The Odles

I’ve been looking forward to today for a long time. This is probably one of the most famous views in the Dolomites and reached by taking two lifts from Ortesei to Secada where the vista that confronts you as you walk out of the cable car station is a match for anywhere in the world.

There are a few positions where you can take an image in this direction without the paraphernalia of ski and chair lifts getting in your way but this was my favourite.  funnily it was also the favourite of another photographer who climbed under the fence on the edge of the mountain, set up a mini tripod and was trying to take a long wide angle exposure.  His frustration was building as people kept on walking into his shot, despite not crossing the fence.  I had to smile; been there, done that and got the t-shirt.

For me it was hand held though I had taken filters and used a medium grad to control the sky.  It probably wasn’t needed but I had them with me anyway.

We had thought we might use a chair lift into the valley below and link up with Col Raiser, returning via S. Christina, but it wasn’t in use and there was a threat of thunderstorms later in the day, so we returned to Ortesei and caught the local bus back to Selva.

As I write this at 6 pm I can here thunder in the mountains around us and clouds have built up obscuring many of the peaks.  Might be an opportunity later for some lightning shots.