Spring Awakening
I must confess that this year’s spring season is really strange. The weather is changing a lot from cold to warm and back to cold and I also experienced some crazy snow storms in a time where I should see a lot of flowers and wearing only a shirt. But I tried to walk with my eyes open through the world and from time to time I did have some luck however. Like the day when I made this shot here! The mud already reached areas of my legs far over my ankles but it was worth to reach this area here. I was really smiling when I saw this wonderful piece of earth with flowers and I tried to make something like a beautiful shot … I hope ;-)
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Sea Of Flames
Some weeks ago I wanted to make some shots of a field near our house. Well said and done … I was there under a very boring sky waiting that something happened. And I must confess … my wishes were answered with an exciting atmospheric spectacle. In only 30 minutes the sky changed under a very strong wind to what you see in the image and a bit later than this moment here I was suddenly in the middle of a thunderstorm. How cool that was!
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From Latest Works
The lonely cottage
Well, it was clear that I made more than only one shot in the Swiss Alps during my stay two weeks ago. I think winter is definitely over now in Switzerland and this will be my last shot with snow for this season. I hope you enjoy and I thank everyone for passing by ;-)
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From Winter Wonderland
Golden light over a small waterfall
How low the water level was some weeks ago when I returned to this place to see how everything was looking like in spring. I was really disappointed about the low water level. But nevertheless I made this shot here just at sunrise and tried to get something useful to show! I hope you like it and I wish everybody a fine weekend :-)
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From Latest Works
Hidden Waterfall
I found this wonderful place last year in Autumn when I was hiking in a for me completely unknown valley. After capturing the sunrise in a frozen river bed I made my way back home. And what a surprise I had when I reached this area here. For sure it was too dark to see this place when I passed by in the morning hours in search of the river bed. But I could not resist to make some shots despite the bad light conditions. Well, a place more to visit again and I market it in my small black book with the name „Locations to shoot before I die“ he he he ;-)
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Source of Life
This is a place I’ve seen so many times in the galleries of other Swiss photographers. And I was never there!!! Well, I have now changed this situation. Now I am also a member of those who visited and photographed this place as well he he he! And I must admit … what a place and what a power you can feel standing in front of such a scene. I have read many stories from the source of life … from adventurers who were looking for such a place in the jungle and all of them disappeared on their quest. When I was standing in front of this cascade I could really understand and feel how such legends could arise!
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From Latest Works
Dark Ice-Queen
Last week I was again with my family in the Swiss Alps. And my intention was to find some wonderful spring spots. But apparently the weather god had other ideas as you can see in my image here. I must confess that I never had such an extreme experience of falling temperatures and snow storms in April. In less than a couple of hours the area was completely converted into a winterwonderland … and damn … it was really icy cold!!! And my thoughts belong to all the farmers I know from this area here. One week later after I made this shot here I heard that they lost all grapevine due to the extreme temperatures below zero degrees. Everything was destroyed!!! But at this point in time when I made this shot here I tried to go up a mountain … I couldn’t care less about harsh weather but I must confess … it was not so funny to walk in a snow storm and therefore my hike was really short. If you could zoom in you would see how much it was snowing in the distance and how strong the wind was. My location had only a small break and I could see a cloudburst. I had not much time to set up my equipment with my new filter system and to make this shot here.
Yes, I have a new filter system. I never used to have one because I was never happy with the results. Normally for the most of my images I use my 14-24mm Nikkor lens. And to find a fitting filter system is not very easy. Several years ago I bought the one from Leefilters that suits the need of a 14-24mm Nikkor lens. But I was so disappointed about the results. Vignetting, color cast and the nightmare to put the system on this particular lens. I’m talking about to put a part of the filter system behind the lens … I mean you must detach the lens from the body, attach this part behind the lens, attach the lens again with the body and finally attach the rest of the filter system on the front of the lens. And all this in a possible snow storm ha ha ha … what a nightmare and what an adventure. I never never used it again!!
Well, since a long time I was reading so many good things about my new system from Lucroit! So simple and so effective in any ways! I’m so happy and so impressed about this filter system!!!! This is indeed my first image I used this new filter system. Attached in only a few seconds without removing the lens from the body. No vignetting and no color cast! Wow … really wow! Here I only used a circular polarizer to capture the extreme light conditions and I hope you enjoy my new work.DarkIceQueenGraubündenPrättigauSwissAlpsSwitzerlanddark mooddarknessdramaenchantinglight dramamagicmysteriousforestmountainsrocksstonesfrozensnowcloudscloudysnowymorninghouses
From Winter Wonderland
The view over Volterraio and Portoferraio
An very old image I made on the Isle Elba in Italy some years ago. The Volterraio is the hill in the foreground and the location Portoferraio is located in the distance on the left. I would love to see this area some day in my life again and I hope you enjoy this view here as well ;-)
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From Latest Works
The splendor of the Rheinfall
Another shot I made last year at this well known location. And even more … I already made a shot from the same spot here in the past, but this time with different weather conditions than the last time.
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Tiny Green Pearls
Not far away from my home there is this wonderful and small place in the middle of a forest. And every year in spring I can experience how nature brings everything to life … like this wonderful field of wild garlic. Some weeks ago I already posted one image from last year and it was clear that I will show you also one from this year. I hope you enjoy this image here ;-)
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From Latest Works
Tree stump in fog
Well, nothing special, but I have this image on my drive since a long time and was not sure if I should post it or not! So I decided to show it to you and I hope you like it.
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From Foggy Forests
Kondairak
What should I say … well, it was really an adventure to get at this place. Due to heavy rainfalls all the hiking paths to get up the mountain were destroyed or even worse … they completely disappeared because there were also some landslides. Therefore it was at some points a sort of try and error to get the right way up in the middle of the night. But I had time … enough time to take everything very easy. And after many hiking hours … I saw only rocks and stones … what a surprise … I reached this high plateau. Flowers and grass everywhere! You should have seen my face … I laughed like a madman. How beautiful everything was and I decided to stay at this place and to wait for the sunrise. And of course I made also this shot here ;-)
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From Latest Works
Gailurrera
I made this shot here last year in Summer when I was reaching this wonderful peak of a mountain at an altitude of more than 3’000 meters. And more or less 15 minutes away from the peak I made a break to make this shot here. Well … not the best light … in fact it was a mix of soft and hard light and a challenge to get something useful with the cam but it’s always something special when you get at such locations. And even more the weather conditions changed to something not so comfortable as you can see on the image! In fact when I was seeing the summit it just began to rain … you can see some of the first water drops on the rocks on the right part of the image. But it was really amazing to be there and to feel the cold and fresh air despite it was Summer. For the sense of scale … the first rock on the left side was bigger than me he he he and I had to climb a bit to get at the more comfortable hiking part on my way up. I’m still wondering and impressed about how my dog „Giorgio“ (a collie) always could find his way to follow me he he he :-) I hope you like it.
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From Mountains
Small Waterfalls
Last year I had a visit from my good friend Sam from the USA. Since we only knew from the Internet I was very excited to see him finally in person. Unfortunately he could only stay 2 days and the weather was not exactly the best to go to the mountains. But it was perfect to visit the famous „Rheinfall“ and also this place in a very small but enchanting forest and to take a few images with our cams of the many small waterfalls along our way. It was really exciting and wonderful to spend time together and I hope we can repeat this at some point in future ;-)
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From Latest Works
Uncommon view at the Rheinfall
Sure, a place that has already been photographed to death! And as you know I count myself to those who have participated in this game as well :-) This view here is an attempt to give a different angle of view to the castle „Lauren“ at the „Rheinfall“ and I really hope that such a view has never been tried before he he he.
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Field of beauty
Well … an old image from last year when I was looking around for some cool spots in the forests around where I live. I found this spot here … a wild garlic field and I was surprised to find such a huge field in my environment. And since last year I always visit this place again and again during this year’s Spring season. I don’t want to miss the right time this year. Well, we will see if I will post an actual shot from this place in future ;-)
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From Latest Works
Enchanted Forest
I don’t know how many times I was already here in this wonderful area of a forest in the Swiss Alps. I would say that I visit this location a dozen of times during the year, and I can always find some new places and spots. This day when I made this shot here was really a bad day. Dark and gloomy and it rained only once … from the morning to the evening ;-) But nevertheless I thought perhaps I would be lucky and made my way here. And in fact … just when I arrived, the rain stopped and the area began to hide behind an upcoming foggy atmosphere. Just the right time to make some shots before the visibility were to bad!
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From Foggy Forests
Mountain view
I made this shot here last year when I was hiking in the southeast of the Swiss Alps. Just at the beginning of the sunrise after some time hiking I decided to make a photo of this area and despite it is an old image I want to show it here. I wish everyone a wonderful weekend and I hope you enjoy this view into the distance.
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From Latest Works
Fire and Ice
What a surprise I had when I turned my had just for a second to see what was going on behind me while I was taking some shots of this wonderful valley with a frozen lake. I had not the time to find a cool spot with a fitting foreground. Just only the time to take my tripod and put it on the direction of this splendid light! Man man man … I was not prepared for this. Therefore I used my own footprints I made to reach this place here to make a sort of guiding line into the image. Nevertheless I hope you like it :-)
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From Winter Wonderland
Stripes
I made this shot here some weeks ago when I visited for the first time this wonderful location with this partially frozen lake. It was still very dark when the spectacle in the sky began but always wonderful when the colors begin to change.
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From Winter Wonderland
Awakening Giant
A wonderful morning in the Swiss Alps on a frozen lake in the middle of the mountains. While I was waiting for the sunrise I was observing all the different structures of the sea surface. And quite unnoticed this giant in front of me woke up aroused by the first sun rays of the morning sun. What a majestic view I had in front of me. And once again, nature showed me how powerful she was and how small we humans are. A spectacle to view and a lesson not to forget!
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From Winter Wonderland
Glorious Evening
Well, since I have nothing new I publish this shot here I made last year during the winter season on the Rheinfall. I remember that evening very well. It was a wonderful mood, and I was really happy when finally all the tourists left the place because it began to be very cold. Just only half an hour before this moment here, this place was full of people from all over the world, making selfies with a selfie-stick and making some strange poses in front of their mobile lenses. And of course I was observing those crazy scenes. What a world ha ha ha ;-) But then tranquility came and there were only some local ducks and me at this place. And I could enjoy the moment and concentrate on the scene of this marvelous sunset.
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Frozen Morning
Hi friends, I’m finally back from the dead after a long period of illness. But I’m feeling much better now! Last Sunday I had to go back to the Swiss Alps because doing nothing was just too much he he he. Well I reached this area here some time before sunrise and I was so lucky to walk with my fellow dog over this wonderful frozen lake looking around for some new spots. To feel the cold minus temperatures and to experience such places was the right medicine. I hope you like it.
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From Winter Wonderland
Black Ice
I must admit that I never saw black ice since the moment I had this wonderful small mountain lake in front of me. It was so fascinating to see this rare spectacle of nature. Black Ice is largely free of air bubbles, very compact and comparatively load-bearing ice. It is very transparent and appears in the color of its subsoil, often a dark ground. For me a great joy to experience such a moment!
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From Winter Wonderland
Icebreaker
By the end of the year 2016 I made a small hike to this wonderful place here. And there I was … standing in the icy cold on a small frozen lake in the mountains and waiting for sunrise. I love to stand up in the middle of the night to reach such places, because I think to experience the atmosphere before sunrise is always something very special. I could find this rock here coming out of the ice … and normally this rock would be below the water level. But due to the driest December month since the data recording in our country and the great tensions in the ice this formation could happen. And it was clear that I made a shot as you can see.
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From Winter Wonderland
Winter dance
Hello everybody. I hope everyone has started the New Year good and is healthy and well ;-) I wanted to start this year with this image here I made during a small hike in one of my favorite places. I was so fascinated about the small snowy hills on this area and especially how the shadows behind the small hills became bigger and bigger as the sunset approached. I hope you enjoy this one here and wish everybody a fine day.
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From Winter Wonderland
Waiting for winter
This shot here was made last winter when I was waiting for this wonderful white stuff he he he :-) And how could it be otherwise … this year the same story :-( No sign of snow despite that is is really cold! Well, this will be my last post for this year and I wanted to wish everybody Merry Christmas and of course a wonderful and happy New Year. Take care everybody and let’s see what next year will bring us ;-)
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From Mountains
Idyllic evening mood
Well, this is an old shot I made last winter when I was hiking with my snowshoes in the region of Graubünden in Switzerland. I was on my way home at sunset and I passed by this beautiful place and I thought why not make a shot here! I hope you enjoy.
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From Winter Wonderland
Icy Path
This is another shot I made during my last stay in the mountains in a for me unknown valley. While I was making some shots at sunrise in this river bed I noticed an area where the ground was reflecting more light and I found this spot here :-) It was logical, because we had minus temperatures and a part of the water was frozen … this was so cool he he he. To leave this place without making a shot of this here would have been a crime. And said and done … here it is and I hope you like my vision here.
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Sunset’s embrace
This is another shot I made from one of my favourite spots in the Swiss Alps. Here I positioned my cam directly towards the end of the lake and I was trying to catch the last rays of the day. I was really lucky because just only 30 minutes before the area was completely invisible due to a dense fog.
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From Lakes
Beginning of a waterfall
Hello everybody. During my stay in the Swiss Alps in Summer I could find this place here on a high plateau. What you see here is the beginning of a huge waterfall. Well I could not see him when I was going up the mountain in the middle of the night, but I could hear the rushing of the water. And after I made some shots of the wonderful lake that is also located here (I already posted a shot of the lake in the past few weeks) I was wondering where the discharge of the water was! And I found the place as you can see here! So I decided to make this shot here during the sunrise. I hope you enjoy this image and wish everybody a fine day.
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Autumn foliage
Well, a few weeks ago I walked with our dog through a forest, which I know very well! And it was enchanting to look at all those beautiful and golden autumn colours. My intention was to capture some impressions of a few small waterfalls of the area, but the water level was not really what I expected and therefore I decided to make a small walk. And I found this place here! Of course I had my backpack with me and so I could place my tripod and made this shot here. I hope you like it.
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From Forests
Dark Autumn
My feet have touched this ground for the first time in my life during my last stay in the Swiss Alps. I had no idea that this valley would be so beautiful and my heart began to beat faster when the first light of the morning began to reach this area here. I was standing in the middle of a river bed and it was so cold that even the sandy ground was hard like a rock. And when finally the light came I could see the beautiful autumn colours of the trees while my soul was smiling. I will certainly return to this paradise in future, because this valley still offers so many more spots.
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Sanctuary
During my stay in the Swiss Alps I had once again the opportunity to visit one of my favourite places. I love it to be here and to experience the tranquility this place transmit. And it seems as if the time stood still at this place. When I finally arrived I could see how a dense fog devoured the entire region. I couldn’t even see more than two meters. So I sat down on a rock and waited that something happened! And in fact after more than one hour … just in time at sunset … the fog liftet and gave me this wonderful view here! I hope you like my vision here.
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From Mountains
Beyond the dawn
It’s every year like a miracle to see how the vegetation changes in autumn. All the colors change from lush greens and rich glowing reds and yellows to subtle brownish autumn colors. And if you are hiking in the mountains like me the morning I made this shot here you can even have the encounter of a small snowfall with temperatures near and below zero degrees. But despite the cold it is so wonderful to experience this spectacle of different colors. I was hiking along this small mountain stream with my dog till to the point when I decided to make a break because the time of sunrise was approaching and the area was really nice. And of course I wanted to freeze this moment at this area and I hope you like this vision here I experienced.
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Foggy Forest in the Swiss Alps
Well, this is an old image from spring I made during a small walk through a wonderful forest. And it's quite a while since I posted my last foggy shot and therefore for sure I wanted to show you this image as well.
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From Foggy Forests
Revealing the hidden
Hello everybody ;-) I’m back from my vacations and I hope everyone had a good time in the meantime. Well, I could make some shots during my hikes but I still wanted to show you this one here I made during the summer time. I could reach this high plateau in the Swiss Alps before sunrise but I had no idea how this area would look like with light! But as sunrise time approached, the light over the area became stronger and stronger and I could get an idea how the effect would be with a sun appearing from behind the rock formation on this place. So I had still enough time to look for a good place where I could position my tripod and wait for the sun to appear!
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From Mountains
Light Moments
Well, I will be away for a couple of weeks, but before I leave, I wanted to show you this image here I made during a hike in the mountains of Val Müstair in Switzerland. My intention was to capture the magic and tranquil moment at sunrise and I hope you like my vision here. I wish everybody a wonderful time :-)
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From Mountains
Hiding place of the Dwarves
Can you imagine the face I made during my hikes in the mountains when I found this place here? The whole mountain slope was completely covered by this green carpet. And indeed, as I was walking over this area it sounded like I was destroying something. With every step I noticed that the surface was not stable as the ground was soft and muddy ;-) And every time when I find such places, I beginn to understand why legends and myths from dwarves arise from ancient times. I hope you like my vision here.
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From Forests
Sunset dreams over the lake
Well, some weeks ago I was at this wonderful place with two friends of mine (Olaf and Nadia). We had the idea to chase the sunset over the lake „Bodensee“ on the isle Reichenau. For me it was wonderful to have the chance to make shots without hiking for hours … it was just a trip of one hour by car … and hey, after that we were there he he he! But, it was easier said than done! First of all we had absolutely no idea about the location as it was a spontaneous idea to visit this place and second … almost every beautiful spot was a private facility … and therefore not much access to the shore. For me completely a new situation because normally where I’m hiking everything is free for mankind ha ha ha! And third … now I know what the real death squads are!!!! MOSQUITOES!!! Small poisonous beasts coming through every clothing and driving us three to madness!!! But hey … we survived. And we had a lot of fun and a fantastic sunset … and this is the only important thing. Olaf and Nadia … I have to thank you for the wonderful time fighting together against small soldiers and for all the laughs we had together! Thank you for your time and interest in my photos, your visit is most appreciated :-) _________________________ All my photos are copyrighted, © 2016 Manuel Martin (All rights reserved) - please don't download or print any of them without my permission and don't use my images on websites, blogs, facebook or other media without asking me. My posts are also on Facebook | 500px | Twitter | Google+ | Prints and Downloads are available at my Homepage _________________________
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From Lakes
Clash of clouds
Not far away from our tent there was this small but wonderful waterfall. And I could see this piece of area several times a day during one week and of course in every light condition. And the evening I made this shot here the time was perfect for a picture as a thunderstorm was approaching the area at sunset! From the distance I could already hear the roar of the thunderstorm. And every minute it got louder and louder as the sky darkened slowly. Sunset time was close and I grabbed my backpack just to reach the small waterfall at the right time. And as you can see in my image I had enough time to catch the sunset and the approaching thunderstorm at the same time! How lucky I was that evening ;-) I hope you like my vision here.
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Mountain peak of hope
I was at this summit several times during the week in succession to photograph the area at sunrise. But the light was never as I wanted it. Most of the time a thick cloud covered the entire sky over the entire area … until this morning here. Finally I said to myself, finally the mood was exactly as in my imagination. And as the sun greeted the world this morning, the first rays could reach the mountain top and bring some rock formations to shine. That was really impressive and my dog Giorgio and I were able to attend this wonderful spectacle while the rest of the world down in the valley was still in bed at this time in the morning!
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From Mountains
Lai Da Rims
This is the name of this gem in the mountains … the lake called „Lai Da Rims“. I’ve been saving this place for my final hike in the Swiss Alps after climbing every night a mountain for one week to photograph sunrises. Compared to my other hikes to 3000 meters this wonderful place at only 2400 meters should have been a piece of cake! Well, this was what I was thinking. But the truth is, that I had made however the calculation without the host. This night it was a bit harder for me to reach my paradise place, since my legs were hurting more after that week and my body felt that my usual job is not exactly beneficial for such adventures he he he :-) And also my way up to this place in the middle of the night was also very sporty, but hey … to experience such a place at sunrise was really worth every effort!
Can you imagine the expression of my face after going up for hours a mountain seeing only rocks, stones and steep slopes and suddenly reaching this plateau with this amazing lake surrounded by fresh and lush grass? I stood there like a stupid … looking around and thinking I was in another world. I was thinking this is now the „Lai Da Rims“ … a wonder in the middle of the mountains, a small deep blue lake! A lake which depending on the light conditions changing the color from emerald green to cobalt blue. And anyone who has seen him, feels attracted to him!! The path to this lake is indeed bumpy and steep, and one should take one step to the other with enough time going up there and for sure looking forward to the unexpectedly appearing surprise … this deep dark blue and crystal clear water in the middle of mountain peaks. By the way … the water felt pleasantly soft and so tasty ;-)LaiRimssummerD810NikonSwitzerlandAlpsGraubündenVal MüstairManuel Martinwww.manuelmartinphotography.comenchantedfairy talesunrisemorninggrasslakemajestic mountain peaksmajestic mountainsmountain peaksmountain slopemountainsrocksStonesreflectionswater reflectionsAlpenglowblue sky
From Lakes
Val Müstair
Well, for sure not one of my best. But my intention here was to show you the wonderful valley where I was guest during one week in the Swiss Alps. Not very far from here, we had set up our tent in the woods and this evening here I tried to find a spot from where I could show the entire valley in an image.
This valley lies in the south-eastern corner of the canton Graubünden and stretches over 18 kilometers between the Ofen Pass and the Italian Vinschgau. And also the trip to reach this valley across the Ofen Pass is already an adventure. From Zernez in Lower Engadine the road rises through the Swiss National Park to the Pass Ridge. The cultural highlight of the valley is the Benedictine monastery of St. Johann, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in the border town of Müstair. The monastery church from the year 775 boasts the world’s largest fresco cycle of the early Middle Ages and is a jewel of the visual arts of the Carolingian Era.ValMüstairsummerNikonD810SwitzerlandAlpsGraubündenVal MüstairManuel Martinwww.manuelmartinphotography.comdramaticeveningsunsetfieldsforestsgrasshillsmajestic mountain peaksmajestic mountainsmountain peaksmountain slopemountainstreesvalleywoodscloudscolored skydramatic sky
From Mountains
Fallen Light
This was the first shot I made during my vacations in the Swiss Alps. For sure it was only a small hike up towards the mountain peaks but I was wondering what I would see on that day with such wonderful and quick changing light conditions! When I reached this area here it looked like as if the gods were sending this light to the earth to brighten the gloom of the shadows of death in the world. For me simply beautiful and I had hurry to catch this vision here.
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From Mountains
Light Burning over the Rhine
Hello everybody. I’m back from my vacations and I really hope everyone is enjoying the summertime. Well, I’m still in the post process workflow of my shots I made in the Swiss Alps and therefore I thought I show you in the meantime this image here I made last year. I was having a short walk with my dog along the Rhine before sunrise and I was searching for new spots and found this location here! And I must say that the sunrise was really epic and for nothing in the world I would want to miss this moment. I hope you enjoy my vision of this moment here :-)
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Shimmering veils of light
I do not remember exactly when I began searching for waterfalls with my kids in the woods of Switzerland. But our little adventures developed into a family hobby. At some point in time my children have begun to say to all people we met on our trips „We are waterfall chasers!“. Well, a few weeks after I had found this little waterfall here, I also led my friend Sam form the USA to this place in a fairytale forest. And the clan of „Waterfall chasers“ has grown by one member from overseas.
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Emerald waterfall
Well, those who follow me on Facebook already saw my post of this location here. It was a selfie made at sunrise with my buddy Olaf and Nadia. We were here on Sunday before last and it was such an enchanting place! Both Olaf and me we were ready to hike some time through forests or mountain slopes. But nothing of this happened. I must confess, I was never in my life so quick at such a beautiful waterfall without walking. We parked the car on the roadside in a forest, went down about 80 steps of a stairs … down a ravine … and voila … we were at the location! What … so quick? I couldn’t believe that such a place was so easy accessible! Well, more time for the preparation before sunrise he he he. And I must repeat … it’s always such a great experience and great fun to shoot with friends.
After some time Olaf and Nadia began to make some portrait shootings and I took the chance to explore more the grotto from the inside! And thanks to the light of the sunrise and the wonderful green tones of the water the grotto began to shimmer in yellow and green tones in a subtle way. It was like in an Emerald Cave! This was the perfect moment for me to make this shot here. I hope you like it!EmeraldwaterfallD810enchantedfairy taleforestsgorgegrassKilchbergLandscapelightManuel MartinmorningNikonOutdoorreflectionsriverrocksStonessummersunrayssunriseSwitzerlandtreeswater reflectionswoodswww.manuelmartinphotography.com