Prepare for Trip
Things you need to do or have before trip
photography equipment
There are a few photography essentials that I recommend taking with you on the trip:
- Your main and backup cameras
- Digital camera batteries and camera battery replacements
- Wide-angle lens, for example 16-35
- Regular lens 24-70
- Telephoto lens 70-200 or 100-400
- Lens hood, polarizing and ND filters
- Lens cleaner, charger
- Main and back-up memory cards
- Camera bag and rain sleeve (shower cap) to protect your camera from rain
- Tripod
- Flashlight
- Laptop to download footage
essentials
Essential gear and clothes for the Dolomites:
- Lightweight waterproof Gore-Tex-like costume, jacket and pants
- Windproof Windstopper-like costume, jacket and pants
- Lightweight down jacket or vest
- Fleece jacket
- Fleece hat
- Hiking boots
- Lightweight sneakers
- Gloves
- Thermal underwear (base layer)
- A shift of clothes (change of underwear)
- Baseball cap
- Personal hygiene products
- First aid kit
- Sunglasses
- Lip balm
- Electronic devices: cell phone with Internet access
- Charges, shoe laces
How to prepare for travel
The most obvious thing of all is to book your tickets to Italy first. I suggest booking tickets to Venice because it's easier to get from Venice to the first location, Cortina d'Ampezzo. You can easily reach Cortina by car from other nearby cities, such as Zurich, Munich, Milan, or Innsbruck but again -- I suggest the easiest and most comfortable route -- to get to Cortina by car from Venice.
The fastest route across all locations in this photo guide is by car.
A note about timing: every map I've prepared works for the Dolomites in September - October -- I think this is the best time of the year to explore the mountains (fewer tourists, better landscape, gorgeous scenery, deeper sun, etc.). If you decide to travel during another season, these maps may still work, however, please keep in mind that the sun and the light change, and the shooting hours will obviously differ (even if not much, I still have to warn you about the possibility).
After you organize your trip to Italy, find a place to stay, at least at your first location. Check the hotel availability, book yourself in, and you're ready to go.
The fastest route across all locations in this photo guide is by car.
A note about timing: every map I've prepared works for the Dolomites in September - October -- I think this is the best time of the year to explore the mountains (fewer tourists, better landscape, gorgeous scenery, deeper sun, etc.). If you decide to travel during another season, these maps may still work, however, please keep in mind that the sun and the light change, and the shooting hours will obviously differ (even if not much, I still have to warn you about the possibility).
After you organize your trip to Italy, find a place to stay, at least at your first location. Check the hotel availability, book yourself in, and you're ready to go.