(Click on pictures to enlarge)
This weekend I met Paul in person ( Wildside) and together we left for photographic output with overnight bivouac.
Our destination is the lake on the Black Piacenza and expect to make a "night-sunset-sunrise, weather permitting.
After the light snowfall the day before, on the morning of Saturday, December 18 welcomes us with a clear sky, then we have to load the equipment in the car and go.
In a couple of hours we get to step Zovallo, where we leave the car and prepare for departure.
An elderly man tells us that the trail is very icy and he he came back because devoid of crampons, snowshoes we still have with me and I also crampons to 6 safety tips, and then started quite calm.
After getting dressed and loaded everything you need on your shoulder, take the path that leads to Lake Black
A slight slope of about one hundred meters up to the first sign indicator, from here continue on downhill and flat sections. The area is very beautiful, the route passes through a charming faggieta made by the white snow on the ground, soil that is not so impractical as we had been told, covered with a thin layer of snow lies a sheet of ice probably due the quick thaw and lowering of temperatures of recent days, but even with good walking boots, especially since there are no climbs or descents are pending.
Later the trail goes up the ice over a small stream at the end of which we find ourselves in a very nice wide open space, with trees completely whitewashed by the cold and wind.
We decide to take the opportunity to take some pictures.
The beauty of snow and ice is that you can roll anywhere without getting dirty or wet (of course with winter clothes) eg for this picture I was lying on the ground over the river icy.
The location offers much to the foreground, maybe too much, it was difficult to dial in a clean and tight without disturbing elements.
I take this opportunity also to try the new Sigma 8-16mm of Paul, the goal for APS-C with the shorter focal length, with whom I do some test shots and comparison with my Canon 10-22mm. When we are satisfied
continue the walk, we pass the salt flat and again;
few minutes and we arrived at Black Lake, which are completely frozen and snow-covered so as not to seem even a lake but a simple flat, here we stop to eat.
We decide that it is not worth stopping for the decline in that area, even under clear skies and clear of clouds that would not provide nothing, photographically speaking, from that position.
then continue your journey to the structure that will welcome us (big word) for the night, we pass the lake and climb again (almost immediately stopping to put on snowshoes) to get to another opening, where a sign indicates two opposite directions: on the one hand you climb on top of Black Mountain, on the other, our, atop Mount Ox, where is located the camp, housed in a disused hut.
Here we pause a moment for a few photos, then resume the climb to the summit.
arrived we immediately enter the shelter, which is really a garbage can, we go down to the bottom floor where there is the camp, which are in poor condition, everything is thrown to the air, overturned tables and chairs, dirty mattresses on the floor and so on.
had to be there a wood stove and instead disappeared.
Let's settled, we put tables and chairs, do a little 'space and prepare the mattresses on the bed, then we bring in our things and prepare for the sunset.
leaving us welcome a chill wind and a light that begins to become more and more grazing and golden.
's start to look around and feel the shots, and I lose at least half an hour trying to find a happy settlement, and when I finally decide the light is already good, indeed, we are running out!
In the picture vertically I had to do something really weird, put a filter that is sloping on the other hand, to darken the snow was too bright!
Usually these filters are used to darken the sky and balance the brightness of the scene, but in light of this situation was corrected without the resumption, only the white snow in the foreground were burned, so I had to work so atypical.
When the sun disappears behind the horizon we are out again half an hour to photograph the sunset.
Pictures taken at sunset always have a greater impact, with their warm, saturated colors, but I find it very attractive in these situations Afterlight (or "pre" if it is dawn), with a flavor more delicate.
Once satiated photographs are holed up in the dark waiting for nightfall necessary for the stars.
We have the hands and feet rather cold and the inside of the building is already dark, so we ingenuity in trying to turn at least a small flame to light, yet warm.
first try with a can of aluminum, which apply holes at the bottom to be able to breathe fire. We collect the most slender twigs and dry the pile of firewood is in the closet and close with a few pieces of paper we can light a flame.
In a few minutes but the smoke just beginning to fill the room, and when the flame goes out, a "toxic cloud" forces us to open the windows and run upstairs.
Here we do things in a big bonfire and a real turn on in a sort of metal tray, then move to a bench and put it beside the fire to keep warm while we eat.
Paul is well equipped and has brought a kit to cook something hot, then we can even cook pizzoccheri (Dried of course)!
The look is not exactly attractive (do not tell you what it seems!), But the flavor is not bad, "edible" say it is still a hot meal that makes the pleasure.
finished dinner chatted a bit 'while the fire warms us, then we go out again for photos at night.
one side of the summit the wind persists, so we move in the opposite direction where we are a bit 'more protected. Indeed, without the wind gets so cold, the climate is harsh but it's a dry cold and it feels a little (yes, we are wrapped properly).
The moon (almost full) brightens up the landscape, so that not even need the front light to see, and I can even shoot at ISO 400 (usually at night I'm not enough of the ISO 1600 350d)!
In contrast, with a moon so bright stars stand out less, but it does not matter, the scenario is still interesting, and then start experimenting.
Sold creativity make us a self-portrait of memory and then holed up there to sleep.
The impact of the sleeping bag ice is terrible, but within seconds you are already better, and after a few minutes finally the hands and feet begin to scladarsi.
night as always is a half-sleep for me: it takes me a couple of hours just to fall asleep and sleep is still very fragmented, so that at 6 am when the alarm sounds, do not even know if I really asleep or not.
Outside the window is still pitch dark and you see some flakes that it is not clear whether they are just wind-blown snow or if it is snowing.
ripper the alarm for half an hour later, this time is no longer clear, but we are surrounded by low clouds and not see anything.
still waiting and finally to 7:15 we decide to leave the warmth of the sleeping bag to devote to the photos, even if the sky is covered and the low clouds come and go quickly.
This time the session is short-lived given the situation in light of little interest, and we have breakfast we return, we must strive again because we want to prepare a hot tea (the one in the thermos held until the evening) but the 'water in the bottles is virtually ice.
We have then in the little pot of liquid water and warms it, then cut to a half empty bottle and use it as a funnel to pour hot water bottles in the other, so the ice cliffs.
The system works well and soon we have our hot tea, plus we also recovered from drinking water during the descent and return! Once
pick up all our stuff we begin the descent, we stop only ten minutes for a break and in less than no time we are on the machine.
Again was a great experience and adventure, Paul has been a pleasant companion and preparation with which I was fine, so thanks to him for the good company and I hope other outlets will be organized photo together!
the next, and happy holidays to all!
