I’m standing at the edge of Seceda. Beside me, the alpine meadow drops steeply away for several hundred meters. The contrast is striking, too: beyond the meadows in the foreground, the rocky towers in the background look even more impressive. Many Instagrammers and photographers already know this spot. Armed with cameras, tripods and lifestyle clothing, they head up to snap the perfect photo. But is a visit to the Seceda photo spot really worth it?
A spectacular panorama at the photo spot
We park the car in St. Ulrich in Val Gardena/Gröden. From here, we take the cable car up the mountain. The Seceda cable car takes us up to over 2.500 meters. It’s still early, and the large cabin is only moderately full. We float leisurely up along the mountainside. Then we rise over the edge, and I’m awestruck. Not yet by the famous photo subject, but by Langkofel, suspended in the clouds. I spend quite a while admiring the panorama.
Only then do I follow the sign with a camera on it. It says it’s a 10-minute walk. The path is wide, well-trodden and impossible to miss. Head toward the summit cross and you’ll be on the right track.
We’re not alone
Other photographers are out here with us. One is already busy photographing a chubby marmot against the backdrop. Incidentally, it’s not the only one we see. In all, three of the little creatures are out and about on the plateau, and they’re anything but shy. They’re used to people. No wonder, with all the visitors.
The longer we linger, the more delighted visitors pull out their cameras and phones. I can’t blame them. The view is spectacular. Clouds drift around the jagged peaks, giving the mountains in the background an even more mystical frame. The surroundings are definitely photogenic.
The perfect photo
For the perfect photo, we walk past the Seceda cross and follow the narrow path downhill for a little way. From here, the view down is even more impressive, and the towers of the Geisler group rise even higher. Felix directs me toward the edge of the cliff. Even so, there’s still a good distance between me and the drop. I’m not quite that daring after all. Not even for a good photo.
That’s not necessary anyway, because the photo turns out well regardless. As I stand there, I think of all the photos in which the model stands on this cliff in a light summer dress. A sharp gust of wind brings me back to the present. Shivering, I hunch my shoulders and am glad I’m wearing a fleece and a hardshell jacket. My picture might not look quite as stylish, but I also want to go a little farther.
Looking beyond the obvious
I didn’t come up Seceda just for the photo. I also want to climb to the summit of Kleine Fermeda . It’s one of the imposing rock towers that rise so dramatically in the background of the photo.
So by the end of the day, we’ve captured not just one photo subject, but the surroundings from every possible angle. I’ve also met my exercise goal, enjoyed the solitude just a little way from the famous photo spot in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, had plenty of adrenaline rushes and even seen Seceda from above. What more could you want? That’s why it’s worth not just staying in one place, but looking beyond the obvious.