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Back from Italy

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19 replies
Posted by Dave Showalter` on September 17, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Back from Italy
Just returned from a 17-day trip to Italy that included trekking in the Dolomites, Italy's Alps in the northwest. These mountains are amazingly vertical and captivating in changing light. We had a lot of cloudy, moody conditions - at times a foggy mist reduced visibility to zero and covered huge mountain ranges. The hiking experience is great - we traveled west to east and up and down the valleys running north and south. Our first day took us up Sciliar Schlern, a high plateau that rose over 5,000' from the valley floor. When we got to the rifugio (hut) we couldn't see a damn thing!

This image is sunrise the next morning from Mount Pez, looking toward Cima Cartinaccio. The light lasted about 1/2 hour before clouds covered everything. We watched the clouds rise and curl over ridges like waves.
Posted by Dave Showalter` on September 17, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Towards the end of the hike, we reached a rifugio that overlooked Cristolo - this is moon over Cristolo.
Posted by Dave Showalter` on September 17, 2008 at 1:55 PM
It's hard to overlook the evidence of WW1 and the alpine battle between Italy and Austria. This is a WW1 fort that I light painted just after sunset.
Posted by Dave Showalter` on September 17, 2008 at 1:57 PM
A highlight was viewing Tre Cime Laverado from a high ridge while trekking. Mid-afternoon clouds swirled around the famous towers of limestone.

Posted by Richard Voninski on September 17, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Very nice!! We must have been pretty close since I was in the Lakes District early last week.

RichieV
Posted by Dave Showalter` on September 17, 2008 at 1:59 PM
The rifugios are located in great locations - this is Rif. Fanes after sunset. I tried a long-ish exposure to blur the fast-moving clouds.

Enjoy - I'll post more soon with a link to a web gallery.

Ciao!
Posted by Jody Grigg on September 17, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Nice stuff, love the opening shot! :toast:
Posted by Neil Corman on September 17, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Looks like you had a good trip. I like the first image, but also keep going back to the light painting for something different. The soft color of light with a hint of blue in the sky really makes it a pleasing image.
Posted by Jack Brauer on September 17, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Awesome! I love the clouds and light in the first one. Can't wait to see more.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on September 17, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Spectacular Dave. I really like #s 1 and 4. What great clouds you saw!
Posted by Joshua Hardin on September 17, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Spectacular Dave. I really like #s 1 and 4. What great clouds you saw!
Posted by Todd Caudle on September 17, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Oh, these are just sick! That first one is my grudging favorite.
Posted by Jesse Speer on September 17, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Definitely share more! That first one is especially nice. What a dramatic landscape.
Posted by Don Grall on September 17, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Wonderful stuff, Dave, can't wait to see more!
Posted by Kevin Trinkner on September 17, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Looks and sounds like a fantastic experience, looking forward to more from this trip.

I really like #1 and #4. Great stuff. :toast:
Posted by Jeremy Week on September 17, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Wow!! Great work Dave! Booking my trip to Italy now... :smile:
Posted by Mel Ladewig on September 17, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Great stuff Dave. I'd love to do a trip like this at some point.

#1 is a standout for sure.

Mel-
Posted by Paul Wegemann on September 18, 2008 at 7:59 AM
Wow, what a beautiful place! Nice work here, Dave.
Posted by Matthew Kennedy on September 18, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Great stuff! Looks like a great trip.
Posted by Michael Renner on September 18, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Wow - what a great collection here. 1 and 4 are fantastic!