NIGEL'S RAMBLES: 2012

Monday, December 24, 2012

A New Toy

I needed a camera to keep in my briefcase to take record shots on site for my work and also to have a camera always at hand.

The solution was a second hand and out of production (from the packaging and exif file, it was obvious that the camera had never been used) Parasonic Lumix GF3 with the kit zoom at a ridiculous price. This tiny camera has a 4/3 sensor almost as large as my Nikon DSLR’s but is a fraction of the size and weight. I also got a tiny second hand wide angle to make the camera pocket able.

The tiny Lumix 3GF with the 14mm wide angle lens

What fun this camera is to use. Below are some photos that I have taken just to see what it can do. The quality up to 400 ISO is great, at 1600 it’s a bit grainy. The auto everything works well, so it can be left to set aperture and shutter speed almost by itself.

Olive trees Quattro Castella, RE

Quattro Castella, RE

Montecchio, RE


Montecchio, RE

Reggio Emilia

I’m beginning to wonder whether it’s really necessary to haul my heavy DSLR’s up and down the Apennines when I go walking in the mountains. Maybe these mirror less Micro 4/3 cameras are the future.

The quality is not quite the same, but its very close.

Susu

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

A Perfect Day

Autumn has been very wet this year. I managed to take advantage of one of the few days of perfect weather in the high Apennines.

I decided to do what is for me a classic walk in the Cento Laghi park in the province of Parma.

I left the car at the Lagoni Refuge and after admiring the Autumn colours reflected in the lake, I climbed up the 711 footpath to Lago Scuro another glacial lake under Monte Scala. In the Autumn this lake seems far more “open” than in the summer.

I Lagoni, Bosco di Corniglio, PR

I carried on up to Passo Fugicchia ( 715) where the view across to Monte Orsaro is spectacular on a fine day.

Lago Scuro, Corniglio, PR

Passo Fugicchia, Corniglio, PR

View across the Parmetta vally to Monte Orsaro, PR

Next stop Lago Bicchiere ( 713 ) a small lake just under the “Crinale”. For the first time the lake was full of water.

Passo Fugicchia and Monte Scala, Corniglio, PR

Lago Bicchiere, Corniglio, PR

Another ten minutes and I was under Monte Matto ( Madman mountain) on the 00 footpath. Here the mountains drop almost vertically down into Tuscany on one side and more gently down into Emilia on the other.

The Bagnone Valley, Bagnone MC

Monte Matto, PR

Monte Paitino, PR

After Monte Paitino it was time to climb Monte Sillara, the highest point in the Province of Parma ( 1861m). From below it looks like a long stiff climb, but it is in reality quite easy, and before you know it you are at the top.

Under Monte Sillara, PR

The summit of Monte Sillara was the perfect place to stop for lunch ( a couple of “Pannini” filled with Parma Ham. ) The view across the lakes with the Alpe di Succiso in the distance is always breathtaking.

Monte Sillara, PR

I followed the crest along the 00 footpath before dropping down to Lake Compione. All around normally dry lakes were full of water , I have never seen the lakes so full or plentiful.

Lago Compione, PR

Lago Sillara, PR

Near Lago Compione, PR

It was now time to return to the car. After passing Lago Sillara and climbing back upto the crest I took a stretch of footpath ( 713) that was new to me. This footpath drops down, in some places almost vertically to Capanna Lago Scuro , an ex Sheppard’s hut , another quarter of an hour and I was Back at the Lagoni .

The Lagoni lakes are glacial lakes and the action of the ice on the rocks in the valley is very evident.

Rocca Piumaciolo, PR

Evening, I Lagoni, Bosco di Corniglio, PR

Monday, December 24, 2012

A New Toy

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

A Perfect Day

Copyright 2023Nigel Voak