Fotonatur Phototourism Experiences

Ravne na Koroškem lies in the Meža valley, in Koroška, the Slovene part of Carinthia, a region of steep forested hills and deep valleys near the Austrian border. The town grew around its ironworks, which made steel for generations and shaped the community, and it is surrounded by wild country: spruce and beech forests, mountain meadows, small rivers and the long ridge of Uršlja gora to the south. That countryside is home to a wide range of wildlife, and Fotonatur offers guided photography tours that are designed to help visitors find and photograph it.

The tours are run for small groups or individuals by local guides who know the animals and the places where they can be seen. The aim is to give photographers the chance to take pictures of birds and mammals in natural settings, using hides or quiet observation points, and to learn something about their behaviour. The forests of the area are known to shelter large mammals such as brown bears, which are shy and rarely seen without a guide, and the valleys and meadows host birds such as bee-eaters and hoopoes in summer, owls in autumn and, in the cliffs, the rare wallcreeper, a small, red-winged bird that is a prized sighting for many bird watchers. The species depend on the season and the year, and no sighting can be guaranteed.

The guides provide advice on equipment, composition and light, and they are careful about the welfare of the animals, which is a central principle of ethical wildlife photography. They discourage getting too close, using bait without regard to its effects or disturbing nests, and the groups stay small and quiet. Photographers of every level are welcome, from keen beginners with a modest camera to professionals with long lenses and tripods, and the tours are also suitable for people who simply enjoy watching wildlife. Landscape photography is also possible, as the mist over the hills at sunrise and the colours of autumn make good subjects.

The town itself has attractions that can fill spare time. Bike Park Poseka offers mountain biking, Game and Entertainment Centers with Motion Simulators provide indoor fun, and Sculptures and Open Spaces decorate the town. Specialty Museums in the renovated annex of the former stables of Ravne Castle explore the area's history and art. Tours must be booked in advance, and the best seasons are late spring for breeding birds and autumn for owls and colour. Bring warm clothes, as mornings in the hills are cold, and sturdy shoes.