You gotta love it

Often, I lose track of time when I'm taking photographs. That's usually not a problem, but when temperatures are well below freezing like a couple of days ago, one can face some consequences.

I was so focused on making images that I "forgot" how cold it was. Of course, I was aware of it: the pain in my face was a constant reminder of the hostile environment.

When I grabbed my video camera and tried to talk to it, I could barely move my jaw. A couple of hours outside had numbed the muscles in my face. They were so cold that I almost couldn't talk.

I can't think of any other thing I'd be doing in weather like that, for that long, that isn't photography. In fact, I can't wait to do it again.

I love it.

I had to get out...

Some days are special, those days we can't miss out on. I've talked about that here on the blog and in the newsletter.

Yesterday, I had a chance to put the theory to the test. It was supposed to be a busy day at home, but the snow waits for no one. The conditions were perfect for photography, so I had to put everything off.

It was worth it.

El Camino: a 130-mile solo winter adventure

Last week I went on an adventure that I won't be forgetting any time soon. I walked 130 miles in 6 days, fighting not only my body and mind but also the elements: 3 big storms hit the region and I got plenty of rain, wind, snow and ice.

I wanted to document this journey and the moview "El Camino" is the result. Definitely my most ambitious (and longest) movie to date.

If you are thinking about doing El Camino in winter, don't miss my post How to do El Camino de Santiago in winter.

The mountains were calling

Hello from Arco, Italy,

Sadly, we had to leave Austria one week earlier than anticipated due to bad weather. Snow and ice prevented me from doing many of the things I wanted to do there, but it was those same conditions that gifted me with a magical day that made me miss the mountains.

I lived in Portland, OR, for 5 years. While the city might not get snow every winter (we got one big snowstorm in all of those years), the mountains around it are covered in white powder for several months a year. It's easy to find snow even during the summer, if you hike high enough. I absolutely loved it.

I find snow fascinating. I grew up in a place that barely gets any: flurries are scarce, seeing the snow stick on the ground is a once-in-a-lifetime-event. The nearby mountains do get snow but it's short-lived as the warmer temperatures melt it away rather quickly.

Innsbruck got pummeled with snow last Wednesday. The locals might have found it annoying for their commutes, but it was a gift for me: unable to reach the snowy mountains, they came to me.

Placed among giants, it was easy for me to reach high altitudes by simply walking from our place near downtown Innsbruck. I walked in the snow for hours, going as high on the mountain as I could. I knew it wasn't going to last (it's still November, after all) and I wanted to take it all in.

When I left the city behind and reached the forest, it was like being back in the mountains of Oregon. I was once again walking into magical scenes from a fairy tale.

I loved my time in Innsbruck, definitely on top of my list of places to go back to. Next time, hopefully, better prepared for the winter.