The Challenge of Cuernos del Paine
(Originally published in 2015)
Let’s face it…
…the Cuernos del Paine could easily been the most photographed mountains in all Chilean National Parks, Patagonia, and/or any other category you can come up with, related to natural destinations. Even visitors coming for just a few hours get more than a glimpse of these magnificent peaks… and try to capture it on a chip.
I know most of these shots are really meant only as a vacation memento (and probably don’t qualify for anything more), but still, there is a gigantic bunch of highly-skilled photographers, doing their best to get the most of their expensive and thoroughly planned trips to Patagonia.
So, how can you make a picture that has — at least — a remote chance to stand out from the infinite lot? I’d love to say I have the perfect success formula, but I can’t.
Yet I believe I ‘m not quite far from it, at least not after nearly half a dozen visits in a little over a decade and having the honor of nearly 20 different publications of my photos. Well, here are a few recommendations.
1. Get up early. Really early. Set your clock at 5AM, having studied nice photo locations in advance. Most people aim for the nice warm sunset light, which makes sense, but the colors of dawn are a little different: light comes from the other side, so it’ll be easier to get photos with a rather less common lighting.
2. Don’t be afraid of moving clouds at any given time. Actually, get ready when the sky seems rather unstable. Be patient — but you already know that if you read as far as here. Make different compositions and even make the clouds the subject and leave the Cuernos as the toppings. And if the conditions allow it, have the sun behind the clouds as backlight.
3. Zoom in. Zoom in again. Make tight compositions. Choose a section of the whole mountain range and get the most out of it. Don’t miss the details.
Have a great trip!
