Black Peak Sunset – or sunset from Cherni Vrah (Black Peak in Bulgarian), the highest peak of Vitosha Mountain, located right next to the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. The peak reaches 2290 meters above sea level, and with an annual average wind speed of 9.3 m/sec, it is the second windiest peak in Bulgaria, which makes photographing a winter sunset a real challenge. During January and February, temperatures drop below -18°C, and with the constant wind, it feels like below -20°C, which tests both photographers and their equipment.
What a photo session actually looks like: you manage to take 2 or 3 shots, the battery dies, not due to lack of charge, but simply because of the cold. You take it out, warm it up with your breath, put it back in, take another 2-3 frames, it dies again, take it out, warm it up, put it back in, and so on, all in a constant race against time, because this happens precisely during the best possible light. The other problem is freezing hands, because it is difficult to take pictures with thick gloves, and therefore a second, much thinner pair must be worn, which, however, does not stop the cold, and the hands become numb at some point.
The shot was taken in mid-February. In the foreground is the windblown and icy pile of rocks at the summit, marking the highest point of the mountain, and to the left of it is the radar complex, which fits perfectly with its surroundings. After the session, the way back involves a headlamp, crampons, and an ice axe, and a nearly 2-hour descent until reaching the place accessible by car at the top of the mountain.
