The Road to Soganli Photo

Photographer’s Note

If Ihlara valley is the southwest corner of the imaginary triangle that forms Cappadocia (***CHECK HERE***), then the twin valleys of Soganli (Asagi Soganli & Yukari Soganli) are its southeast corner. Although in the southwest "edge" of Kayseri Prefecture, it's very close to the "borders" with Nevsehir Prefecture, not very far from the "heart" of Cappadocia, but still far enough, for most of the tourists, so you will have the chance to explore the 2 valleys of Soganli, practically "alone". Inside the valleys, a researcher, called Anastasios Levidis, counted 360 rock-cut byzantine churches, not carved in the slopes of the valleys, but "inside" some rocky cones.

If your "base" is somewhere around Goreme, Urgup or Mustafapasa (Sinassos), you'll have to drive 36 km south of Sinassos, passing by Cemilkoy, Taskinpasa and Sahinefendi. When you reach Baskoy you turn left. The part between Sahinefendi and Baskoy, passes through the plateau that you see in the photo, and reminds a steppe, almost completely flat and almost no trees.

While passing through that beautiful landscape with an incredible sky above me, I thought i was being part of some American "road movie", and I thought I was hearing the magic slide guitar of Ry Cooder (***LISTEN***), from "Paris, Texas", that excellent movie by Wim Wenders. I didn't have the soundtrack of the movie with me in the car, but i had no complaints. A CD by Omar Faruk Tekbilek (***LISTEN***), was even more fitting with that special atmosphere!

***WORKSHOP-COLOR VERSION***

***MY TRIP TO CAPPADOCIA (THEME)***

Copyright © 2009 – Hercules Milas. The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

Budapestman, besnard, ciakgiak, papagolf21, delpeoples, cd70, bema, delkoo, vasilpro, Longroute, Dashab, JCG, bostankorkulugu has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Budapestman (41974) 2009-11-09 1:29

Hi Hercules,
a very impressive photo with dramatic mood, the composition of the photo is very spectacular, effective choice the B&W, the depth of the photo is superb. Great impression, Have a nice week!
George

besnard (30676) 2009-11-09 1:39

Bonjour Hercules
Une image impressionnante. Le noir et blanc accentue le côté dramatique du paysage. Du bon travail.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

cliclic (32) 2009-11-09 1:40

Hi!
I really like the atmosphere of your picture, it would be very beautiful in a big size impression. Have a nice day!
Cécile

ciakgiak (10714) 2009-11-09 1:41

Hello Hercules,
Kolaymi is one of my preferred songs and I imagine what you proved in that moment, with a similar sky above and the road in front of you.
Your image is very impressive in this b&w version.
Thanks for the sharing.
Friendly regards.
Giorgio

mauro61 (15594) 2009-11-09 1:43

ciao Hercules,
un bel B&W con un cielo drammatico che incombe sulla foto.
Tonalità scure con la linea della strada che segna bene lo scatto.
Mi piace molto la composizione.
buona giornata
maurizio

marine-coeur (572) 2009-11-09 1:43

Impressive approach of cotton wool clouds by great details, also excellent vanishing point
A beautiful poster BRAVO HERCULES MILAS

Gerrit (35733) 2009-11-09 1:48

Hi Hercules,
What a fantastic sky above this barren flat land. The depth is amazing.
regards, gerrit

papagolf21 (56421) 2009-11-09 1:54

Bonjour, cher Hercules,
Serait-ce l'annonce de la fin du monde !!!
Cette image est de toute beauté (ciel explosé de nuages se faisant plus méchants les uns que les autres, la route qui déroule son ruban sans être inquiétée).
Une réussite !
Amitiés.
Philippe

delpeoples (6082) 2009-11-09 2:20

Geia sou Hercules, that dramatic sky is superb and is not there just because of luck: you have used the low POV to make the most of it. I like the choice of monochrome and the road goes on forever, emphasising the desolation and vastness of the country in which you're travelling. Great work, what an impact5 it gives. Have a wondeful week and thanks for sharing, Lisa.

diomed (4043) 2009-11-09 2:29

Hi Hercules,
spectacular B&W with marvellous perspectives,great richness of grey tones, ingredible atmosphere. Congratulations!!
Nice week
Antonio

LOOOK13 (2891) 2009-11-09 2:34

Salut.
Extraordinaire photo!!!!
J'aime les deux versions.
Félicitations.

mkgoyal2004 (666) 2009-11-09 2:39

Hi Hercules,

I am not ready to call it just a photo, but I will like to name it photo art, which you have captured. Superb photo. Excellent job. Congrats.

cyborg83 (3774) 2009-11-09 3:08

Hi Hercules!
I like photos where the main topic is road!!
It creates very interesting perspective, you placed it well!
I like the colors - they are very interesting, the sky looks dangerous!
TFS
Seweryn

cd70 (725) 2009-11-09 3:25

Hello Hercules,
Wouaouw !!!! très impressionnant, ambiance dramatique magnifique. Le B & W est superbe, quel contraste ! La densité des nuages est très bien réalisée, et le point de vue offre une bonne perspective. Vraiment bravo à toi !
Cyrille

bema (8760) 2009-11-09 3:28

Jassu Hercules,

my first thought looking at this fine capture was: looks a bit like driving somewhere in American prairie, along the "Route 66"..
nice to see that effect also in turkey landscape..

wish you a nice afternoon, filika Bernd

dip (12584) 2009-11-09 3:59

Geia sou Irakli,
yperoxi lipsi,katapliktikos ouranos kai prooptiki,
xaireto,
Dimitris.

delkoo (34296) 2009-11-09 4:22

hi hercules
* I really love the composition, with the white line and road, creating a strong perspective, as well as the very heavy cloudy sky, completing perfectly this landscape packed with drama.

ta leme
didier

amaryllis (17521) 2009-11-09 5:28

bonjour Hercule
quelle beauté cette photo avec ce ciel, cette perspective de la route, un ciel d'orage qui s'annonce ou de tempête, la version noire et blanche est très représentative de l'effet d'une force qui part en arrière plan pour rejoindre le premier plan, ta version couleur est bien également mais une prférence pour le noir et blanc qui renforce tous ces contrastes
amitiés
juliette

jimmyjimmy (494) 2009-11-09 6:26

Hello Hercules
Both versions of this iamge are wonderful. This area does look like the the wide open spaces of the western USA. I like your POV of the road fading into the distance. Well done. Turkey looks like a very beautiful country.

Jimmy

JT50 (781) 2009-11-09 6:39

Hi Hecules,
A scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
Everything looks dramatic here. Waiting
for some thing to happen. Well executed
B&W composition.
Have a nice week.
Janak

coco (27864) 2009-11-09 6:39

Kalispera Hercules.

Fotón, Hercules, fotón.
El blanco y negro añade interés a la foto y... que se lo merece: una gran sonrisa.

Ta leme, file mou.

erhan1958 (3991) 2009-11-09 7:04

SELAM HERKULES
wonderful photo
Stunning image of this action capture. Excellent framing and timely captured in sharp details
Greetngs
ERHAN

Dyerco (9092) 2009-11-09 7:23

Hi Hercules
A good wide angle shot that really emphasizes the sky and the lonely road. The B&W/Sepia adds a feeling of remoteness.
Nicely done.
Phil

figenya (1350) 2009-11-09 7:34

Extraordinary photo, the depth that the road adds and the beauty of sky are amazing. Cheers

regards

figen

jasmis (50440) 2009-11-09 8:18

Excellent B&W presentation. Superb dramatic sky.
Regards.

bergese (527) 2009-11-09 10:34

Photo magnifique et angoissante en même temps.Le noir et blanc renforce le côté dramatique ainsi que le prolongement de la route qui s'engouffre dans les nuages.Superbe et bravo.
Bonne soiré Isa

bobocortis (14140) 2009-11-09 11:06

Hello Hercules.
A great shot, rich of drama.
The clouds are really impressive.
Best regards.
Bobo.

vasilpro (8760) 2009-11-09 11:32

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Η πολύ καλά διαλεγμένη γωνιά λήψης δημιούργησε μια υπέροχη προοπτική ή δε ασπρόμαυρη παρουσίαση είναι εξαιρετική.
Καλό σου βράδυ, Βασίλης.

stefanocer (10404) 2009-11-09 13:25

What a beautiful place composition and BW Hercules , sky is fantastic too , many compliments .
Stefano.

COSTANTINO (22709) 2009-11-09 13:28

Irakli gia sou
Ise olo ekplixis me tis epiloges sou.Apo ta
entipossiaka hromata pigenis sta skoura,i epilogi sou gia tin sigekrimeni skini ine poli dramatiki,ine
kaloftiagmeni,ego vevea protimo ta entona hromata
Omos ine aristi i tehniki tis
Aristi,kalo sou vradi
Costantino

barrufeto_77 (25809) 2009-11-09 23:56

Hola fiera.

MAdre mia que cielo tan y tan y tan espectacular!!! Además, el hecho que sea B&W le añade un puntito de dramatismo tremendo!!!

Un saludo!

pattabe (415) 2009-11-10 0:30

Hi Hercules,

a splendid portrait, great composition, What a fantastic sky above, well captured.
Thanks.

Regards Freddy (Bangkok)

Longroute (9355) 2009-11-10 2:11

This one looks like one of those American pictures taken in Arizona or Texas by great potographers of the past... Essential and impressive! In the best photographic tradition.
An excellent work!
Ciao,
Donato

giorgimer (21176) 2009-11-10 15:03

Hi Hercules,

extraordinary shot, unbelievable road perspective, amazing sky. Perfect use of B/W.

Very well done!

G

Dashab (951) 2009-11-11 3:59

Hello Hercules,
Such dramatic, low clouds! Very well done! With a flat ladscape like this and a road ending in infinity, I am not surprised you thought you might be on another continent for a moment there :-)
I like the colour version, as well, but vote for the b&w, as the effect of the clouds is felt more strongly here.
Thanks for the music, too. I especially like the second piece.

Have a fine afternoon! Dasha

rikko77 (6166) 2009-11-11 4:06

Hi Hercules
an amazing monochrome, very well done. The sky with its dramatic clouds is impressive and the choice for b/W was simply the only one...and you were GREAT!
TFS and have a nice day!
Rikk

JCG (25343) 2009-11-11 6:32

Hello Hercules,

Whouaaa !!! Which atmosphere on this photograph… An good road movie mood, I like much the treatment that you chose. Very good use of the wide-angle lens which gives an exceptional depth to this landscape and the road does not seem to have of end… The sky is, moreover, of any beauty… even color. Very beautiful photograph, Hercules cheer and thank you for the music which accompanies the image.

With all my friendships and a very good day,

Jean-Charles

bebbetto (3029) 2009-11-11 12:41

Ciao Hercules.
Fantastic BW and splendid perspective left to right.
Great technique, as usual.

lightsensor (721) 2009-11-11 12:59

hi, Hercules,
glad to see another B&W photo from you! even though its not colorful, i still can tell its your photo among others. the composition and high contrast are your trademark, my friend!

J-P,

bostankorkulugu (33598) 2009-11-15 0:13

...like in the american road movies indeed... so cool giritli mou...

clio (22741) 2009-12-03 13:34

Geia sou Hrakli,
I don't know if you remember, at the beginning when I commented your photos on TE, I was fascinated by your skies and indeed it is always the same! Fantastic conjugation of the wide angle, the filter polarizer and of a perfectly chosen POV. One image in which I find my strongest Turkey's souvenirs , a very long time ago (in 1974, difficult summer in the relations between Greece and Turkey, that is why I remember the year!)
Great shot, sygxaritiria!
Artemis