Spirit of Anatolia: Horses Across the Turkish Landscape

This series, Spirit of Anatolia, explores the relationship between wildness and tradition through the horses of Turkey—both the free-roaming Yılkı herds and the domestic horses that remain deeply rooted in Turkish rural life. Captured across the vast steppes and rocky canyons of Central Anatolia, these images celebrate the enduring presence of the horse as both a symbol of freedom and a working companion. The Yılkı horses, once released by villagers who could no longer sustain them through winter, now move in ghost-like bands across the land, embodying resilience in their untamed existence. In contrast, domestic horses—groomed, saddled, and often raised for herding or ceremonial use—offer a different kind of beauty: one shaped by human hands, tradition, and care. Photographed using both drone and ground-level perspectives, this body of work balances movement with stillness, solitude with connection. The horses appear against elemental backdrops of dust, stone, and wind—landscapes that are both ancient and alive with story. Whether galloping across open plains or standing quietly among canyon walls, each subject reflects a larger truth about survival, adaptation, and the bond between humans and animals. Ultimately, Spirit of Anatolia is a visual homage to the Turkish horse in all its forms—wild and domestic, spirited and serene—a reminder of the powerful role horses continue to play in the soul of this region.