In January 2025 I went on a spontaneous trip to Slovenia. I had always wanted to visit the country in winter, with its frosty landscapes and most importantly: The beautiful churches that you can find on almost every hilltop. I went for just 2.5 days, but did it last minute. This allowed me to make the most out of weather conditions and increase my chances of getting the ‘right’ conditions. I wanted to photograph the famous Slovenian churches above the fog during sunrise. This is what I came for.
I contacted local photographer Piotr Skrypiec, who I consider one of the best landscape photographers living in Slovenia. His work inspired me to visit Slovenia. Piotr helped me finding my way to the good spots in the country. And not only that. He was also invited me into his home for breakfasts and dinners. His family was extremely welcoming, and I am very grateful for that.
We spent just 2 days and 1 sunrise of nonstop shooting. Conditions were excellent with great variety: Frozen landscapes, snow on the high parts, and beautiful fog in the mornings and sometimes even with sunsets. I quickly fell in love with the country. In some way, it has something to it like my own homeland: The ‘cute’ scenery with its photogenic churches and the morning fog. It has some magic to it. I really can’t wait to return and explore much more. Because these series are just a small taste of what’s out there to photograph.
Here’s the photo series that I shot during these 2 days:
Starting with the famous Sveti Tomaz church, the ‘classic’ shot I had always wanted to take. And luckily, I had some great conditions on that morning, arriving more than an hour before sunrise so I could start photographing in the dark with the stars. I really love this kind of mood. It gives an extra sense of mystery and romance, and is a slightly different shot than the usual.
The flight light hitting the mountains and a soft glow appears, casting it’s softness over the landscape and sky.
The first direct light hitting the church. It’s interesting how in winter the church on top of the hill gets the exact first Sundays, like a beacon in the landscape.
During sunrise I also flew the drone a bit to see the fog layers from a bit higher up and get a slightly different wide angle perspective.
And from up close with the drone, the scenery looked spectacular.
After the sun rose we spent some time driving around the scenery. There was beautiful low fog everywhere, and the first light was hitting part of the empty trees, but they still looked like autumn because of that golden light.
More photos of the morning surroundings and golden light. The first light on the trees with the mountain backdrops was just spectacular.
But also the morning twilight before sunrise was just spectacular in different directions. Little villages and farms popping out of the fog with mountain backdrops and low fog:
But lets go back to the churches. On the second evening We visited this beautiful church on a hilltop, which was lit. There was a full moon lightning the landscape with amazing low clouds. It looked like an island in the sky with the church on it. I spent there about 2 hours to capture this star trail:
The same church with sunset with the drone, when there was much less fog around:
And even on the first evening, we went out to photograph this church with a spectacular mountain backdrop. And again, there was low fog in the valley. Not that much, but just enough for the surreal atmosphere.
Also, during daytime we spent most of the days shooting as the higher parts of hills were covered in snow and frost, often catching fog or low clouds creating magical winter scenery.
Low clouds and the sun kept battling each other, creating for some very surreal winter mood. The floor covered in snow and the trees covered in thick frost. I loved exploring different compositions from this same church from different angles. Not just the churches were photogenic, but the landscapes around it maybe even more.
The same church, from a slightly higher perspective with the drone. Sometimes the clouds would make a window and the small village with the church would be visible.
Same church, different angle from the street. So empty, so quiet, with the magical winter coat of the landscape surrounding the church.
A chapel nearby this same church, revealing itself from time to time out of the fog.
Winter light and passing snowstorms passing, where this one church on top of the hill was sometimes hit by a small patch of light.
So many of these churches look similar, but they’re all different, on different hilltops. We simply kept driving from one to the next, exploring the winter scenery on the higher grounds.
Slightly different composition of the same church above. I just kept waiting for atmospheric conditions. The church kept being in and out of the fog.
The very last church I photographed just next to the road, on the way to the airport. After this I rushed to get my morning plane back to the Netherlands.
2 full days of shooting (plus the early morning before catching my plane) with lots of misty landscapes and churches, I was satisfied with the conditions and shots that I got. Again, special thanks to Piotr for hosting me and showing me so many beautiful places in such a short time. I only scratched the surface of the beauty of this rather small country. I can’t wait to come back and photograph for a bit lof a longer time here.
Gear used:
I did not bring a suitcase on this trip and decided to travel light.
Thank you for watching! Feel free to ask me anything in the comments below.
Albert
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