Winter Mountain Altai: a large photo tour (reconnaissance)

It is no secret that Altai is one of the most popular and "photographed" places in Russia. But we offer to look at the Altai mountains in a new way. Winter. Snow. The stormy rivers are quiet. Snowy, rugged mountains. Desert Chui Track. Frost air fills the chest. Power and silence.

We are going on a big rich photo tour to the winter Altai Mountains. On one thread of the route we tried to fit all the iconic beauty of the Altai Mountains.

At the confluence of Chui and Katun, we will see beautiful valleys of these unruly frosts of rivers. In Kurai, we will appreciate the spaciousness of the high-mountain steppe in the fringes of the peaks of the North Chui Ridge. Our lenses will reflect majestic cedars on the Seminsky Pass and dangerous serpentine roads through the Katu-Yaryk Pass. On Teletskoye Lake we will be met by the harsh expanse of “Altai Baikal”. And small picturesque Geyser and Swan lakes can not leave indifferent. In the Biysk Museum of the Chui tract we will touch the history of Altai. And all the way we will listen to legends about beliefs, shamans and grandiose events of this corner of Siberia. And saturated during the day with impressions, hundreds of kilometers and hours of conversation, you will go out before going to bed to breathe. And the unlit sky crosses the bright Milky Way. And of course, you have to go back to the camera.

The route is designed specifically for photographers. The purpose of our trip is to enjoy the majestic silence of the winter Altai, slowly looking for good shots and trying new genres of shooting. We have taken care of the comfort and leisurely visit to the most picturesque places, our instructors (residents of the Altai Territory) have long been professionally photographing, studying and loving Altai.

The photo tour program is flexible and can vary depending on the weather and the wishes of the participants (within reasonable limits). This route is exploration. And something might go wrong. We have a common scenario that we will follow. But in any case, every day we use to the maximum and focus on our team - so that we were good and interesting.

Altai, despite its popularity, is still terra inkognito. Many legends still live and sometimes different worlds are intertwined in one reality. Someone was looking for the key to Shambhala, someone prophesied a new impulse to rebuild the world, born in Altai. But there is no denying that these places are energetically strong. And the lack of people, the black-and-white picture of the winter relief only enhances these feelings.

Our daily routine is built around photographic light, so we're going to improvise a lot. Maximum energy is spent on creativity and communication, and at least on physical activity. The tour is as comfortable as possible. We are waiting for warm crossings, overnight stays in small local tourist centers and hotels. They will be warm, you can charge equipment, and they are usually in picturesque places. In the evening we can talk and discuss our impressions.

In winter, it is quite cold in Altai and on the street we will spend only the time necessary for shooting. On the road there will always be an opportunity to warm up, and in the evening to recharge the equipment. We will not spend time and effort on cooking - we will stop to eat in local canteens and cafes. There will always be sandwiches and sweets on the road.

Who are our photo tours for? For professional photographers, for amateur photographers, and not even photographers, but those who want to slowly enjoy beautiful places, communicate with interesting creative people, contemplate and be present in the moment. And above all, the collective! A large concentration of creative people in one time and place inevitably leads to new ideas, ideas and pushes their implementation. We will communicate, share experiences, not all the time in the viewfinder look! : We will become a team of bright individuals, look at the Siberian winter in a new way. And a photo. We all know that the pursuit of a picture is just an excuse for something more. And to come together to find that more is probably the true purpose of our winter trip.

You can even search without a camera. If you do not have a camera, but the program and the atmosphere of the photo tour respond with a confident "Yes!" - then this is the reason! You can be a model. Photographers are often interested in stories with people in the frame. And if you bring beautiful clothes with you, many photos are guaranteed.

What photographic equipment should I bring with me? If you are a photographer, this is a rhetorical question. We recommend taking a tripod and additional batteries. If you’re not a photographer, take your favorite smartphone with you and you’ll get great shots too. Because the main thing is the vision, the ideas and the creative process, and of course the pleasure of the process and the result.