem of a spot by getting lost near
love valley. rocks shaped like... well, you get it. worth the hike though. also discovered that red valley* looks like Mars on a cloudy day.

check these for practical stuff:
- balloon tours on TripAdvisor
- hostel kitchens on Yelp
- local hiking trails

overall? worth the frostbite. just maybe bring more than one lens. and a wool hat. and maybe a therapist for the existential dread from those cave churches.

tags: ["travel", "cappadocia", "photography", "cold", "misty"]


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About the author: Silas Dean

Sharing snippets of wisdom from my daily adventures.

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