I have to admit that the photographs I enjoy the most are the ones that emerge from exploration, from an improvised itinerary with no fixed destinations or carefully planned routes, simply following unknown paths shaped by chance and unexpected discoveries. Of course, chance can be unpredictable and does not always lead to the result I hope for. Quite often it means walking mile after mile through a photographic drought, where the landscape stands out mainly for its monotony and complete lack of visual interest.
While these journeys can be deeply rewarding, they can also be exhausting, especially when they produce little of photographic value. For that reason, finding a balance between predictability and improvisation is, for me, the best way to reach that sweet spot between a planned route and a wandering adventure.
One approach that works particularly well is choosing a known destination, or at least a place with a specific point of interest, while leaving plenty of room for improvisation around it. The photograph I am sharing today was taken near Sotres, the well-known Asturian village that received the Princess of Asturias Award for Exemplary Village in 2024. The award recognized its balance between tradition and modernity, its commitment to preserving its cultural heritage, its ability to adapt and thrive despite its location at 1,050 metres above sea level, and its undeniable charm. It is a place that wins you over at first sight and feels cared for down to the smallest detail.
Walking through its streets, you can find countless charming corners that almost guarantee a collection of picturesque photographs. Depending on your approach, it can become an endless source of images. However, my attraction to old and original structures, untouched by excessive maintenance or recent renovations, does not perfectly align with the village’s photographic strengths. And that is precisely where improvisation can reveal an alternative that proves even more rewarding than the original destination.
About three kilometres uphill from the village lies La Caballar, a mountain pass with spectacular views and several century-old shepherds’ huts perfectly integrated into the landscape. Beyond its undeniable ethnographic value, its beauty is a true gift for photographers who connect with this kind of aesthetic. Discovering that place felt like an unexpected reward, the result of a perfect balance between a planned itinerary and enough freedom to embrace the unexpected. So far, it is a formula that has never failed me.
