Trip Report: The Best of Slovenia - October 2024

Capturing the Soul of Slovenia

When I was first asked to run BCJ’s inaugural Best of Slovenia workshop, I was extremely excited. It was to follow another BCJ first, the Best of Croatia workshop I was running, but I must confess, the mysterious allure of Slovenia had me a little more intrigued. Slovenia, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Europe, offers a kaleidoscope of landscapes and cultures that can inspire any photographer. From the jagged peaks of the Julian Alps to the emerald waters of Lake Bled and the Soča River, to the charming streets of Ljubljana, Slovenia is blissful for capturing the beauty of nature and human spirit, all steeped in rich history and lore. Needless to say, I and the 10 amazing guests that joined in on this adventure were not disappointed.

We gathered in the vibrant capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, where we started and ended our experience.  Andrej, our local guide, and I had just completed the Best of Croatia trip together, so we were very comfortable working with one another. We even had 5 guests extend from the Croatia trip, so it was a wonderful and easy transition for them as well. Andrej is a large man with a personality and presence to match. It was very evident he was excited to share his country with us, and helped make the trip so very enjoyable.

From Ljubljana we traveled to the town of Bled, which was our base for the next few days. Once we settled into our quaint country inn, we headed out towards The Church of St. Primus and Felicianus in Jamnik. It is one of Slovenia’s most photographed landmarks, and its strategic hilltop location served as a lookout point during medieval times. It typically offers stunning views of the surrounding valleys and the Julian Alps, but on this evening, we had low clouds and some rain. We were not disappointed however, as the brightly lit church appeared to glow in the blue hour light against the pinkish clouds. A great start to the trip!

The next morning, we were greeted by the same low clouds, so our first attempt at photographing the iconic Lake Bled fell a bit short of our expectations. Lake Bled’s history is steeped in legend. Its iconic island church, the Church of the Assumption, dates to the 9th century, while Bled Castle, perched on a cliff above the lake, is Slovenia’s oldest fortress, first mentioned in 1011. The castle’s rich history and stunning vistas provided ample inspiration for both photographers and history buffs, so we had plans to return to this acclaimed location.

In the afternoon we headed to the Bled Vintgar Gorge, with its wooden walkways and crystal-clear water, it was a haven for long-exposure photography. We experimented with techniques to create silky smooth effects with the Aqua Blue water, while also capturing the vibrant Fall colors of the surrounding forest.

The next morning had us traveling to the beautiful Lake Bohinj, and we were able capture some alluring reflections from the mirror like water. We filled out the day with visits to the Radovna Valley and Peričnik waterfall, and an evening shoot at Lake Jasna, where the weather allowed us some quick glances at the mighty peaks of the Julian Alps.

Despite being shutout of decent shooting weather at Lake Bled a couple of times, our forecast showed a slight break in the clouds right at sunrise for the next morning, so we decided to roll the dice and head there one more time for an early morning shoot. Our gamble paid off, with a beautiful sunrise and calm winds for a stellar morning of shooting.

It was time to move on from Bled, and our drive towards our next destination, Triglav National Park and the picturesque town of Bovec, was nothing short of spectacular. We had several stops along the way including the Zgornje Gorje Valley, the Sava River at Mojstrana, and the breathtaking Vršič Mountain Pass, known for its extremely narrow and winding road, an adventure in and of itself!

On our stops we had beautiful Fall colors and experimented with techniques such as ICM, or intentional camera movement, isolated sections of hillsides shrouded in clouds and draped in color and captured magnificent mountain scenes of Larches in all their golden glory.

The next few days had us exploring in and around the park, including locations at Mount Mangart, Šunik water hurst, The Soča River and Soča River Gorge, and Waterfall Kozjak. We even had a quick jaunt over to Italy to photograph at Lago di Predi for a sunset.

We continued to experiment with longer exposures with the rivers, streams and waterfalls we encountered. Played with reflections, and captured big mountain scenes, with the Julian Alps as our subject.

The last two days of our adventure had us back in Ljubljana.  The city’s blend of baroque and Art Nouveau architecture, its iconic Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge, and the serene Ljubljana River offered a perfect blend of urban and street photography. Both mornings we ventured out to the nearby countryside to capture the renowned Saint Thomas Church. This iconic hilltop church, surrounded by rolling green hills and traditional farmhouses, is a symbol of Slovenian identity. Its location has been a place of worship and gathering for centuries, embodying the country’s rural heritage, and offered us a fitting close to a most wonderful photographic experience!

This workshop wasn’t just about photography however—it was about connecting with Slovenia’s soul. Each stop on our itinerary revealed a different facet of the country’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, its tranquil charm, and its exquisite hospitality. A trip I, and the wonderful people I can now call friends, will not soon forget.