2019 Year In Review

I can’t believe 2019 is almost over, it’s been such a busy but great year!

I’ve decided to put this article together first to find the motivation to edit some unedited images (lazy me!) but also to share with you some of the adventures and some of my favorite pictures of 2019. Let’s begin!

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

After keeping 2018 at a really hard pace I wanted to take the beginning of 2019 easy so I’ve decided to leave my camera gear on the shelf for a while. Only office work and some easy trips to unplug and relax including Portugal, Thailand, Tuscany & Naples, where I’ve set a new personal record of 5 pizzas in 24 hours 😀

MARCH

• It’s March 19th and I’m on my way to Patagonia a couple of weeks before the beginning of the tours with the idea to head to El Calafate and shoot Mt. Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre from the air. On a side note, I was supposed to do this flight in 2018 already. But after a long waiting, when the weather was finally good to go, the radio of the Cessna broke and the pilot had to cancel. Anyway, back to March 2019, after a week of problems with the plane again (and great weather everyday!) I was about to give up. But on the last available day, everything worked out and I was able to fly. Needles to say it was mind blowing, what an amazing experience to see this area that I know so well from a different perspective!

APRIL

• On April 1st, the first out of three workshops in Patagonia begins. We were able to see Cerro Torre with every single group and, if you’re familiar with the area and this mountain, you know how hard it can be! We had some pretty spectacular moments and I personally got some of my ever-favorite images from the area this year. As always, camping and hiking in Patagonia was great.

MAY

• Back from Patagonia on May 4th and home until May 25th when I’m heading to Menorca to be one of the 12 photographers to teach at the Photopills Camp. Sixty participants, the Photopills team, a beautiful island to explore and so much fun. Hard to describe what a great experience it has been! Also, the Photopills Camp marks the beginning of a long sleepless summer…

JUNE

• Back from Menorca on June 2nd, I’m preparing my backpack for a new adventure starting on June 8th with Max Rive, to a place I’ve been wanting to shoot for a very long time: Peru. It was my first time at such high altitude (5000+m) and the place went way above my expectations. I went scouting for the first couple of weeks in some areas that are truly off the grid, then had a quick 3 days holiday in Machu Picchu.

JULY

• On July 12th I’m guiding the summer tour in the Dolomites. A week of early alarms (like… really early!) and late dinners, with another great group.

• After the Dolomites and 1 day back home, I’m heading to Iceland on July 18th to be ready to guide another summer workshop. After that, since the lack of sleep was not enough, I decided to do the loop of the country in the 4 full days at my disposal. Crazy? Oh yes! Not to take stellar pictures of course, but more to visit some new areas. Funny fact, despite all the driving, I managed to take some images I really like.

AUGUST

• On August 1st, I’m flying from Iceland to Sweden. A quick visit to Stockholm, a fly to Kiruna and a drive to Evenes later and the camping workshop in Senja begins. We had amazing weather and, again, no much sleep! But that’s part of the fun too 🙂

• A week later, the trip in Senja is over, better be ready for the Faroe Islands! On August 12th I meet with the Photopills team and the first out of three workshops I’m guiding in the Faroe Islands begins. Every single workshop was different, almost every day we experienced all 4 seasons. The only thing that stayed constant? The hot dogs at the gas station 😀

SEPTEMBER

• The last Faroe Island tour with Michael Shainblum is over on September 8th and… Wait, is it September already? What a busy summer! Back home after 6 workshops and 2 months away. After ten days home, I decide to fly to Australia on September 20th and stay there for 7 full days. Crazy idea, crazy trip! We flew to Adelaide, drove 1000km north into the Outback and reached Lake Eyre, the biggest salt lake in Australia to take some aerial images. I flew above the lake for about 6 hours in the only 3 days I had there and took a crazy amount of pictures with the new Sony A7RIV.

• On the way back to Italy, had a quick stopover in Dubai until October 3rd. Of two things I’m glad: meeting up with my friend Khaled, who showed us around and surviving the day, with 45 degrees Celsius outside and 3000% humidity 😀

OCTOBER

• Yay, it’s that time of the year! On October 12th I met up with my first group to guide a private workshop in the Dolomites, then guided another two tours til the end of the month. This year we had some crazy fog conditions and some pretty starry skies…

NOVEMBER

• The last workshop of 2019 is over and with it, my last photography trip as well. On November 4th I’m heading to a small island in the UK for a quick visit and then, it’s home time again.

DECEMBER

• The Holidays are here as well as the New Year! No long trips in December, only some short visits to several areas of Italy, among Christmas trees and sparkling lights.

 2019 has been another great year and I’m thankful for what I’ve been able to do. 2020 is around the corner and with it many new adventures and places to discover, can’t wait for it!