Refugees - Color version
During a snow storm we found this ancient mountain refuge so we escaped the cold for a while looking at the snow covering everything around us. At the end, with...
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During a snow storm we found this ancient mountain refuge so we escaped the cold for a while looking at the snow covering everything around us. At the end, with half a meter (and keep raising), we had to fall back home to not risk getting stuck in the middle of nowhere! all the Italian Apennine abandoned churches, castles, ruins and villages are being re-discovered and restored in hostels, mountain refuges and touristic attractions telling much about these region's touristic vocation. Val Chiarino, Abruzzo - Italy
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Feb, 2016Views
786
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Awards
People's Choice in Barns Photo Challenge
People's Choice in Doors and Entranceways Photo Challenge
Winner in Show me the face Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
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All Star
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gavinrichardson
October 21, 2016
Congratulations on your Peoples Choice Award in the Doorways Challenge. This picture was on my shortlist for overall winner.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
We where in the Gran Sasso National Park in Italy, a famous hiking heaven immersed in the nature of the central Italian Apennine not far from L'Aquila, sadly known for the earthquake that destroyed almost entirely the historical heritage of the city. The hike is a 25km long path across old beech forests, high altitude grasslands and rocky peaks leading to the highest peninsular summit on Italian territory: the 2916mts of Corno Grande.Time
It was just before midday in winter time.Lighting
The light was very muffled and diffused by the heavy snow storm, moreover the contrast of the shadows inside the wood and stone shelter makes the observer feel somehow protected and isolated from the exterior and at the same time part of the scene itself.Equipment
The shot was taken freehand with a Fujifilm Finepix HS33exr camera with a 24-720 mm.Inspiration
When we got inside the shelter we spent some time talking about what we may do next and in just 10 minutes it snowed so much that all our footprints vanished and everithing was covered under 20cm of soft snow. It was pretty surreal, like be on top an iceberg lost in a sea of snow!Editing
I managed to straighten the alignment and removed a bit of noise here and there in the darker spots. The picture was already sharp and well focused so it didn't need any other post-processing.In my camera bag
As always when I move into wilderness, I take with me my camera and a tripod and all the necessary to face adverse climatic conditions. I like to go lightweight, so no unnecessary stuff and lot of willingness to go where there is no signed paths to get lost in the nature in complete safety.Feedback
To take a shot like this you may need a good dose of luck because of the very particular weather and light conditions. Sometimes this is not enough tough.. you may need a different approach to what most of the people consider a "travel inconvenient" and that make some hikes a really different experience: from a common walk in the nature to a walk WITH the nature!
