Burning Ninot Figures in Salta Square Noon

Bright noon light flattens the shadows across the public square where giant papier-mâché ninot figures stand ablaze. Thick plumes of white smoke rise vertically against a sky heavy with dramatic, textured clouds. The fire glows orange at the base of the wooden and cloth structures, consuming the intricate details of the traditional costumes. Dust and ash drift slowly in the still, tropical air. In the background, layers of the square recede into distance, showing stone walls and distant trees under the harsh, clear sky. The scene holds a quiet, contemplative stillness despite the active burning. One charred edge of a painted sleeve curls inward as the flame licks higher.