I have always loved winter. The snow, the purity and whitness of it. Of course, not in the cities. There, it gets soggy and dirty. Instantly. Not even thinking about the kaos and mess it can do. But up in the hills, or even better, mountains, it is ... Well, nothing like it.
And adding sun and some skiing to this combo, you get something really amazing. Alpine skiing, for example.
Amazing scenery that welcomed us at FIS World Cup downhill in Zauchensee, Austria.
When I came up to my shooting position I was just like a happy kid. I knew I could get some great images, as the light and the conditions were near perfect. Of course, it was not all that easy. Working with the long lenses with teleconverter, focusing manually. I had to be very focused to get the work done. But I was very very motivated. And then the ladies started coming down. Sure, I was not the only photographer there, but I addmit, this was one of those shots I was waiting for quite a while.
Julia Mancuso of USA competes during a FIS World Cup Downhill race in Zauchensee, Austria on January 11, 2014. Maybe a "cliche" shot, but I've been waiting for it quite a while. And it was worth it.
Unfortunately, weather conditions are not always perfect. It might rain. And I hate it when it rains. And it might be snowing. That, on the other hand, I love. After all the races, rainy, snowy or sunny ones I know one thing for sure - I hate rain, but cannot decide, what I prefer more - snowing or sun. Sun is great, it gives you great working conditions, no worries about the equipment getting wet. In snow, well, the equipment suffers a lot. There have been races when even raincovers would not help. But when you look at a shot of a skier, wraped in snowflakes, fighting with the gates and the course and time ... Well, I just cannot decide what is better.
Marusa Ferk of Slovenia competes during FIS World Cup Slalom race in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia on February 2, 2014.
I know the shot is not perfect, with the hand infront of the skier's face. And some would say that there are to many skiing poles in the shot. But the look of the skier, the action, I love it. And it is different.
Adding a nightrace into the snowy conditions, I know one thing for sure - I pick snowy nightrace over the clear one over and over again. The lights, the snowflakes, the action. This is why I love Flachau night Slalom. That slope is one of my favourite ones. And again, it is different.
Frida Hansdotter of Sweden competes during FIS World Cup Slalom race in Flachau, Austria on January 14, 2014.
Yes, it was hard. The viewfinder was misty and could not see the skier clearly and to get the shot with lights in behind, I had to make some compromises. To cover the blue gates and risk getting hand over the skier's face again. I had to lie in the snow to get the lights in the desired position in the composition of the photo. But then again, it was totally worth it as I got something completely different.
Alpine skiing is demanding. I do not ski, so I have to walk on the course so I could say I am a bit handicaped. Sometimes we have to wait for hours in one position, no matter what the wheater conditions are. You find a great position and then, when it is already too late you find out you picked up a spot where coaches stand behind. Sometimes you see a great spot, it can even be the only spot on the whole course, but there is a comercial banner behind it.
But then the race starts. The shots start flying, the adrenaline kicks in. And there is nothing like it. You just forget about everything and enjoy. Maybe this is why I love winter.
