Jeseníky

Frost in the mountains

Winter is slowly making its presence known with strong winds and freezing fog. The landscape is changing strangely. The familiar shapes of trees, shrubs and grass remain recognisable, but it is not yet the true winter that will smooth and hide everything. But every glance also reveals the fact that everything is suddenly uncolored, stripped down to its very texture.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/200 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Nov 6, 2021 13:02:20

Keprník

In the middle part of the Jeseníky ridge, views to the highest peaks are quite rare. The occasional view through the trees is all the more surprising, especially when the distant frost-covered peaks are illuminated by the light of the setting sun.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/250 s
• Aperture: f/4.5
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Nov 6, 2021 17:08:13

Forest in morning mist

The sun shines gently into the forests below the ridge, but the remnants of the morning mist still linger around the trunks. It is still strangely dark there and the mist appears in the bluish hues that only autumn can conjure.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/60 s
• Aperture: f/5.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 400
• Date taken: Nov 6, 2021 10:16:26

In frozen bogs

Below Malý Jezerník, the mountain forest gets sparse, with more and more small trees and swamps appearing. Even in the evening, branches remain covered in frost, which glisten silvery in the light. Slowly, the sun sinks below the horizon and the mountains are swallowed by the chill of the upcoming night.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/50 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Nov 6, 2021 17:01:41

Wild shades of red

It is possible to notice first traces of autumn with red-coloured blueberry leaves in the highest parts of the mountains. Carpets of colour scattered among the rocks beckon with their bold hues. When whole ridges begin to turn red in the evening sun, I can't resist taking this photo. 3x exposure bracketing.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/40 s
• Aperture: f/11.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 4, 2021 19:38:35

Colours of September

My favourite season started already, full of colour. I didn't even notice how quickly it happened, and the blueberries on the ridges already glow in the wildest shades of red. Below Břidličná mountain, I find a perfect spot with view through the trees towards Praděd, with prominent rocks and a carpet of blueberries in the foreground.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/100 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 4, 2021 18:15:09

Sunrise from Vozka

Summit of Vozka is formed by scattered smaller and larger rocks. That is probably why I like it there so much. However, I found many times that the view from larger rocks lacks in terms of space and composition so I tried to stay lower this time. Frozen grass and rocks partly covered in snow were what appealed to me.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/13 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Feb 28, 2021 08:00:53

Purple morning

After long full moon night first colours started to appear above the horizon. That is my alarm clock to quit sleeping bag and pack bivouac site up. On nearby summit of Vozka I was greeted by full blast of colours.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/25 s
• Aperture: f/6.3
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 320
• Date taken: Feb 28, 2021 07:56:35

New Year's awakening

Horizon flashing with thousands fireworks at midnight and a wonderful sunrise - can there be any better start of the year? And it seemed the effort was in vain even one hour before sunrise as the mountains were hidden in clouds. Suddenly dissolving and moving further into the valley, clouds prepared this show.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/40 s
• Aperture: f/11.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Jan 1, 2020 08:04:52

Winter rewards

Rewarding first sunshine on top of Vozka in -14°C. Altough it can not make the temperature more bearable, morning sunlight paints wintry landscape in great colours. Looking towards Keprník mountain.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/40 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Jan 21, 2019 07:46:03

Moonshine sonata

Frosty winter morning from the top of Vozka. Large amounts of snow make trees look like white fluffy sculptures while low temperature makes the Moon clearly visible above 120km distant Krkonoše mountains.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/60 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Jan 21, 2019 07:54:40

Curvy winter

Rocky formations on top of Vozka mountain changed into snowy walls. With rich snowfall this year it would be nearly impossible to get there without snowshoes or skis. But that much snow also means that there are many new shapes and patterns that can make it even more appealing.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/50 s
• Aperture: f/1.0
• Focal length: Unavailable
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Jan 21, 2019 07:49:10

Edge of night

Dusk in winter comes quite different compared to summer. While in summer the landscape gets dark quickly and skies remain light, in winter snowy landscapes reflect light much better and darkness arrives in much bigger contrast. Desolate woods below Vozka.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/5 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Jan 20, 2019 17:03:01

Brousek

Border with Poland on top of Brousek in Rychleby mountains - often considered as part of Jeseníky. One of the few places in Czechia where you meet just a few people even during high-season weekends and if you do, you better be sure they are going to wild camp there at night.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/30 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Aug 18, 2018 20:03:56

On the way down

I must confirm once again this place as my favourite viewpoint in whole Jeseníky. Huge block of rocks wedged into the slope makes a perfect gap in the forest so that all nerby mountains are visible. With clouds getting quite low overnight it was wintry paradise there.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/100 s
• Aperture: f/11.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Feb 10, 2018 08:38:27

Three wizzards

As the light fades in pastel tones, trees shrouded in snowy robes take part in huge battle for those remaining sunrays before darkness of the upcoming frosty night takes its place.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/60 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Feb 9, 2018 17:57:55

Marble waves

Evening brought clear skies, at least for the highest parts of the mountains cutting through the clouds. With temperature falling way below zero, sunlight revealed these marble like patterns in the snow.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/100 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Feb 9, 2018 17:42:31

Morning dream

What conditions, what a visibility! It is like a dream to watch the mountains in the morning and I missed it for quite a while recently. But there on Keprník, oh, it was simply unreal with Beskydy, Malá Fatra and even High Tatras shaping in the orange light.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/40 s
• Aperture: f/9.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Oct 16, 2017 06:22:11

Warm and cold

First warm sunrays may make mountains seem on screen like place to stay on forever. However it is already autumn with sharp frosty winds and hands get quickly cold operating the camera. But you would do everything to capture the special scenery (oh, how i was glad the fog formed in lowlands).

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/8 s
• Aperture: f/9.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Oct 16, 2017 06:20:58

Higher sisters

It was long after sunset when colours really stroke from behind Krkonoše mountains. To make all the residual light visible, the exposure of 13s was necessary. Due to high winds I had to make double sure the tripod is sturdily placed as even slightest wobble would make the image blurry. Below Krkonoše, polish table mountains are clearly visible.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 13/1 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Oct 15, 2017 17:48:42

Poniklý falls

Hidden down below one unmarked trail, waterfall on Poniklý brook keeps its secrets as one of the the most spectacular natural cascades in the region. Must-go location during autumn.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/6 s
• Aperture: f/10.0
• Focal length: 19mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Oct 15, 2017 12:14:59

Last 10

Last days were overcast, usually with low clouds trapping me in white darkness. That was the reason I did not expect much from the evening, still I was wandering in the woods around the mountain Praděd. And then the strong winds scattered the low clouds and the last 10 minutes of the day changed into the best minutes with colour blast.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/10 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Feb 10, 2017 17:00:16

Winter minimalism

Fog in combination with snow cover creating so called white darkness makes orientation in terrain quite harder than usually. However, it also creates wonderful minimalistic images with other objects like trees seemingly rising from nothingness.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/400 s
• Aperture: f/5.6
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Feb 10, 2017 14:50:38

Frozen castle

Ztracené kameny (Lost stones) with its rocky formation mark the first summit of the main route through the mountains. During clear days the view from there is spectacular, other times weather plays it little trickier - like this time, trapped in howling wind, freezing fog and left with only tones of black and white. However, I like days like this as well.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/160 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Feb 10, 2017 12:10:54

Forest of statues

I set up my camp in the evening close to the top of Vozka in the woods. Once I got out of the frozen tent next morning and after short encounter with wild stag it was just about wainting for the Sun. Of course different exposures were used for this final blended shot.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/60 s
• Aperture: f/11.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 23, 2016 06:49:18

Purple evening

The colors were so nice I could not resist taking the shot towards the valley. Having my 60mm lens on I found out the field of view is too narrow. Instead of switching for 19mm (which would be too wide) and cropping I took 4 vertical shots with 60mm, stitched them and found the crop I liked the most without compromising resolution.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/25 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 22, 2016 18:27:47

Červená hora

It was pleasant early autumn evening close to the top of Červená hora. Clouds formed wonderfully to the south-east and the light was nicely warm (although air was cold a little). I tried to balance the clouds with those close stones in this shot and also included the little path turning towards distant mountains which suited my composition.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/125 s
• Aperture: f/8.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 22, 2016 17:49:59

Shadow of the mountain

Long before sunrise I was already on top of the Břidličná mountain to capture first morning sunlight. But the light was not ideal due to the haze and the scene called for a little more waiting than usually. The Sun had to rise over the main ridge to light up the landscape. The largest triangular shadow was casted by the Břidličná itself.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/60 s
• Aperture: f/9.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 9, 2016 07:10:48

My world

Once the Moon got below horizon the Milky Way was nicely visible altough not as clearly as in other mountains due to the lights of nearby cities (especialy Šumperk visible on the left). However the contrast between the orange lights and the dark sky is what I was hoping for there.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 30/1 s
• Aperture: f/2.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 1600
• Date taken: Sep 8, 2016 22:13:00

Waiting for the night

As I was waiting for the darker part of night with Moon below the horizon I had enough time to get this photo. I took different particular images for this shot, one with sunset colors, with the tent lit and one taken one hour after the others for the stars. This is the result after combining them.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 30/1 s
• Aperture: f/2.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 320
• Date taken: Sep 8, 2016 20:26:13

Lost stones

Ztracené kameny (Lost stones) are one of the best viewpoints I know to date. Ascent through forest shows nothing from the wide perspective of view which strikes once you reach this rocky formation. I waited there for the sun to set to capture purple tones of the upcoming night.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/1 s
• Aperture: f/11.0
• Focal length: 12mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 8, 2016 19:33:55

Layers II

Subtle shadows and orange tones in the alley of trees on top of the meadow near Klepáčov catched my attention. I took several shots minutes before sunset and this one came best with just the right amount of light coming from the upper right corner of the image.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/100 s
• Aperture: f/9.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 8, 2016 18:59:54

Layers

Evening light and summer haze made hills appear stacked one after another. View towards Vernířovice village.

• Camera used: SONY ILCE-6000
• Exposure time: 1/60 s
• Aperture: f/9.0
• Focal length: 60mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Sep 8, 2016 19:01:05

Praděd

Evening view of Praděd during descent from Vysoká hole. Clouds were nicely formed so I took this shot with dead tree and rowan in the foreground.

• Camera used: Panasonic DMC-GF1
• Exposure time: 1/125 s
• Aperture: f/7.1
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Oct 26, 2013 16:47:18

Praděd

Cold and windy morning on top of the Kralický Sněžník, heading Poland. Early getting up was worth the view on sleeping towns from empty mountains high above.

• Camera used: Panasonic DMC-GF1
• Exposure time: 20/1 s
• Aperture: f/7.1
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Jun 28, 2013 20:51:08

Top of the world

Cold and windy morning on top of the Kralický Sněžník, heading Poland. Early getting up was worth the view on sleeping towns from empty mountains high above.

• Camera used: Panasonic DMC-GF1
• Exposure time: 13/10 s
• Aperture: f/7.1
• Focal length: 33mm
• ISO: 100
• Date taken: Jun 29, 2013 04:11:03