On Sunday afternoon, I left the house intending to take a short drive and snap three or four photos to finish the roll I had in my camera. It was meant to be something relaxed and casual, just the kind of plan that suits a Sunday afternoon. I headed to Viveiro to go up through A Gañidoira and complete the loop by returning through As Pontes de García Rodríguez. It’s a route I’ve taken many times before. Once I reached the top of the mountain, I took a detour down a path that led to a series of wind turbines. These are usually placed in the highest spots, and they tend to offer great views.
What I didn’t expect was the variety of landscapes that unfolded before me: open fields dotted with wind-shaped pine trees, wild horses deep in the woods, cows grazing among mountains bathed in golden sunset light, a stone cross marking the start of a tree-lined path, an abandoned truck in the middle of a field, a wooden structure that looked like a piece of art… It was endless. I was stopping the car every ten meters to take more and more photos.
And it’s funny, some days I leave the house early in the morning, fully intent on dedicating the day to photography. I travel long distances, yet nothing seems to inspire me, and the few photos I take feel forced. At the end of the day, I come home feeling like I’ve covered a lot of ground for very little reward.
It might seem like it’s just a matter of luck, finding the right place, and of course, that plays a role. But it’s not the whole story. I think mindset, mood, and inspiration all play an important part. It’s strange how, on some days, everything feels photographable, and on others, nothing speaks to you. Thankfully, there are landscapes like the one I’m sharing today, scenes that transcend those ups and downs. When you see them, you just know you’re looking at a photograph. Little gems that appear from time to time.
