Balloons over Sigiriya–Sri Lanka


Photographer’s comment: “The sun rises over a glorious Sri Lankan landscape. For the villagers watching the balloons drift over their homes and fields, these floating giants are objects first of fear and then of curiosity and delight. The recent influx of tourists after decades of conflict has coincided with development rushing forward, and infrastructure making inroads into wild lands. Critics argue that the country’s pristine spaces must be developed with greater care, and that thought must be given to the impact future constructions will have on the environment. The balloons, at least, pass overhead, leaving no footprints on the earth.”

Photo: Shanmugaraja Sudakaran