The Dolomites are a mountain range in northeastern Italy, I have had the great pleasure of photographing there four times now and each and every time is different experience. I like to keep a daily log when I travel so that I can write this blog, I don’t always do a good job of it, but I try. Now onto the trip report…
The workshop started off with some rocky roads due to a few last-minute cancellations that could not be helped. So, I decided to downsize from a van to an SUV. My friend and helper Michael Zajac drove for us as he has in the past.
Our first shooting location started off a little overcast and dull. Soon the sky cleared, and we had some sweeping clouds with a hint of blue... not bad. And then, the unthinkable happened, the sky behind us started to turn pink and an opening in the clouds allowed the setting sun to illuminate the mountain peaks in front of us. We were all thrilled.
At last light
Our next morning shoot was fantastic! The sky was a beautiful pink and blue. As the sun eased its way towards the horizon, the vibrant colors changed their hue and voila- orange is the new pink!
Sunrise with Cortina illuminated in the valley below.
That evening the overcast skies got the best of the light, but we were treated to some dancing fog on the mountains, which is always special. That evening we had made reservations at a quaint authentic Italian restaurant, dinner was excellent. I started off with a large Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella and some of the most delicious tomatoes I’ve ever had!
Our next morning was filled with rain/fog, so we slept in and had a big breakfast before heading out on a scenic drive. We took advantage of the intermittent mountain views and stopped when we could along the way. We finished the morning with Photoshop and image review.
On our last night in the Cortina area, we had a few dramatic skies and a wonderful sunset shoot.
At our next location we had a nice lunch in our hotel before heading out for a sunset shoot.
The next morning we got socked in with fog so we headed down the mountain for a delicious breakfast, then straight back up the mountain for a redemption photo shoot that worked out well.
Our next morning was glorious, with fog floating over the valley floor making the mountains look like they were swimming in a sea of clouds.
On one of our last evenings together we went to The Church of St. Johann in Ranui, a Baroque chapel with a copper-domed bell tower. The sky was like cotton candy surrounding the mountains.
I thought about cropping in a little tighter but I wanted to show you the scene.
Overall, we had some great weather with clouds, fog and dramatic light. We had a bit of rain but not much. I think during our 12 days there (I spent time hiking and photographing after the workshop) we only missed 2 photo session due to the rain.
I am already missing the mountains, the light, and the ambiance that makes the Dolomites such a magical place to photograph. I managed to eat my fair share of delicious pasta, artisan pizzas, cream-filled croissants and gelato. I enjoyed every outing, every epic hike and every single mountain view.
I am planning another workshop for October 2025. Anyone interested can contact me. It will be a small group tour (easy to moderate fitness level). In 2026 Cortina will host the winter Olympics and we will skip that year. But next year, I’ll be back!