I had been stuck inside working for too long and I needed to go out and shoot some pics! So I got up at 4 a.m. and drove to the Slovenian coast with a couple of friends.

We arrived just in time for the sunrise. After leaving the car at the entrance, we had to walk for about 3 km along a country road next to the abandoned salt pans which is now a bird sanctuary. And it was below zero - look at the frosty bench!
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The northern part of the salt pans is still active with salt-making. However, we visited the southern part, called Fontanigge, which is full of large basins crisscrossed by the system of levees.
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Along the wide channels, the former salt-pan houses are scattered, now in ruins.
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The landscape was accentuated with frost on the ground.
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The area is vast to walk around: The nature park encompassing the salt pans covers about 650 ha (1600 acres).
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The driest salt pan.
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At Fontanigge, salt-harvesting was abandoned in the 1960s, but the tradition of salt-making, which originates from the 14th century, is still practiced within the Museum of Salt-making.
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Evaporation basins near the museum.
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The Drnica stream leading to the Adriatic Sea is navigable by boats.
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We returned to the car at about 9 a.m. One more look towards the salt pans and off we were - coffee time!
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I think I need to get up early more often. I love morning light!

Ana

Ana -
These are absolutely beautiful, and what wonderful light! I'm having a hard time picking favorites - 4 & 5 seem almost magical.

--- Denise

Stunning images and gorgeous light!! Definitely worth getting up early for!! :)

Originally Posted by annnna8888 I had been stuck inside working for too long

You should talk to your boss about that

Beautiful photos! I really want to visit your country.

What a cool place to shoot! Great shots. #4 is my favorite. I like the leading lines the best.

Wow, fantastic series. Take more time off to take more pics

Absolutely fascinating and great photo journey thru these salt pans.

what an interesting area. the compositions and light are amazing. great work.

Originally Posted by denisegoldberg Ana - These are absolutely beautiful, and what wonderful light! I'm having a hard time picking favorites - 4 & 5 seem almost magical.

Thanks, Denise! I had a hard time making a selection of all the photos that I took.

Ana

Originally Posted by Stella7d Stunning images and gorgeous light!! Definitely worth getting up early for!! :)

Thanks, Stella. I know, but I'm not a morning person and getting up so early is torture for me. I'm really happy when photos make this torture worthwhile.

Ana

Originally Posted by Andy You should talk to your boss about that Beautiful photos! I really want to visit your country.

You think? Well, my other boss didn't want to extend the deadline for my translation, so I was stuck working for about 14 hours a day for a month.

And thanks - btw, how many years have I been telling you to come to Slovenia?

Ana

Originally Posted by rookieshooter What a cool place to shoot! Great shots. #4 is my favorite. I like the leading lines the best.

Thanks! It is a cool place to shoot and it's a shame I never visited this place for photography before.

Ana

Originally Posted by wolf911 Wow, fantastic series. Take more time off to take more pics

Haha, thanks, I would love to! Normally I do take time off to take photos, it's just been a hectic month or two.

Ana

Originally Posted by jdryan3 Absolutely fascinating and great photo journey thru these salt pans.

Thanks! I do want return in the summer when there are piles of salt in the evaporation basins. Very picturesque!

Ana

Originally Posted by Wicked_Dark what an interesting area. the compositions and light are amazing. great work.

Thanks! These salt pans are also very interesting for bird lovers as the area is now a bird sanctuary. Maybe I can shoot that when I get a really long lens...

Ana

What a fantastic set, I can feel the chill in the air looking at them and the slightest warmth from the Sun... spot on Ana... a fantastic set!

I'm sad to see the two-bodied horse isn't in here! These are gorgeous but that shot was just hilarious

Very nice series. I especially like #3, 4, 6. well done.

I think the very first one is my fave. Great soft light.

The morning shots are marvelous and #15 is awesome

Rags