A photo diary of the Italian Dolomites
A photographic journey through the Italian Dolomites
The Italian Dolomites are on top of many photographers’ bucket lists. And for good reason. The majestic mountains dominate the landscape, crystal blue lakes are hidden within the forests, and the endless valleys stretch off into the horizon. The Dolomites is a dream location for photographers. There are so many incredible locations to visit. However to get the most out of your trip, you have to be an early bird. Waking up a couple of hours before sunrise is absolutely essential. Being comfortable driving on narrow mountain roads is as well.
In this post I’m going to show you some of my favorite moments, from my recent trip to the Dolomites in Italy.
Let me start off by saying. There are maaaany more locations in the Dolomites than what I show you here. However these are my favorite moments from the trip.
A photo diary of the Italian Dolomites
Alpe di Siusi
This is probably one of the first places photographers go, when arriving in the Dolomites. I can’t say whether it’s best to visit for sunrise or sunset, however I visited for sunrise, and it was spectacular! The sun was rising to the left of the peaks, casting a slight glow on the peaks of the mountain. This location is simply perfect, and there are lots of beautiful compositions here. Most people go to the same spots, but there are so many more to explore. This was my last sunrise in the Dolomites, and after two weeks of waking up for sunrise everyday (Iceland included) I was simply too exhausted to explore beyond the popular spots. I got a few good photos, but regret not going to the lengths I normally do. Nevertheless, I love the outcome.
A photo diary of the Italian Dolomites
Village church
A few kilometres after leaving Alpe di Siusi, there is a stunning church located in the most beautiful surroundings, on the left hand side of the road. I don’t know what the name is, or even where the proper parking lot is, and didn’t even know about it until one of my photography friends mentioned it to me (Shoutout to @Sammvandenheuvel).
The church is beautiful though, and there are some great photos to be taken from here!
Tre Cime
This was probably my favorite location in the Dolomites, if I had to pick just one. There is a magnitude of photos to be taken up here, and I didn’t even get the most popular one, as I was way too focused on the peaks in the background. It is an incredible sight, and one that you can’t visit just once. I went two times, and even that was too little. As soon as I arrived at my hotel in the Dolomites, I drove to Tre Cime, in order to catch the sunset. It was a complete failure, as the mountain range was completely covered in fog and low clouds. I decided to drive up there the following morning, accompanied by a few red bulls due to little sleep. I got one of the most amazing mornings I have ever had photography wise. This is a location I would love to visit again in the near future.
A photo diary of the Italian Dolomites
Lago di Braies
This is probably the most popular location for tourists in the Dolomites. Make sure that you go very early if you want a parking spot, and avoid the crowds. I went an hour before sunrise, and wasn’t even the first person to arrive.
For some reason I found it difficult to photograph. I had a few photos in mind that I wanted to catch before arriving, but that wasn’t possible due to the boathouse opening a few hours after sunrise. I decided not to stick around with everybody else, and actually regret that to this day. It is one of the locations I’m looking the most forward to visiting again, and next time I will definitely arrive, better prepared.
Lago di Carezza
Lago di Carezza was probably the biggest surprise for me. This lake was so beautiful, and it was incredibly easy to photograph. Honestly, it is difficult to take a bad photo here, as the settings are so stunning. Getting there for sunset was quite a hassle, as people were driving incredibly slow, and there was quite a lot of traffic. I only arrived five minutes before sunset, even though I tried to arrive an hour in advance. The traffic was THAT slow. If you plan to visit for sunset, make sure that you give yourself enough time to actually arrive there. I hate to run around at a location, and try to find a spot in the last minute.
St. Johann Church
An absolutely stunning sunset location. I’m sure it is beautiful for sunrise as well, but in my case, I only visited for sunset. I was surprised to see that there was only quite a small viewing platform, and actually spent quite some time walking around to find a different angle. I ended up setting up at the viewing platform, and luckily there were only a few other people than myself. It is an absolutely incredible scene, and definitely one of the most beautiful places for a church I have ever seen. I would have loved to explore this area even more, and find some great vantage points to photograph Val di Funes, but unfortunately I didn’t have the time.
A photo diary of the Italian Dolomites.
Lago di Limides
This was quite a surprise for me, as I had only seen it described in a few places online as it is not as popular as all the other spots in the Dolomites. To get there you have to do a small hike, but it is absolutely worth it. The lake only has water in certain times of the year apparently, so I guess I was quite lucky in that regard. I got to spend an amazing morning here, not caring too much about my photography to be honest, but simply just enjoying life.
There are lots of great photos to be taken here, and it is definitely a must visit location.
That's it. There are many more beautiful locations in this incredible area, however these spots are where I got the best photos! The post will be updated with even more spots, after my next visit.