Mirror of the Past

Lago di Carezza, or Karersee, is the quintessential location in the Dolomites, Italy. A rugged mountain range reflected in a glass-smooth lake.

When I begin shooting a new collection, I rarely know what story I want to tell, except in broad strokes. Because I do most of my work outdoors, I’m subject to the will of nature. So I let nature tell me that story in the moment.

The landscape of Südtirol frankly overwhelmed my senses and the weather was pretty bad when I arrived at Karersee. Doubt settled in.

On the second day though, the skies cleared in the morning, and when I set up for this shot, I felt the weight of “deep time.” The mountains, sharp and bare. The forest — dark and heavy with shadows. All held still by the lake like a mirror.

The quiet here felt ancient. The mountains have stood watch over millennia as the landscape changed. Lakes formed and drained. Even the stoney faces of Latemar mountain were shaped by relentless wind, rain, and snow. My presence there seemed so fleeting.

Karersee, Italy