The Challenge of Capturing your Camino – On the Winter Way

The Camino Invierno, or Winter Way, isn’t for the faint of heart or the easily chilled. It cleverly dodges the snow-capped mountain drama of other Caminos but introduces its own brand of practical difficulties, which, let’s face it, make for epic stories (and even more epic photos!).

Winter travel brings its own “charming” set of challenges:

Paths Less Trodden (and more slippery): Be ready for steep, overgrown paths, tracks that double as ice rinks, and rain, glorious rain. 

But amidst these “delightful” difficulties, the Camino Invierno serves up moments of profound kindness and hilarious reality checks:

The Pear Fairy of Toral de Merayo: The author recounts a poignant moment when a woman in Toral de Merayo “scurried back to her house” after pressing pears into their hands with a smile. Was she an actual “Camino Angel,” feeling guilty about the closed cafes, or just a really kind soul? The world may never know!

The Humility of the Orange Blob: A highlight (or lowlight) was the author’s personal reflection after seeing herself in photos as “a large orange blob” next to her “trim and petite” companions in rain gear. The profound lesson learned: “Learn humility! The point of this is pilgrimage, not photo ops for Instagram.” Though, a little Instagram glamour wouldn’t hurt.

History’s Heavy Lifting: Walking past ancient Roman gold mining sites like Las Medulas, the author reflects on the “epic level” landscaping and contrasts her “part hike and part pilgrimage” with the sheer “fear and despair” of Roman slaves toiling for gold. A bit of perspective always helps with that uphill climb when you know a hot meal awaits.

This raw, resilient environment provides extraordinary photographic subjects:
• “A Splash of Colour” on Rainy Days: That orange poncho against a muted winter landscape? Instant, vivid, atmospheric photo potential, transforming a dreary day into a mood of introspection.
• Landscapes of Las Medulas: This ancient Roman gold mining site is a photographer’s dream – “colourful vistas of red cliffs interspersed with chestnut trees”. Plus, those abundant chestnuts? They’re everywhere, a powerful symbol of the region’s heritage, just waiting for their close-up.
• “In the Dark”: When the crowds are tucked into their beds, the Invierno offers unparalleled peace and quiet for night photography. Experiment with long exposures to turn city lights into streaks of magic or capture the serene glow of moonlight.• “The Yellow Arrow“: These iconic guides are the unsung heroes of the Camino, ever-present even in the trickiest weather. They’re essential symbols to photograph beyond their practical use, often found in “unusual places” or in a “golden abundance”.
• Rainbow at Ponferrada: A “blessing for the start” of the Camino de Invierno, a rainbow over the city provides a moment of “glorious colours,” proving that even winter can be a show-off.

The Camino Invierno is a path of resilience, offering rich experiences, profound lessons, and undoubtedly, a lot of stunning photos.