I recently went on a weekend camping trip to the Sayq Plateau, in the Jebel Akhdar mountains of Oman. This was my first outing in 2026, so I was looking forward to it. At more than 2,000 m above sea level, the temperature can drop to near freezing after sunset. In recent years, this area has been in accelerated development thanks to the increase in the number of tourists and visitors. However, in January it does get cold, so there are fewer people around. I headed for my usual camping spot, negotiating a gravel track that wove along the so-called Juniper Woods Natural Reserve. Upon arrival, I was happy to see that I was the only one around, which was good. After setting up camp and changing into warmer clothes, I walked to a distant hill to check the views.
In winter, the visibility is high, thanks to the cold and crisp atmosphere. A few wispy clouds moved through the deep blue sky, pushed by the normally strong winds. I had a great time photographing some interesting trees and the colorful sunset.
The next morning, I woke up to an amazing sunrise, with clouds painted in incredible colors. I quickly grabbed my tripod and camera gear and started shooting, as this type of light is elusive. This photo is one of many that I took over 10 or 15 minutes; I framed a lonely tree against the beautiful sky, with the mountain range in the distance. I used my 14mm lens, mounted on my Fujifilm X-T5 camera. After this productive photographic session, I went back to my camp for a warm breakfast.
