© 2020 Nomadict. All rights reserved.
Oli Arlart
@oli.arlart
Best of the week 11
"Many people use a variety of phrases to describe landscape photography nowadays. How do photographers feel then? Hard to tell!"
As a geologist I get to see many different and remote places. It does not matter where I am shooting or working. As soon as I grab the camera wonderful feelings arise. There is definitely something unique about all of us sharing this beautiful sceneries. For some of us, going outdoors and explore the wild is perfect to find balance in our life.
Many of my fellow photographers say that they feel calmed being outdoors. They enjoy the silence and serenity in the mountains or wandering in the deepest valley. In addition, if they get that one shot they have been dreaming for a long time, the feeling can be something sublime. There is a huge satisfaction heading back home late with all those photos you wanted to capture. And then, a long night of post processing, editing photos and enjoying a cup of coffee.
"But this balance does not come from that last moment, when everything is calmed. It is the journey and being stoked by the experience what truly brings us peace of mind."
Let me give you an example from my trip to Italy last year:
We jumped into the car fairly impulsively for a seven hours drive. Our goal was to shot a super big blood moon right above the Sella valley in the beautiful Dolomites.
We arrived during a spectacular sunset. We were surrounded by some of Europe’s highest and most impressive peaks. We were stoked already, even though this was not what we came for.
We could not wait for the red moon to appear behind the massive summits!
In the meantime, we were preparing ourselves, trying to find the perfect site to capture the moon. Finally, the sky got brightened up as the moon raised. However, what we did not notice at first glance was a tremendous thunderstorm emerging from the opposite direction.
As we were getting our first shots, it started to rain. Lightly at the beginning. Pouring within a few minutes! The other photographers that have joined at the beginning had left at this point. In the meantime, as we were searching for shelter the red moon began to disappear between the clouds. Not a good idea as you might know, but we were as fired up as the unpredictable weather was. Were we calmed at this point? Not really!
Finally we had to leave due to heavy thunder. It was definitely too dangerous to stay on top any longer. Actually, we had to literally run downhill to reach the car. We arrived to the car completely soaked, without any suitable image of the moon. How did we feel? Disgrace, anger and lethargy.
Going back home was not an option though, that would have taken us at least 7 long hours. So we decided to leave the Sella pass and made our way to Lago di Carezza.
"It took us two hours approximately to reach this location. As we drove, the heavy rain continued. But, we finally made it to the lake which was indeed quiet."
We had to wait for three hours in order to contemplate the sunrise, but at least we had each other. The sunrise plunged the whole area in warm golden and orange lights. There were no sounds or other people around. But it was not quiet though!
We were laughing finally enjoying the moment as we were getting some unique photographs. The light was perfect, as well as the the reflection of the mountains and lush forest in the lake.
"What a way to turn a disaster into one of our most terrific experiences!"
"The art of landscape photography. It may be unpredictable, but it is irrational? I don’t think so."
To me, it is the most rational and satisfying art I have ever encountered. It allows me to connect with nature and other people, to learn from other cultures, or to feel joy roaming far away, in places most people have not even heard of.
