Captured at dawn during the saffron harvest in Torbat-e Heydarieh, Iran, known as the saffron capital of the world. The harvest begins before sunrise when the temperatures are often freezing. In the background, a farmer lights a fire to warm himself against the biting cold, while the delicate purple flowers of "red gold" stand ready to be picked in the foreground. This image illustrates the harsh conditions and hard labor behind the world's most expensive spice.