Magical Scene at Waal Bridge Nijmegen: Dreamy Girl with Hot Air Balloons by Elianne van Turennout

The photo shows the iconic Waalbrug in Nijmegen, majestically stretched across the tranquil waters of the river Waal. This historic bridge, with its graceful arches and sturdy construction, provides the perfect backdrop for an enchanting scene. In the foreground, a young girl, about six years old, stands on a sturdy wooden step standing in the rippling water. It seems as if the girl is magically floating above the water, a spectacular sight.

The girl is wearing a simple but charming dress that moves gently in the breeze. Her eyes shine with excitement and wonder as she holds a cloth decorated with glittering stars, as if she is holding a piece of the night sky. As she gently pulls the cloth, colourful balloons appear, each with a unique design representing our planets. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn with its rings and even the Earth float gracefully upwards.

The balloons rise against a bright blue sky with downy clouds, a visual symbol of the idea: "The sky ain't the limit, it's only the view". This image exudes a magical, almost fairy-tale atmosphere, in which the girl reveals the infinite possibilities of the universe. It shows that the limitations we often experience are only appearances, and that our dreams and imagination can take us far beyond the horizon, above the serene waters of the river Waal and Nijmegen's historic bridge.

This artwork is offered by Elianne van Turennout

It all started with a4 paper and HB pencils. As a child I was often impressed by how beautiful the world around me was. The urge to capture this beautiful world, and to show the people around me what I saw, was actually there from the beginning. If I remember correctly, I was about eleven years old when I first met the camera. Of course it was a simple compact camera with a ridiculous quality, but I enjoyed it.

I sometimes said I wanted to be a photographer, but of course you have one of the two parents who says, "Dream on." Strangely enough, I followed the sarcastic remark as advice, and still went to study photography.

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