This autumn was a busy one. I spent most of the peak season on the road, leading two back-to-back photography workshops — first in Montenegro, then in Slovenia and around Plitvice Lakes. It was one of those rare years when the forests seemed to agree on timing: everything turned at once, from the golds to the deep reds.
I’ll admit, I was worried the colours would be gone by the time my workshops wrapped up. But autumn held on just long enough. Once my groups headed home, I still had a few precious days of peak colour before the inevitable wind and rain swept the leaves away.
After almost a month on the road, the last thing I wanted was another long drive. So I stayed close to home and turned to the familiar hills of Polhov Gradec and Škofja Loka. I know these hills and valleys well — they’ve become my go-to escape when I want beautiful scenery without a full-day mission. Picking locations was easy; deciding where not to go was the harder part.
In the end, I made three outings in three days, and the conditions lined up perfectly each time. Below are the photos from those short adventures — and a little more of the story behind them.
Sunset at Sveti Ožbolt Church
My first trip was to the hilltop church of Sveti Ožbolt (St Oswald), tucked somewhere between Polhov Gradec and Škofja Loka. This lesser-known spot is one of my favourites — peaceful, a little off the radar, and for reasons I still don’t understand, completely ignored by photographers. I’ve never met a single one up there.
The weather that afternoon was all over the place. I had no idea whether I’d get any light, so I simply lingered and waited. A small group of inquisitive sheep came over to say hello, which already felt like a good start. And then things really kicked off. First, dramatic sunbeams broke through the clouds… then a burst of rain showers … followed by rainbows arcing across the hills. The sky went wild — glowing orange, shifting into purple, then deep blue.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, a thunderstorm rolled in with lightning and a blast of wind. I was honestly as excited as a little kid getting candy — the kind of evening every landscape photographer dreams about.
Sunrise at Črni Vrh
Still buzzing from the previous evening, I headed out early the next morning. My plan was to photograph around Škofja Loka, but the fog was far too thick, so I changed course and drove toward Polhov Gradec instead. On the way, a completely new view stopped me in my tracks: the church of Sveti Lenart (St Leonard) at Črni Vrh, glowing like a beacon against the dark, rolling hills.
I pulled over immediately and started scouting for the best vantage point. The light was gorgeous, the clouds dramatic, and the whole scene felt incredibly atmospheric — one of those moments where you know you’re not going anywhere else. I stayed there for the rest of the morning, just working the composition and soaking it all in.
A beautiful morning, and the best part: stumbling upon a brand-new photography spot practically on my doorstep.
Above the Clouds at Škofja Loka
My last outing was another sunrise mission. I headed back toward Škofja Loka, hoping the fog would finally play along. I didn’t end up anywhere I had planned — instead, I found myself in a completely different spot, perched just above the fog line with the landscape drifting in and out of a soft, glowing sea of mist.
The wide views were beautiful, but the images I loved most weren’t the grand landscapes at all. What really caught my eye were the quieter, more intimate scenes: trees dissolving into the fog, forested slopes fading into layered greys, and those minimal, almost abstract moments you only get on mornings like this.
These three short outings reminded me how rewarding it is to explore close to home — especially when autumn shows off like this. If you’d like to photograph these hills with me, we often include Polhov Gradec and the Škofja Loka area in my Slovenia workshops. You’re always welcome to join.
