How many chances are there to find two aspens showing the same pattern of the characteristic lichen’s spots, and one tree close to the other? Seemingly, many more than you could expect, if you consider that it took me just a hour to find them. Or, maybe, I’ve just picked a lottery winner without even being aware of that... Several are the reasons why the Fulufjället has been declared a National Park, ten years ago. It hosts the Swedish highest waterfall, where the Scandinavia southernmost pair of gyrfalcons (world's largest and rarest falcon) is nesting every year; its origin goes back to 900 millions years ago, not coming from recent ice ages; the oldest tree in the world grows on it (almost 10,000 years old), and it is, consequently, also the oldest individual living being on the planet. Last, but not least, the vast plateau (34x15 km at 1,000 mt height) on its top is the only mountain area in Sweden with no signs of reindeer grazing in centuries. The result is a peculiar, pristine vegetation, unique for number and diversity of species: bushes, plants and carpets of whitish reindeer lichen as far as the eye can see. And here I close the advertisement. I was facing this environment in a late afternoon with a dull light, totally unfit both for the lichen cushions and the autumn blueberries quilting them. In a short enlightenment of lateral thinking, I then asked myself “Why not just use a flash?” Obviously, only directed toward the area I wanted to enhance, leaving the rest of the landscape to its lifeless light. |
All site contents are: © Vitantonio Dell'Orto, all rights reserved worldwide. The Chronicles of Särna, and other stories from the North.
I live in Sweden, in Särna (Dalarna). The Chronicles are a photo diary about the nature (but not just) here around and from all the Scandinavian areas where my photo job takes me.
My book: "My Sweden - Tales from an Italian photographer in the North" is available in the bookstores and by the publisher.
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