Alta Via dei Monti Liguri – meeting with the photographer Paolo Bolla (part II)
March 13, 2010 by Anna Merulla / Tags: accomodations , Alta Via dei Monti Liguri , guides , Paolo Bolla / 7 Comments
On the cover image: Tappa5 Sella d’Agnaira-Sella della Valletta – Volpe
Meeting with Paolo Bolla
The day I met with Paolo, he was with a cup of hot coffee in his hand while he was standing in a small coffee bar on the typical tourist port of Savona. He began involving myself immediately by telling me about his unique passion for nature, photography, and the adventurous trip he took on the “Alta Via dei Monti Liguri”.
As I began to browse throughout his photos, he explained to me that to each single photographer was assigned a portion of the 400 kilometers trail and to him was given the western part of Liguria, the one which goes from Ventimiglia to Colle di Nava, in Imperia. Paolo is an excellent speaker and I was very much involved with his personal experience on the Alta Via, and for this reason, I decided to not ask him too many questions. I didn’t feel the need to, because the answers I was looking from him they came without much need for questionings.
Tappa5 Sella d’Agnaira-Sella della valletta – Biancone (photo courtesy Paolo Bolla)
Throughout his photos and his story, I immediately realized the great variety of landscapes that Paolo has encountered through his work of photography, from the most coastal areas to the most virulent mountains of the Ligurian hinterland, up to Mount Saccarello (2200 mt, the highest point of the Ligurian territory). And thanks to this shots, I noticed the change of vegetation from the areas closest to the sea (vineyards, olive trees) up to those higher that host conifers.
Colla Sgora-Colle Scarassan-Tappa 3-Cincia bigia alpestre (photo courtesy Paolo Bolla)
Paolo told me that during his traveling he had the fortune to meet different species of animals such as chamois, an eagle, and even a fox.
At that point, while looking at his photos, I asked him which stage of that trail got him more emotional, and proudly in that precise moment he showed me a picture of a sunset that plunged into the clouds.
Tappa4 Colle Scarassan-Sella d’Agnaira-Tramonto dal Col de Corbeau (photo courtesy Paolo Bolla)
The picture speaks for itself!
Looking at those photo, I understood the emotion that Paolo must have felt when he looked at the sunset that day. Both of us, stopped for a moment on that particular photo’s shot to admire the spectacle of nature in all its majesty.
We went on with the pictures taken on the summit of Mount Saccarello, in the Park of the Ligurian Alps. Paolo told me that those stages were a bit more challenging, but that the “fatigue” of that long trail was at the end rewarded with an unforgettable view.
Tappa5 Sella d’Agnaira-Sella della valletta- Monte Saccarello (photo courtesy Paolo Bolla)
The meeting was very interesting, and Paolo continued showing me more photos, including those of the medieval village of Dolceacqua. Indeed, through the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, he had also photographed the majesty of the ancient village, famous for its wine “Rossese di Dolceacqua”.
Tappa1 Ventimiglia-La Colla – Dolceacqua (photo courtesy Paolo Bolla)
Now, I wanted to thanks Paolo Bolla who kindly gave me the opportunity to publish some of his best photos. If you want to know more about Paolo Bolla’s galleries, or do you have more informations to share with me regarding this Ligurian photographer, please let me know. Here is his personal website’s link: www.paolobolla.it
Also, If you are interested in hiking guides, accomodations on the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, don’t hesitate to contact Beautiful Liguriaby sending me an e-mail.
Hello,
Good Job!
You have a very interesting blog with wonderful photos. I found it very good and I added your website in my blogroll at http://enjoycyprusholidays.net
Have a nice day and good luck!
Gorgeous photos – what a treat to meet such an accomplished (and generous!) photographer!
Hi Morar,
I'm so glad that you have found my blog…I have seen your website Cyprus Holidays and it's very interesting, so I decided to add it in my favorite website list…thanks again!
Hi Fern, yes you are right, Paolo Bolla is very generous. When I spoke with him, I was involved by his love for nature and for photography…
I did not know you organized trips to Cyprus! I have been wanting to visit Cyprus and of course see more of Italy. Soon.
Great photos and this photographer sounds like such a good person! Loved the sunset one but the one of the eagle really touched me the most.
Hi! No, I don't organize trips to Cyprus..I organize travel trips in Liguria and love to tell about my region through these posts. Paolo is really a good person and so generous. From its photos you can understand Its passion for photography and nature. Thanks for your comment taste of Beirut!
Breathtaking! Isn't it fascinating what a photographer can see that so many miss! Thank you for sharing these.
Katy! Many thanks…Paolo is so generous..he loves nature and it is seen by his photos. If you like you can see the rest of his photos on his website. They are wonderful. Thanks again for your comment!