The story of a picture: Dressed for the white

On a trip through the Pyrenees last spring, I found myself in a casual way with a chamois colony. Sensing that it could be their usual territory, since then I have returned in a handful of occasions with the illusion of being able to see them and portray them.

Thanks to these meetings I have come to learn some things about them. That they move away to the elevated areas to pass the night, but that they return at midmorning the next day. That they are elusive, but that maintaining a certain distance they observe you with curiosity. That the large group is numerous, but the flock is fragmented, being able to find trios, couples, or even individuals alone. And I’ve also learned that with luck you can get to surprise them.

The morning after the first big snowfall last December, I left home thinking about his images with the snow as decoration. The conditions were fantastically bad. Virgin snow, which also indicated that no one had passed, and partially dense fog to complete the scene.

For a long time it was discouraging. Moving forward was tiresome and although there were marks on the snow that betrayed his presence, they could not be seen.

Finally I could see them in the distance, although they did not allow me to get closer and get my desired image. I kept moving … and my perseverance was rewarded.

It was in a valley where my position was dominant. If I crouched down he could not see me and thanks to the wind neither hear me. I watched where he was going and almost crawling, I moved to a point where I could wait for him.

I arrived barely half a minute before him. Enough time to prepare the camera and prepare myself. When he appeared, I incorporated myself slightly and that was when he noticed my presence. He turned around, looked at me and in just a second he started to escape. Enough time to have a memory and an image of for life.