After having spent some months being locked-down at home, I truly felt the call of the Dolomites. There’s no better destination than my favorite cabin paradise to stretch the legs! Together with Nadia and Pietro, two good friends of mine, we decided to spend the afternoon exploring Seiser Alm, in South Tyrol, Italy.
"Seiser Alm is a little paradise at 2000m of altitude. It is so impressive; when you are standing in front of the Dolomites you can literally feel the power of nature. In my opinion, this is a special place - it has a unique ecosystem since the immense walls of dolomite surround and protect the area."
Wandering through the green meadows dotted with wooden cottages and staring at the massive peaks rising in the distance is exciting and relaxing at the same time. Before heading to the cabin area, we took a quick stop to enjoy the view of Siusi’s petite village from above. Its little church stood prominently in the middle of the lawns, the grass up to our thighs, and we had to make our way down through the wheat fields to reach it.
"It was a wonderful moment, we were walking through the high grass, the sun warming our faces. It was lovely to be out in the mountains surrounded by nature again after staying at home for so long, and I felt intensely happy to be there with Pietro and Nick. Shooting together is fun, there are so many great memories connected to a shot and you get to know each other really well through venturing out with each other. I have known Pietro for eight years now; when we first looked into each others’ eyes there was this sparkle and through photography we got closer. In his pictures, I can see how he perceives the world - it's amazing and made me love him even more. Our friendship with Nick was created by the power of photography too, and I was super excited when he invited us for this little adventure."
When they confirmed that they would be coming with me, I thought it was an excellent opportunity to test the brand new Companion Camera Straps, handcrafted in Australia by Strapped Camera Co. Nadia and Pietro were visiting the area for the first time and spent the whole time taking portraits of each other while using the straps; they are very stylish. The leather is soft and comfortable, the stitching is flawless and the small details are on point. I am sure the strap will get a nice vintage appeal over time which I believe is cool. If you are mindful about the style and quality of the products you use, these straps are definitely for you. They would be perfect for a day trip or short expedition of shooting.
"During the shooting Nadia was pretending to take photos of me, so she grabbed the camera and pointed at me, but with the lens cap on. This happened more than once because the camera wasn’t ours but Nick’s, so she was afraid to keep it without protection. Every time she wanted to take a shot the cap was on and we had to ask her to take it off… Even now it still makes me smile. By the end she got it and used the little and removable accessory pockets of the camera strap to save the lens cap everytime she wanted to take a photo. In addition, the small strap looked really good on her."
While they were doing their thing, I focused on looking for new compositions and cabins that I’d never noticed before. Nevertheless, our playtime didn’t last long. The sun shone high in the sky, but on the horizon, dark clouds indicated that the good weather would not last long… Once we reached the plateau, the clouds had covered the sky and started to wrap the mountains in their leaden hug. While we walked the short path to the cabins the temperature dropped, and it became clear that the sun would disappear without leaving room for the alpenglow. Luckily, Seiser Alm has no shortage of shelters in case the weather suddenly changes and turns against you.
"Out of nowhere, a thunderstorm took over the previously peaceful looking landscapes. The clouds covered everything within a few minutes and we had to find shelter in one of the many cabins we all know from the famous pictures from Seiser Alm. We made the best out of it, made coffee while enjoying the sound of the rain falling on the roof and the lightning around us demonstrating its brutal force... I really enjoy moments like this. Although the same can definitely not be said for Nadia, she hates "bad weather."
I was glad we could take refuge in one of the cottages; the owner was very kind to let us shelter. We reviewed the pictures we had taken so far while having a snack and a hot drink. Looking at the storm threatening the mountains from a wooden shelter was not what we were expecting from that day, but it was actually very cosy and still a great way to connect with the surrounding landscape. I had also been waiting for the perfect occasion to finally use the Strapped Camera gear, which proved to be very useful during the shooting this day. Light was changing in an instant, as usual, and it’s a matter of a second to get that banger. The small pockets that can be attached to the camera straps to hold accessories, made that I didn’t have to look far when the perfect scene appeared and needed to be quick to take a shot. Although I live on the foot of the Dolomites, I don’t want to miss out on opportunities to capture a perfect scene because the circumstances will never be the same. I’d say that the wider strap is perfect for heavier camera bodies and massive zoom lenses, while the thinner strap works better with mirrorless and film cameras.
"The afternoon was coming to an end. Once the storm ceased, we walked back to the car, a bit cold but satisfied about the pleasant afternoon we'd spent and the shots we had taken. I like and admire that Nick is not the usual influencer that drives around by car just to reach the most famous spots to get a picture and moves on to the next one. He actually likes to walk in the mountains for hours and enjoys the nature around him. That’s why I enjoy going on adventures with him; they are real explorative adventures, characterized by no rush and deep appreciation for the environment."
This was surely not my last expedition to Seiser Alm. Anytime I set foot on the path that passes by the little houses, I am astounded by the infinite amount of photographic possibilities this place has to offer. Every season, every type of weather condition – the snow covered cabins or the flowery meadows – offer continuously a different perspective and a valid reason to head back to explore this magical plateau again and again.
Useful Links
• Seiser Alm, a practical guide.
• The ultimate photography companion, from Strapped Camera Co.
• The companion camera strap.
• The companion Mini camera strap.
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