Years of Waiting for One Frame

⏳“4 visits. Several years. One image.”

I first spotted this location on the edge of a marshy shore during a daytime hike — just an interesting point I circled on the map. I saved the coordinates and thought: someday.

Then I came back at the right dawn.

Then on a moonlit night, when the Moon was right in front of me.

And finally: mid-October, mountain huts already closed for the season, the moonlit Monte Paterno reflected in the Piani lakes, the constellation Orion rising on the left.

That frame became the closing image of my award-winning series.

It didn’t happen by luck. But it couldn’t have happened without it — or without what I believe is something more: the Creator’s blessing on the right night.

What’s a shot you’ve been waiting years to make? 👇

Weather in the Dolomites can be unpredictable. Can you share one moment when a long-awaited shot finally came together after years of waiting?

A good example of this is the last image of my winning series: the moonlit Monte Paterno reflected in the Piani lakes, with the constellation Orion above it on the left.

During my hikes I found this shooting point on the edge of the marshy shore.

This was taken in mid-October, when the mountain huts were already closed.

Then I returned here at a suitable dawn.

Then on a moonlit night, when the Moon was right in front of me.

And finally, the picture from my winning series.

And I have another idea. 

Not far from this, for years I have been interested in creating a panoramic image, a combination of lakes and mountains with a shelter and a small chapel.

In my visits from dawn to dusk, I have never seen the light of the landscape as intimate as on this full moon night. The Moon is hidden behind the foamy clouds, while its warm light illuminates the mountains.

⏭️ …Continue reading (next question) here.

All content of this series:

Global Lens Award 2025 winner interview (Travel)

Original shorter interview published in https://globallensawards.com/interview/2025/gabor-takacs/