It’s two years already since I’ve last visited the beautiful rugged peaks of the Pyrenees; a mountain range on the border of Spain and France, covering 305 miles (491km) from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Proud (tongue-in-cheek) to announce that today, I am able to publish two new images of the Gran d’Amitges area of the Aigüestortes National Park.

Kiss Goodnight

Aigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

Both images catch the magical light show after the daily hailstorm accompanied by lightning and heavy gusts and boast some integral elements I always wanted to capture. Ice melting on a high alpine lake and wildflowers blooming on the mountain slopes. In this case, ‘Neret’, the Catalan word for the rusty-leaved alpenrose – ‘rhododendron ferrugineum’.

Nightfall Neret

Aigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

There’s just something magical about mountain peaks reflecting in a pool of water, don’t you think?

Whew, that year flew by, didn’t it? It seems like yesterday that I have written a blog post, but it’s exactly one year today since my last post. I hope I can keep up that pace over the course of the next 12 months – kidding. I will hopefully post at least a quarterly update with some new images, but until then, follow me on Facebook to never miss the release of new images, some background info and updates on where I am traveling. To keep a long story short, I hope you enjoy the following ten images- They are my personal favorites of 2013 — made in the Pyrenees, Dolomites and Ore Mountains.

As It Begins

Aigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

Backcountry Bliss

Aigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

Mountain Summer

Passo Falzarego, Dolomites, Italy

Emerald Waters

Lago di Landro, Dolomites, Italy

Highcountry Pools

Aigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

The Portal

Aigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

Blooming Spires

Aigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

Autumnal Flow

Ore Mountains, Germany

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Lago di Landro, Dolomites, Italy

Peaches and Cream

Lago di Landro, Dolomites, Italy

Thank you for all the patience in the first half of the year when this blog got neglected, for the continued support and the wonderful emails I receive. Here’s to a wonderful Holiday Season to you all out there!

David