THE LAND OF BEAUTIFUL HORSES
I just returned from Cappadocia, Türkiye and it was truly one of the most amazing trips of the year. I finally picked up my camera again and captured some of my favorite images so far.
Cappadocia is world-famous for its hot air balloons, magnificent horses, and otherworldly landscapes. Each morning, around 150 balloons gracefully lift off into the sky. Unlike most of Europe, where ballooning is limited to a brief 60-day season, Cappadocia enjoys almost year-round flying conditions, with an impressive 250 flight days annually. In total, about 2,000 people soar above this breathtaking region every day — more than half a million each year!
The name “Cappadocia” is believed to derive from the ancient Hittite word Katpatuka, often translated as the “Land of Beautiful Horses.” Historical records show that Cappadocia’s horses were once prized gifts and tributes to Assyrian and Persian monarchs. During the Persian Empire, horses from this region were even accepted as a form of taxation.
The Yılkı wild horses (the first image above) have roamed the Anatolian plains for over a thousand years. For centuries, these once-wild horses were domesticated for agriculture and transport, forming an essential part of life in this vast region.
Today, horses remain deeply respected by the local people and continue to play a vital role in Cappadocia’s thriving tourism industry.
The drone image of the Yılkı horses above is perhaps my favorite photograph of the year. Capturing these magnificent animals from the air is no easy feat — it demands quick reflexes, precise drone control, and perfect timing to frame the horses in motion at just the right moment and angle. Practice makes perfect!
To see more of my images from Cappadocia last year, please download my eBook at: https://kahwailin.com/books/
PATAGONIA: LAND OF ICE, PEAKS AND ENDLESS SKIES
Patagonia has always been one of my all-time favorite places to photograph — a land of endless beauty where jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, and sweeping valleys are adorned with golden autumn foliage each April.
You may have seen countless iconic images from Patagonia, but on this journey, I’ll show you how to go beyond imitation — how to combine my compositional techniques with your own creative vision to craft truly unique images you’ll be proud to hang on your wall at home.
Join us on our next photographic adventure to Patagonia, exploring both Chile and Argentina, and witness one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth — a rare, once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget. For more information, please visit:
https://kahwailin.com/patagonia-2026/
PHOTO WORKSHOP 2026
Spaces for our 2026 photo workshops are limited — reserve yours before they’re gone!
21 April – 2 May 2026: PATAGONIA AUTUMN PHOTO WORKSHOP (Guided by Kah-Wai Lin) – 2 spots available
03 – 13 June 2026: MONGOLIA PHOTO WORKSHOP (Guided by Rachel Jones Ross & Kah-Wai Lin) – 4 spots available
14 – 20 June 2026: PALLAS’S CAT PHOTO WORKSHOP (Guided by Rachel Jones Ross & Kah-Wai Lin) – 4 spots available
13 – 20 July 2026: FAROE ISLANDS PHOTO WORKSHOP (Guided by Mark Denney and Kah-Wai Lin) – 2 spots available
15 – 25 September 2026: ALASKA AUTUMN PHOTO WORKSHOP (Guided by Kah-Wai Lin) – 2 spots available
08 – 20 December 2026: YUANYANG RICE TERRACE & ZHANGJIAJIE PHOTO WORKSHOP (Guided by Ian Plant & Kah-Wai Lin) – 2 spots available
ADOPT A PRINT TO SAVE WILD CAMEL
Did you know there are fewer than 1,000 wild camels left in the world — making them one of the most endangered species on the verge of extinction? These remarkable animals face growing threats from climate change, desertification, mining, overgrazing, and a host of other human-induced pressures.
After Global Heritage Society team returning from the Wild Camel Breeding Center in Mongolia in April 2025, where we witnessed the birth of a wild camel, I asked my favorite master scratchboard artists, Amy Stauffer, to create a piece inspired by my image of a female wild camel with her newborn calf. Amy produced an extraordinary artwork in her distinctive style, and I am now releasing both poster prints and the original piece to support wild camel conservation in Mongolia.
- Archival-grade printing, available in 2 sizes
- Original artwork available
- 100% of proceeds support wild camel conservation in Mongolia through the Wild Camels Protection Foundation
Adopt a print and help save the wild camel from extinction!
Purchase at: https://ko-fi.com/s/76088ac263
BACTRIAN CAMEL POTTERY FROM TANG DYNASTY
A Chinese Tang Dynasty pottery Bactrian camel (618–906 AD), painted with original geometric pigment designs, standing on a square base. Dimensions: height 41 cm (16″), length 28 cm (11″). Accompanied by an Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence analysis report confirming its period.
This piece comes from the collection of John Hare OBE FRGS, explorer, conservationist, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and founder of the Wild Camel Protection Foundation. In 2017, John Hare was awarded the OBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his outstanding services to the conservation of the critically endangered wild camel in Mongolia and China. John Hare entrusted the Wild Camel Protection Foundation with the sale of this pottery to raise vital funds for wild camel conservation in Mongolia.
All proceeds (100%) from this piece will directly support the protection of wild camels in Mongolia. If you are interested, please contact me at: kahwailin@gmail.com