Plitvice Waterfalls in Winter, Croatia

How to stop time?

Days keep passing while constantly working, and we just work, eat, sleep and work again, then you realize, another week, another month has just gone by. I had no time to write anything on the blog. Many concerts to shoot... will have to catch up with my latest thoughts on subject of music photography. For the time being, something really fresh - trip to Plitvice National Park in Croatia.

Plitvice, Croatia
70mm, 2 minutes, f/16, ISO 100

One day few weeks ago I called my photographer friend Andreas to check on things, and all of sudden I was planning group trip to Croatia, to shoot winter around Plitvice Lakes. I wanted to visit this national park already for a long time, and now it was a good moment. Quickly re-adjusted my calendar and last 3 days we spent in deep snow in Croatia.

Amount of snow I had to deal with over there completely overwhelmed me. I was expecting some, but not that much. Andreas mentioned something about taking snow shoes. I bought new ones and was almost certain I would not need them. How wrong I was. 

Mario and Dieter probing the snow trying to find the route to overcome fallen tree.
See how deep the snow is, check Dieter's skiing stick sunk in the snow.

Generally in winter Plitvice National Park is closed, but this is the best moment to quietly visit this amazing area. There are no tourists, for two days we have not met anybody! Can you imagine that?!

Cornwall Part 2 - St Michael's Mount, Cot Valley

Weather forecast mentioned possible moments of sun during early morning. I adjusted my plans for this slight possibility and decided to start the day in Marazion, located on the shore of Mount's Bay. The main attraction of the place is St Michael's Mount, half-a-mile offshore, small hill with old church on top. With low water one can simply walk all the way to the mount along old stone pathway. It sounded very interesting. Double checked tide times and all things seemed to work just fine. I knew where to go.

St Michael's Mount at dawn. Pathway by the mount is already under water.

I arrived to Marazion after 6 a.m., more than an hour before sunrize. Wanted to walk around to find good spot. Took my torch and headed down the beach. Strange feeling to walk along the beach hearing the sea but not seeing it. It was still period of low tide, but after 7 waters should be coming in. There was very little time to get decent picture of the mount with the path leading to it. But first I had to find the path in almost complete darkness. With help of torch and GPS on my phone, I pre-cached map of the area night before, I found the place. Stood for a while and wondered if I should follow it all the way into the sea or not. Water was already coming in slowly... so I thought. When I got closer I realized coming tide is in reality way faster. I moved to the beach instead and went after dawn skies and reflections. From time to time I moon kept breaking through the clouds. It would make nice picture I thought. 

St Michael's Mount at dawn

I had to keep moving to escape fast coming sea. If I had followed the path I would have been cut-off by now, swimming under best circumstances. But I must say I totally enjoyed the placed, coming sea, red and blue clouds lit by rising sun, those are magical moments and unfortunately they last only minutes. Following line of water I reached again stone mount path, now its further section well flooded already. I kept shooting capturing still very colourful skies, light was changing now very fast. After every shot I had to change the settings.