Le Odle - Odle-Puez (Click on pictures to enlarge) The Odle is another beautiful view of the Dolomites, between the popular and well-known landscape photographers, they are located just to the north of the Alpe di Siusi, our last goal.
again with his friend Nicholas
, we are in the early afternoon of Wednesday, July 7 and head towards the Trentino, the home of these beautiful mountains. Take the motorway exit and follow for Closed Funes, along the road through the Val di Funes, precisely. Arrived at St. Mary Magdalene still continue, the road rises and goes to the parking fee of Zanseralm (4 € per day for cars, 2 € if you arrive after 13, from 19 to 8, the parking is free of charge) .
Here we have the first small problem: the toll that should break away tickets to the park is closed, there is only a machine-style parking meter, but when I insert the 2 euro for a ticket that day (as it is already mid-afternoon) I realize that the time shows up only at 18.40 that day. Never mind, try to avoid being fooled any more money, so we decide to return the next morning, hoping there is someone that makes us the tickets for the remaining days.
parked the car and look in that direction lies our refuge, we discover that, according to the signs, it is 2 hours and asked how we would have to be a 30 minute walk. We then set off with a little 'hope of uncertainty but it is not so far as to guess the signs are, we are charged, especially me who is the pack from trekking, and photographic backpack (last time I will opt for this choice, d' now on will only lead the pack from trakking that will clear once the refuge and then use it as a photo backpack), so there will be less street, more than our backs and our legs thank you.
We realize early that the way to go but will be great, certainly not the 30 minutes we were expecting. The climb is not overly challenging, but with heavy backpacks on their shoulders, efforts have tripled, so glad we stopped to rest 2 or 3 times. Finally after over an hour we see a hut that seems to be ours, we approach with confidence, but the name on the outside is different: one in which we go is much more to get up and you have to follow a narrow path (n.33) that goes up the difference with a lot of "zig-zag" brief but not very steep. We therefore expect the last effort and vision of the structure is a godsend! We arrived, we settled into our bunks (fortunately we have a small room with two beds for us all, so do not bother anybody in coming / return, since our schedules are a bit 'abnormal), a moment settle our things and now we go out to photograph the sunset.
Gampenalm fall back to (where is the refuge of our first) this time by following another path, that is dirt from which the cars pass, which is a bit 'because it takes longer to climb more gently, but downhill and with less load travels well. We continue on that road until you see a grassy area just to the right below that looks like a good place to shoot, so we go through a small area where the cows are grazing, and we are facing a beautiful view of Odle.
Get out your cameras and start to try a shot, then Nicholas decides to go and go and see what comes after a small hill, I follow a little later but spent a few minutes to walk no more I see him, call him at voice without reply, none of our phones have 2 field, the road in the middle agl'alberi that block the view, so I decide to go back to where we started and start shooting.
The sky is clear and there is not a cloud in the sky, on the one hand this makes it less spectacular sunset, but on the other hand we can see immediately on the first day of the show ' enrosadira, that phenomenon by which the peaks are colored in red, due to dolomite, typical rock of the Dolomites, in fact.
And in fact the peaks become very red, and we watch them (and photograph) reach peak color and then fade away completely, truly a fascinating!
Finished all awaiting the return of my partner and I eat my dinner (sandwiches, of course), then we'll come back hard (We realize that perhaps it was better to climb the trail made at the beginning rather than the road from where we went) to the shelter. We rest for a moment right now and leave again to photograph the stars. Climb the small hill behind the property (the area should be called "Kreuzkofeljoch" I have not misunderstood) and from there we have a good view. The sky so clear and the virtual absence of the moon (Sunday, 11 there would be new moon) allow us to see clearly with the naked eye the Milky Way, in the picture then, the long exposure reveals the galactic center in all its charm!
Shooting at night is always enough difficult: it is totally dark and looking in the viewfinder is even more! We must therefore make several test shots to get a decent composition and a correct focus. Once that accertatomi composition and focusing are ok, imposed a 30-second shot (no more otherwise the stars would not be the point but stricioline by Earth's rotation) to 1600 (my 350d will not let me go further, but in any case with the RAW can also overexpose two stops, as if I had photographed virtually to 6400 ISO) and f4, and then start shooting. Try different framing solutions to various areas, but in the end the best one is the one where you can also see the galactic center, although the area mountain at that point is rather flat (and hence a form of little interest) and behind you see the light pollution from a given village.
After the session, and freezing (crazy feeling cold when in our country in the days before the heat subivamo), holed up for a few hours of rest: wake up at 5 scheduled for dawn.
But when the sound of the alarm wakes us up, we all gray outside the window: you can not see with his own hand!
Once again, as often happens in our outputs, low cloud cover to create a "fog" that leaves no chance to photograph. We remain so in the beds, checking every now and not there is some sudden opening in the sky. At 7 am we gave up now, go down to breakfast and then we are forced to go down to the Zanseralm to pay for parking: our will is under your feet, but we are moving to strength.
Without any kind of backpackers go down well and briskly without even much effort. In less than an hour we had already arrived and, fortunately, there is someone at the toll.
After fixing everything, we decided to take a trip there in the area, then take a path in other directions also marks our refuge, so that they are already on the way back then. We realize after a while, 'that is probably the same way that we had done the night before to get off at sunset, that the road (dirt of course) who use the machines to go to the Zanseralm Kreuzkofeljoch and vice versa (of course I think it is only used by the operators of shelters and authorized). Along the way there is a large group and we go at their own pace. Arriving at Gampenalm went we made a break of apple juice and apple strudel, then face the final piece to the refuge. During the afternoon we take it easy and relax waiting for the sunset. Take a shower (fast, no, very fast since the shower works with coins and the time is really cheap) and a nap, then go out and do 4 passes quietly, returning the point in the night to assess whether it would be good for the sunrise (and ideally also by virtue of the fact that it is close), then we go and sit outside with a nice plate of ham and a couple of apple juice (we take advantage, since we are in the land of apples!) in front. Today the shelter is really crowded: there is a group of 40 people in the CAI, as several other hikers and tourists.
At 18:30, while all end up (loudly) to wash and get ready for dinner, we load the backpacks and go out for sunset photography. We have in mind a place seen during the descent of the morning, then go directly there and start to look around. Usually I and Nicholas, although in the same area, we always go in different places (sometimes opposing) and we have very different visions, photographically speaking (but not only, he and I have always disagreed on almost everything: D), but this time we find ourselves side by side, stands a cross, so that while he continues to shift to slightly change the perspective, I repeatedly curse because my tripod almost constantly with her, threatening to move all (è_é). The sunset this time gives no clouds, plus the enrosadira is less effective on the day before, perhaps because of increased haze, but in any case do what you can.
's all over now we go back again to the point the previous evening for another night. This time we arrive early, not yet quite dark, so we can try a technique for taking pictures at night with a little 'detail in the foreground (gets a shot for the "land" while there is still a bit' light, then looks dark and it gets a second to the sky and the stars, then come together in post production). The results are not exceptional, but because we make some ingenuity in execution, and tonight we see the Milky Way maybe a little 'less well the night before, but we are satisfied. Before going to bed try to take some photos just outside the refuge in one of these I try to take advantage of the light coming from the structure to illuminate the area of \u200b\u200bland, the result is something different than usual, though not anything exceptional . Returning to the refuge are people sleeping in corridors, there's just a full house!
At 5 am the alarm triggered and this time we can take advantage of good weather. Let's get out fast trying to make as little noise as possible and shortly after we're back where we were earlier in the evening. The view that you have the valley is fascinating, but the sun rises in a very different from what we assumed (looking at going down). Some shots against the light that honestly did not yield the results that I expected, then, just before we leave, I ask Nicholas to lend the 70-300mm (which I possess, but never carry when I go out to do landscaping) and I try to photograph a particular strikes me that far. I quite like the result, although I had to fight more than usual in post production to reduce the effect of mist veiled, the other photos of the session but did not turn out as I expected and so I rejected them all.
Back in the room while early risers are starting to rise, we lie just an hour, then go down for breakfast when most of the people she was already gone. At 9 we must leave the room, but leave the backpacks at the shelter and let us walk up to Col Poma, the highest vantage point in the area (apart from the various rocky peaks), from which it has a beautiful view and shot several photos memory. We stroll in the area to spend some 'time, then to lunch time, we load the weights on their shoulders and go down to the Zanseralm, where we can finally drive by car bags and eat something.
In the afternoon we move into the car and go down to St. Mary Magdalene. We turn a little 'walk the area and several streets in search of a good place to do the last sunset, then parked in the shade of some trees we relax and wait for the light begins to decline. For a while 'we delude ourselves that at least he gives us this day at sunset the sky decorated with a few clouds, in fact, throughout the day, the blue flashes is interrupted by several White clouds that come and go, especially around Geisler, so the situation seems less than ideal.
At sunset, however, everything dissolves and even the sunlight, when they should illuminate the peaks, disappears mysteriously, not even giving us the enrosadira and leaving us with a landscape totally gray and dull. We must be satisfied of the photos taken just before, with a light yet at its best.
After all away and we all hope we get on the road, destination "Three Peaks."
Dawn Odle can give good insights on when conditions allow it, but mostly the best situation is at sunset, while the sunrise is difficult to capture good light, so we decide to move to another area.
Lacking internet as a means to learn and evaluate where to go, the only destination that comes to mind is that of the famous peaks of Lavaredo, where I've been once. Not that know the area very well, but at least have and idea of \u200b\u200bwhat I saw from the previous time, it may be that there is a good light at dawn, so we decide it's worth groped.
We stopped on the highway to eat something quickly and at 23.30 we are Misurina, from which the road leading up to the refuge Auronzo, where you can leave your car (cost 20 € a day, a mistake in my opinion!). We decide to stay there in the car to rest a couple of hours before boarding (not knowing that temperature there was higher, better to stay cool down, we think). At about 2:30 we're on Auronzo, leave the car (there was no one at the exit of the parking lot, being at night, so just go up) and we set out on the road that goes "behind" the peaks (ie the side opposite to the famous and "classic" that we see in each photo), thinking that the dawn light should illuminate more precisely the area. After 20-30 minutes of walking, I notice that he stupidly left the tripod in the car, so I must return back quickly, while Nicholas decides to go forward. Fortunately the road is fairly flat, so a step sent takes me about half an hour to get there and back (or rather, to return and re-go!) from the point where we're at, then I start to look ahead and Nicholas. Shortly after the trail starts to climb up to Lavaredo, from here I see a small light that flashes, blinks with my well and then I go down to regroup. From there, Nicholas makes me go back because he wants to go back. We're undecided about where to go because he could not distinguish where the sun will rise and what (ie which zone) better light. Let's go back to the fork and back down where we came from, explore the area and a moment later Mr. Indecision (xD) decides to go back up again. I stop there to make a snap Test and see how it is. The result is an unusual shot of the place, the right light, however, is still absent.
While they are intent on taking Nicholas calls me and tells me to get better because the light is coming across, so I end up doing the photos, I quickly and I sling all uphill wheelbase shipped. Arriving at the top with 2 languages \u200b\u200boutside (!) And I rushed down to find a good place to have a shot "classic" of the Three Peaks. While I'm down I hear my friend calling me from 'high! I thought I had come down that way, but had stopped Lavaredo and was planning to take photos from there. I think to myself that is crazy and that from there you will not see anything good (but then change my mind when I will see her photos), so I'm going to go ahead and look for a good point, then prepare everything and I look forward to the first light peaks. Every now and then release the camera from the tripod (left there in order to have the same composition riaggangiando the camera) and snap some photos by hand in the opposite direction, toward the refuge Locatelli, where it comes from a good light and there are some clouds colored by ' dawn.
Slowly the light comes with more intensity peaks, each about 2 minutes I take a picture, so I can see at home the light that gradually becomes more intense and red, only to lose strength and go to yellow. In the end I choose the most intense moment of Lumos and others remain only as memories.
Even this dawn we found a point taken up in the sky interesting (a bit behind us' yes), but overall I do not regret the outcome, the Three Peaks are always fascinating return!
I would go back to the machine doing the trail from the opposite side to that fact upon, partly because it would avoid having to climb up to Nicholas, so I start to sign with his arms to come down unless it is completely ignored. The phone did not field so I have no alternative and I have to back up, then we walk to the car, while a string of climbers head "between" the tops, where there is probably a climb or a railway to be done, let's say between us .
Once the machine is waiting for us the last unexpected: as we are, the controller asks the parking ticket, I told him that we arrived at night and there was no toll, so I asked him to pay the 20 € . Fortunately it's a young guy and he understands when I told him that we were only there four hours and let us go without making a fuss. Usually
Nicholas and when I go out to photograph the storm haunt us this time was the opposite and we found clear skies and clear on every occasion. The ideal would be a middle way, but it is said that fortune favors ... frequent travelers!