ISABELLA TABACCHI

DAYDREAMING IN THE DOLOMITES

Drawn to the majestic, geometric angles of the Dolomites, landscape photographer Isabella Tabacchi captured ethereal moonlit nights, foggy mornings, and golden hour scenes using the X1D-50c with the XCD 30 and XCD 45 lenses. Traversing the rocky peaks and deep valleys of the Italian mountain range, she tested medium format for her first time, successfully making use of the X1D’s long exposure option, high ISO with minimal noise, and detail capture capabilities.

CREATIVE WORKFLOW

“I love to collect emotions in the landscapes that I experience during my photographic adventures,” says Isabella. Conducting extremely detailed research before setting off on her treks, Isabella searches for mountains, lakes, and rock formations that exude a sense of grandeur, representing the spiritual greatness of nature. Perhaps even more importantly, she studies the light cycles and weather of each location. This brought her to the Dolomites – more specifically, the Earth Pyramids, Plätzwiesein Pustertal, Passo Gardena, Passo Sella in Val Gardena, Val Fiscalina and Seiser Alm – the spots where she first started her photographic career. Describing her creative workflow as starting from the shooting phase all the way to the end of post-processing the image, it’s in the final stage where she shapes the raw file to transcribe what it is that she feels and sees in the landscapes.

SMILE IN THE MORNING

This landscape is a pasture in South Tyrol, called Plätzwiese. I went there for sunrise on a gloomy November morning. The sunrise was not colored by the golden hour, but I loved the atmosphere created by the low clouds and the fog around the mountain, Croda Rossa. I named this one 'Smile in the Morning' for the curved trail in the foreground, which really contrasts the gloomy atmosphere of that cloudy morning.

THE X1D, DAY AND NIGHT

Testing the X1D at all times of the day, Isabella shot in various lighting scenarios, including capturing the early sunrise hours, evening hues, and night skies. “In all conditions, the X1D performed extremely well, especially when it came to capturing the colours of the landscape and diffused light,” Isabella states. In her image The Star of the Day, the mirrorless medium format camera managed perfectly with strong backlighting, allowing for misty sunlight and detailed shadows to harmonize superbly. She was even able to render the sun like a star using very low aperture, hence the image’s title. In night shots, like Lonely in the Moonlight, she easily reproduced details with maximum sharpness using long shutter speeds and a simple self-timer. “To test the performance of the sensor during long exposures at night with high ISO, I used shutter speeds of about 4 minutes, ISO 3200 and f /4 – the results were incredible with minimal noise.”

EVERY LAST DETAIL

Caught off guard by the amount of details in the raw image captures by the X1D, Isabella was even more impressed by the three-dimensionality of her mountainous subjects. With this combination, she was able to have total freedom in the post production phase, bringing her creative vision to another level. “The results of the X1D are files with extreme richness in terms of quality, which is a huge visual pleasure when printed!” exclaims Isabella.

ABOUT ISABELLA TABACCHI

While studying in Bologna to become a pharmacist, Isabella Tabacchi began attending basic photography courses and fulfilling her true calling. Growing up in the Italian countryside, she always enjoyed spending time in nature, so it only seemed natural that her photographic talents became oriented towards landscapes. “Such places are able to generate strong emotions in my soul. My natural habitat is the mountains; there, I have the feeling of being free from everyday life and can truly daydream,” says Isabella. See more of her work here.