A little later in the evening….
I’m heading home now from an amazing trip to the Italian Dolomites. The Dolomites, also known as the Dolomite Alps, are a mountain range in northeastern Italy. Before our time in the Dolomites, my friend Michael Zajac and I spent some time in Venice Italy. I hadn’t been to Venice in years, and it was great to get back there. First stop- gelato followed by a gondola ride down the Grand Canal. As much as I enjoyed my time in Venice, I was anxious to get to the Dolomites.
The Dolomites have a magical allure with their mix of jagged mountains, alpine terrain, beautiful lakes, atmospheric fog and of course the larch trees. The quaint villages are filled with charming homes and lodges; most of which have geraniums or petunias adorning every window.
There is a rustic feel to the area that creates a sense of stepping back in time. Not only did I enjoy the photography, but I also enjoyed my short walks through town stopping at the local market or sitting at an outside café having a cappuccino and vanilla crème-filled croissant, it was just lovely. From my hotel balcony in Cortina, I watched as a local sheep herding dog moved a flock of sheep into a coral. The dog was so efficient, and I could have watched him for hours, but he made quick work of his job.
The three images below show how the light can change in the early morning. When I first set up (pre-dawn) the blue tones and the slight fog were great. The light was just coming up and there was some alpine glow starting to show on the mountains. Then the sun rose and the pink colors filled the sky. After a the pink show the light hit the tips of the mountains creating a fiery glow. It was magical! Plus, we were some of the only people there.
This year, I had planned on doing a few hikes on my own that I don’t usually do with the group. On our first couple of days the weather reports were not good. It called for rain and fog the entire time we were there. Thankfully, I never put too much faith in those reports and always go ahead with my plans just in case. The weather could not have worked out better, we had lots of clouds, foggy and drizzly conditions that added to the already saturated colors and interesting backgrounds. BTW, the weather changes here on a dime.
I chose not to make this a B&W as I loved the slight green and blue tones, that helped to set the cold moody tone for the image.
When we first arrived in the Dolomites, the larch trees that cover the mountain sides were just starting to turn colors. Their rich shades of yellow and orange were at peak on our last few days. Larch trees are deciduous, their needles turn yellow then different shades of orange before dropping. I imagine in a week the autumnal show will be over.
During our stay, we visited Lago di Carezza, it was my first time there. I am glad that I had the opportunity to see the alpine lake which is also referred to as “rainbow lake.” It’s a beautiful emerald lake that is lined with spruce trees and the peaks of the Latemar Mountain. I read that there are Arctic Char in the lake, but I am not sure I believe it. On our scouting trip I was able to capture the shot above, however, on our early morning return visit we got fogged out of our anticipated shoot. So my shot above is really just a compositional practice shot…next year I plan on going back and having another try at it.
One of the funniest shoots was at a lake that was owned by a duck. Well, at least the duck though it owned the lake. After an hour of it swimming in and rippling the calm water in front of us, and then quacking so loudly it startled us, we decided she owned the lake, and she wanted us to pay her for our time there. We had no food with us, but it seemed her tactics had worked in the past. I decided to photograph her and put her in the center as she was clearly the center of attention! That night we waited until sundown —the color ended up being a no show! Still, I’ll remember my time with the duck fondly.
My version of the little white chapel.
Pano of the alpine hut Locatelli Rifugio Locatelli. Drone shot.
I am already looking forward to next year’s visit to this amazingly beautiful alpine location. I’ve decided to fly into Venice as the drive is more scenic and it’s a straight run. Folks wishing to spend a few days in Venice before the tour can do so easily. I can provide the logistical information needed. For more info on this tour or to sign up —CLICK HERE.