Coming back from a great weekend like the one just passed, things happening there would be very many. And, as always, the best thing to do is to start from the beginning, that is, since Saturday morning, that is the moment of departure for the Three Peaks.
Organized with some members of the Forum Canon Club Italy, the photographic weekend begins. Program: departure at about 9.30 for the Refuge Auronzo, at the foot of the Three Peaks, easy to reach by car. Walk for a couple of hours to get there and stay - so to speak - the Locatelli Hut.
The aim is to bring home images of landscapes impact of the three peaks of the Dolomites, shooting at dusk, night and dawn.
An exciting weekend, tiring, exhausting in terms of hours - on Saturday night I slept an hour if it is so -, challenging, physical and, despite everything, perfect. Even for someone like me, used to, so to speak, to the peaks of the Dolomites, hiking in the mountains and breathtaking views, it was a show that can easily be imagined. Can not describe in words the amount of stars at 3 am covering the sky at 2500 meters. Impossible to tell the colors of dawn, the red light on top of the mountains, pink clouds that enveloped the surrounding peaks.
Apart from the three hour journey by car to reach the starting point to 7 km from Misurina, the weekend starts on the photographic path from the Rifugio Auronzo 101 which leads to Rifugio Locatelli, through the hut a few meters away from Lavaredo fork. In the Monte Paterno right - where there is an interesting beaten trail that winds through tunnels and trenches of World War I - and left rise the majestic Three Peaks.
After a quick lunch at Locatelli, spent the afternoon in the area to capture the famous mountains that unfortunately are half submerged in the clouds. The hope is that at sunset the clouds go away, but those hopes are quickly stifled when little before the gold, the entire area is engulfed by a cloud. This means that you can not take home any shot at sunset. A real shame.
After dinner, around 22, there seems to be a clearing, and then try to position ourselves to capture at least a few stars. The three peaks are always shrouded by clouds and the other mountains. In addition many times the clouds are low to enclose the shelter and surrounding area, then around midnight we decided to lie down then get up at dawn to the usual photos.
Around 2.30, in the middle of the night, the window of the room, which opens on the Three Peaks, shows us an indescribable spectacle: a starry sky absolutely clear of clouds and crystal clear. We got up quickly, take the equipment, and we stay out until 4 in the past to shoot. The air is cold and despite the appearance is also quite humid, so much so that often tarnish the objectives and the condensation droplets form on dangerous machines.
We retreat into the room to rest a couple of hours and at 6.30, after those first people, we are already out for the sunrise. Shooting wildly up at 7.30: it is amazing how in just a few minutes the light will change in such a sudden way. Even between two consecutive shots is necessary to adjust the exposure, how conditions have changed light. The air is cold and there's frost on the trees - at night the temperature dropped even a few degrees below zero.
Fortunately we will have a hearty breakfast at the refuge, about 9, and go on to salute dell'Auronzo time and then home.
a wonderful weekend. A feast for the eyes and heart for someone like me, the mountains in the heart.
