Tarns

Let’s start at the beginning: what is a “tarn”? It is a smaller-bigger lake that comes into being at the edge of the glacial valleys hills of high mountains. Why is it called tarn? Well, I will tell you that during the photo tour, ok?

For me it is one of the most attractive photo topics and in addition, it has the most beautiful and spectacular result. It can be a haze, reflection, amazing plants as foreground and magnificent mountain peak in the background or all at the same time, if you can select those moments when these come up. There is no nature photographer, who would not be excited about it.

I reveal you that so as to see this, in the Transylvanian Carpathians, there is a chance especially in the Retyezat and in the Fogaras Mountains. I can also tell you that we will walk, with full photographer equipment on our back. But a real photographer walks without a word – just like a soldier – in the hope of a good picture and this is done so, that in the meantime he will crease under himself a good small fall, too. For example, in the Fogaras mountains until the Goat lake we can manage to go up within an hour – doing a level of + 400 m, while to the Podragu lakes or to many tarns of the Retyezat we can walk for long hours, doing a level even of + 1000 m. Everything depends on where we plan the base. But think about it, the hikers walk 8-10-12 hours, too. A nature photographer knows he has to carry the same burden as a hiker, plus the photographer stuff (this can be about 10-12 kg). On the top of all this, there are cases when accommodation in a tent cannot be solved. The weather is not always gracious in the mountains, so equipment and suitable clothing is needed. No wonder we try to hike the least possible with so many stuffs on our back. But the result is worth it!

At least 2-3 days has to be dedicated to one or two places in the nearby, this way 2-2 sunrises and sunsets can be caught and photographers do know that this isn’t too much. I think there are three outstanding periods when the most beautiful pictures are taken: in June, the month of blossoms, the end of September, the end of October when the yellow painted alpine pastures edge the blue mirror of the lake and at the first snowfall, when the water is not frozen yet. However, the last two may even coincide. But usually taking photos of the lakes is a grateful task anytime from May until November.