I really love the warmth, this winter in Russia I rarely photograph. But there is one exception to the rules. The story is directly related to the winter, snow and ice. Well, what's the story without photos?
It so happened that at the very end of winter I had to go on a business trip to Irkutsk. And not for a couple of days, but for a long three weeks. We conducted training there. The main work we had on weekdays, and the weekend remained free. Well, how is it that being a hundred kilometers from Baikal, and having free days, do not go there and not shoot?
Among other things, on Lake Baikal dive in winter. It is considered that February-March is the best season for this. I was invited to the ice safari several times before. But every time I refused for various reasons. And then all the stars came together as it should. I arranged at work to get an extra day off and from Thursday evening to Sunday rushed to Baikal.
I was on the Olkhon Island. This is the heart of Lake Baikal. Local residents believe that Olkhon is a place of power. There regularly gather shamans from around the world. According to the form Olkhon repeats Baikal itself.
There is also the Shaman-rock on Olkhon-probably the most famous place on the Baikal. That's where the ice diving safari passes.
As a result, I had three amazing days amid ice and snow. A few dives, which allowed to look at all this beauty on the other side. And many hours of shooting on the surface. Powerful faults and ornate cracks, which draw on the dark ice unprecedented patterns.I have already published several ice patterns recently.
In general, that ice strikes the imagination. And even serious adults begin to behave like children - crawl on the ice and everything to consider and photograph.
Not even the most comfortable weather often interferes with shooting. In the morning, the temperature can be below -20 and the wind is such that you can use it to ride the ice.
But all this only adds color to the events around and intensifies the impressions. That's why I then went back two years in a row there in March to dive under the ice. Every time I brought my friends there. They also dived under the ice. And some of them did this on breathing.
I hope that I was able to convey at least part of the icy beauty of Lake Baikal, which I saw myself. And ice diving is a separate topic. About him I'll tell you next time.
