Photography is all about being in the right place at the right time. But what about the journey to get there?
For winter photography in remote mountains the “getting there” is a real challenge. It requires a multitude of skills and, as I’m out alone, I have to rely completely on myself.
Being out for weeks on end in the midst of winter is demanding, both physically and mentally.
Some ingredients of winter adventure:
- Skiing with a heavy pulk
- Navigating in whiteout
- Judging the ever-changing weather
- Pitching the tent in high winds
- Battling the cold
- Melting snow
- Keeping the gear dry
- Waiting out a winter storm
- Climbing a mountain in the dark to capture the first light
- Staying safe
Compared to ”normal” expeditions with pre-planned routes I have a different approach. As a mountain photographer I’ve learned that it’s best to adjust to the weather and light. My goal is not to cross the finish line at a specific time or break any records. I have a more subjective goal of creating photographs that I’m pleased with.
To have a higher chance of being in the right place at the right time I try to camp as close to the location where I want to photograph as possible. If it’s a summit it means some hard work. Anyone who have tried to pull a heavy pulk uphill knows what I’m talking about. It’s a demoralizing exercise.
At the end of a long day I’m sometimes so tired that all I can focus on when I’ve pitched the tent and got the stove running is to drink, eat and sleep. Photography is never my number one priority. My safety and well-being always comes first.
To get out of the warm sleeping bag six hours before sunrise to climb a mountain in the dark requires determination. With – 25 °C and a bitter cold wind outside of the tent it would be easy to just hit that snooze button. But it’s the uncomfortable decisions that pays off in unique photographs and life-changing experiences.
Why am I doing this? Sometimes I ask myself this question when I’m out there. The answer is right in front of me, in the extraordinary beauty of the winter landscape and its light.
I also find great satisfaction in the challenges along the way. My best moments in the mountains have been when I’ve put in the effort, challenged myself and been rewarded with special conditions for photography.
To truly capture the mountains in the winter I not only have to master the art of photography. I also have to master the art of traveling through these wild and remote places.
The making of a photograph in the winter mountains involves so much more than just pressing the shutter.
/ Magnus
The images in this post are from my winter expedition in Sarek 2021. From which I also made the film “Exposed”.
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