Time-lapse shot from the car in Fuerteventura.
When the Sky Paints – The Calima and Its Dramatic Backdrops
As passionate photographers who roam through life every day in search of the perfect shot, we often find ourselves in adventures that are hard to forget. Today, we want to tell you about an experience that not only took our breath away but also quite literally blew sand into our faces: the infamous Calima on Fuerteventura – right in El Cotillo. Believe us: for photographers, it offers spectacular images but also comes with adventurous challenges. You could almost think that the Calima schedules itself just to put us in the spotlight!
Our day started like so many others – with freshly brewed coffee and the anticipation of new motifs. But as soon as we stepped outside, we noticed something was different: a fine, almost artistic veil covered the land. Sandra, with her unmistakable smile, laughed and said it felt as if the sand had personally come to pay us a visit – imagine a playful conductor inviting us into its dusty ensemble. And indeed, as we set off towards El Cotillo, this dusty guest crept in more and more – almost as if it had been waiting for our arrival to pull us into its surreal world. You could almost believe that the Calima is a cunning artist, presenting us with its own unique interpretation of reality.
Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the Calima is a wonderful, albeit moody artist. The landscape instantly transformed into an impressionist painting, where every grain of dust seemed to add its own delicate brushstroke – and we were the lucky observers trying to capture this fleeting moment. But, as is often the case – not only in photography – this natural spectacle had its light and dark sides. While we excitedly documented the scenery, we also became aware of its challenges. Sandra reminded us how harmful the Calima can be to one’s health, promptly pulling masks from her bag – a surreal sight in this context. Just imagine: masks as a fashionable accessory for photographers. We truly experience some quirky adventures.
The most memorable moment of the day happened when we tried to compose a particularly dramatic landscape shot to capture the Calima in all its glory. In my excitement, I momentarily forgot that I was standing in the middle of the road. “Just one more step back, another one – still not enough, further, the mountain is bigger than I thought,” I thought enthusiastically. A loud honk suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts – a clear signal that I had just caused a traffic jam in both directions. Like in a well-timed comedy sketch, I cheerfully waved to the waiting drivers, reassured myself that I had now found the perfect angle, and voilà: the perfect shot was taken. This episode, which still makes us smile today, perfectly illustrates how closely joy and minor mishaps are intertwined in life.
A big shout-out also goes to our Spanish hosts: with patience and a smile, they accepted that life here on Fuerteventura runs “muy tranquillo” – while the typical German tourist, once again, couldn’t reach the hotel bar fast enough and had to loudly express their frustration. My inner voice chuckled: “Guys, you’re on vacation – relax!”
El Cotillo, a charming oasis that has not yet been exploited as much as Corralejo or Morro Jable, taught us that beauty and danger on Fuerteventura often go hand in hand. As the dusty veil increasingly captivated us, we made our way towards the lighthouse Faro del Tostón – a little adventure in which we had to balance between aesthetic allure and the practical challenges of nature. The Atlantic here is rough and wild, and the coastline is lined with rocky reefs and beautiful natural pools. In these pools, the water warms up more quickly due to their shallow depth – often reaching a pleasant 31 degrees Celsius – making for a nice “hot bath,” even if without luxurious foam. And, believe it or not, even rock crabs seem to feel perfectly at home here. The constant clicking of our cameras confirmed it: there were more than enough photo opportunities.
After this adventurous morning, we treated ourselves to a hearty lunch. Sandra, once again, had lovingly prepared a picnic that was second to none. We headed to the coast, where a small rock ledge served as our seat – with a view of daring surfers plunging into the roaring sea. The vast view towards the south of Fuerteventura was only interrupted by the increasingly dense brown haze. As we took our first bite, we quickly realized: we were literally crunching along with it. Was this good for our teeth? We decided to take it with humor. Somehow, this dust ballet gave us the feeling of being part of a grandly staged natural drama, while we fully enjoyed the interplay of the sea, sun, sand, and Sandra’s fantastic picnic – garnished with an unexpected pinch of sand.
After lunch, we took a leisurely stroll through the old town, which was fortunately a bit less dusty. The narrow alleys and winding paths revealed El Cotillo’s unique charm, adorned with enormous photo murals – remnants of a project documenting the harsh life on Fuerteventura. Some of these murals were in need of a little restoration, which led to the spontaneous idea of photographing them and adding them to my graffiti gallery. In between, we enjoyed a delicious Barraquito and peeked into countless charming boutiques. But soon, the sunset drew us back to the coast. We grinned and asked ourselves: how would the Calima transform this natural spectacle? What followed was a stunning display – and a full SD card.
Looking back on that day, we remember the dusty magnificence, the unforgettable moments, and the little humorous anecdotes that constantly remind us: life is an adventure best experienced together. With a camera in one hand and a big smile in the other, we embrace the dance of light, shadow, and sand – and remind ourselves that every fleeting moment is worth capturing. In this sense: let yourself be inspired by small mishaps and grand, dusty moments – and remember that the Calima, unpredictable as she may be, always writes a chapter in our personal photography story.
