From the city of Verona I headed north towards Bolzano. As I travelled north, the landscape and the temperature progressively changed. From 30° in Verona, in less than an hour, we went to 15° degrees and the sky clouded over. The mountains made an appearance, embraced by low clouds that generated an almost autumnal atmosphere.
I have always been passionate about mountains and wooded areas. It is immersing myself in these environments and I enter a state of constant fascination. Everything seems beautiful, very beautiful, and as a photographer, everything is amplified. I don't really care what the weather is like, all conditions add something to the landscape, and in mountain areas, weather conditions change quickly.
From Bolzano you can tour the western area and from Cortina de Ampezzo the eastern area of the Dolomites, two great locations that serve as a base camp to discover the entire area. There are so many locations, but below I highlight some of the best locations that I have been able to photograph:
- Lake di Carezza
- Lake Braies
- Lake Dobbiaco
- Lake Misurina
- Lake Sorapis
- Lake Federa
- Lake Limides
- Las Torri Vajolet
- Seceda
- Ra Gusela
- Passo Giau
- Alpe di Siusi
- Cinque Torri
There is also Tre Cime di Lavadero and if you do this, you should definitely follow the route from the Auronzo refuge to the Lavadero refuge to be able to see the two slopes. Or alternatively I'd highly recommend the circular route.
And don't forget the Val di Funes with the Chiesetta di San Giovanni and Santa Maddalena and dozens of spectacular locations.
Apart from these “top” locations that I've highlighted are sublime, there are a thousand more places to discover and photograph for yourself.
A tripod is also an essential to allow you to take your time to plan and compose your shot, and allowing more technical shots such as long exposures.
A polarizing filter, ND filter and gradient are nice add-ons.
In addition, I usually work with three zoom lenses, the famous traveling trident of wide angle, medium and telephoto.
If you're lucky, maybe you can photograph the Enrosadira (Alpenglow) phenomenon. This is caused by the reflective properties of the calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate of the Dolomites, especially at sunrise and sunset. If the meteorological conditions are right, the mountains take on a pink colour that gradually changes to violet.
The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and being able to photograph them is an incredible and enriching experience. It's definitely one I'd recommend you consider...
Joan Vendrell is a photographer, traveller, and Vanguard Pro.
If you have examples of shots you've taken in the Dolomites (or anywhere else for that matter), why not share them with us at @vanguardphotouk - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter