"ultramarine"                                                   Have you ever traveled to a location that you dreamed of for a very long time only to feel like you really didn't capture anything special? That was my first trip to Italy / Switzerland back in 2018. So in 2024, I decided to give it another try.  This time, I flew alone and met up with my dear friend and fellow photographer Timothy Poulton.  Life is all about giving second chances and this time it payed off. This was an autumn trip and the colors were just spectacular. We spent a week in Zermatt and set out on hikes every morning. As beautiful as the Matterhorn is, I found that some of my most cherished images were more intimate, fall scenes around the old world architecture. But..what was waiting for us in Italy was truly something special.  This image is from our hike to Lago Sorapis. The trail is not difficult, but it is long and can be a bit treacherous if there has been any recent rain/snow.  We did see a few people struggling so make sure to come prepared with good shoes/boots, a headlamp, change of clothes and plenty of water. The weather can change quickly (especially in the swing seasons) so dress in layers.  As a landscape photographer, we tend to want to shoot at dawn or dusk.  With the high peaks/crags, this is a location that can be shot all through the day.  Light will expose the insane color of the water which is what makes this lake so special.  This images was latin the day, so the color in the water was beginning to disappear, but just enough to add that lovely little "pop" right in the center which I love.