Swiss Alps Twilight

------------------------- I especially love on thing in the Swiss Alps when I look at my picture here. And that’s the feeling of being somewhere in the northern countries. Although these lighting moods in winter are much shorter than for example in Norway, but I still have this spectacle just around the corner without having to get on any plane and to travel halfway across the world. What a fantastic vista here at over 2’000 Meters despite the freezing cold and waiting for the first lights of the day. Any effort to search for such places is worthwhile for this result in nature and for the feeling I had. -------------------------

Baby-Aurora over Stokksnes

I know … on the web there are so many stunning images with incredible auroras. Well, we were not so lucky to experience this green thing in the night sky. What you see here was taken on one of the last nights on Iceland and it was the only night with a chance to see a bit the auroras. Let me say it that way … one reason more to go back there sometime in my life ;-) Well, I think this one here will be my last upload of Iceland as Spring has finally arrived also here in Switzerland. I will be posting again shots from Iceland next winter.

Fjadrargljufur

A wonderful place this canyon called Fjadrargljufur located in the Katla Geologic Park. I can imagine how everything could look like taken in a dream land at sunrise. Well, we were not so lucky with the light, but hey … I was really happy to be there it doesn’t matter the weather. Instead of making some shots of the area I was looking for some compositions showing only some details of the canyon. I love to make such shots and I hope you like it as well.

Vestrahorn

No much to say about this wonderful and iconic mountain at this magic place. Just look and I hope you enjoy!

Area of Lomagnupur

On our way to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon we made a short break at the area of Lomagnupur and tried to make some shots of the reflections of this iconic mountain. But the area in the sky above that mountain was not really a picturesque one. So I decided to do also some shots of the wide plain towards the glaciers in the distance. I must really say the mountains in the distance looked really nice and the atmospheric light was wonderful despite that it was just after a heavy rain.

Golden Sun at Stokksnes

One afternoon we were in Stokksnes in front of the famous mountain of Vestrahorn. What a special and beautiful place this was. In fact I can always return at this area and find always different possibilities to shoot, as the strong wind is continuously transforming the sand dunes to new structures. I found at my way to the sand dunes this piece of ice surface and I could not resist not to make a shot here.

Diamond Beach

Seriously, I would say that I have a certain understanding about photography in the mountains, as I’m always there and no matter what the weather conditions are. But to make shots at the sea … really I had no idea how to make such a shot like the one here as I’m living in Switzerland he he he. And more how dangerous those ice blocks were as they were moving when the waves came. But luckily we had two excellent landscape photographers guiding us (Enrico Fossati and Javier de la Torre). Ha ha ha … it was really funny to be there at the beach trying to capture the right moment and hearing both guides screaming at us from behind like … „You must go forward! … heyyyy!!! … more into the water! … wait … wait … let the wave overpass you … and now shoot, shoot and shoot!!! … Not so close to the ice blocks … it’s too dangerous damn!!!“. What a highlight that morning! I had to laugh all the time … how crazy and funny that morning was at the beach. And I have to thank both guides for the effort they put into us all the time.

Sunrise at the frozen lake

I just found this image I made some time ago on a frozen lake in the Swiss Alps on my hard drive. It was really icy cold that morning but also so wonderful to be there in the morning hours and waiting for the sunrise.

Opposite the Kirkjufell

Just behind the waterfall Kirkjufellfoss there was this area here in the image. Well, I think nobody will ever notice this field here as there is the Kirkjufell and the waterfall, which are stealing the show, but as all the world is busy in capturing those iconic vistas I was attracted by the fresh snow covering the entire field and the beautiful light illuminating all those very very small hills. I decided to go here for a focus length blending as the background mountains seemed very small with a wide angle lens and I hope you like it.

Ice Cave Addicted

Oh man! It was a very cool and special day with a small hike of one hour on the Vatnajökull glacier and the visit of some ice caves. I had no idea that the visit of the caves wold be so impressive. I fell in love with such places here in this wonderful country he he he. And I must confess I’m addicted … I want more ha ha ha. It was so amazing to see so many different blue and green vibrant and bright colors, but it was also so challenging to capture everything sharp from front to back and to handle the big dynamic range with the cam. What you see here is a focus stacking image (handblended) with different exposures to capture everything of the scene. As I was standing in darkness I had to handle the dark areas around me knowing that just behind me on the roof of the ice cave there was a small hole letting in some daylight. And then in the distance there were two similar holes and finally the sun shining in the cave from the entry. A very cool experience and I hope you like my image here.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

During our trip in Iceland we were not so lucky with the light due to heavy rain during two days. Well, what should I say … one of this days were exactly here at the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, which is full of icebergs flowing to the sea from the Vatnajökull, the biggest glacier of Europe. How challenging experience it was with that bad light. But, it is as it is … at home in Switzerland I can always get back to the spots as much as I want to capture the spots with wonderful light because it is near for me, but on such a trip I have not this chance. It’s more „Take it or leave it“ he he he. So I made a lot of shots because I have no idea when it will be the next time when I have the chance to visit this area again. In my imagination I had a certain idea of the images I wanted to capture … as I saw a lot of them in the web, but here … with this light? Well, it doesn’t matter. The light was given and for nothing in the world I would miss the opportunity to make shots here at this incredible and so beautiful place no matter how the weather is. I hope you like my vision of this iconic place.

Rushing Water under the Mountain Peak

Just another shot I made in the area of the Kirkjufell. Well, to be honest it was Enrico Fossati who found this spot here. It was impressive to see how he works and how he enters a new area for some special and unique views. He called me to join him and to make with this this special view. We were both lying on the ground as the underground was frozen and we had only a vague idea where the ice was thick enough to hold our both weights. And then also Javier de la Torre joined us as he wanted to make some test shots with his new lens (SigmaArt 14mm 1.8) … by the way … a monster lens. For those interested in that particular lens I recommend to follow him on Facebook as he is writing a review about his experience with that lens. Well, finally I think most of the group made the same shot from this spot he he he. But as you can see it was worth to be there the morning I made this photo. I can only repeat … what a stunning place and I hope you like my vision here.

Horse’s Neck

One afternoon we visited the area of Bùdir with the famous black church. And it was really unbelievable to see a lonely black church in the middle of nothing. This contrast between the wider plane and this church was burned into my memory. Of course I started to make shots, but there was something more than just this church. In fact I had a little troll in my head and this little creature started to talk to me „Look, there’s an old lava field not far from the church!“. „Nonsense, I’m taking shots from this cool church now!“, was my answer. But again and again I heard this little troll talking to me. And hey, how many times have I already experienced to stand in the middle of a lava field? It was obvious … I disappeared from the scene and I found me again in all the small canyons of this huge lava field. And it was there where I found this spot here.

Classic view of the Kirkjufell

Well, as you can see I was on a workshop in Iceland. The workshop was guided by two great landscape photographers (Javier de la Torre and Enrico Fossati). Beside that they both are great photographers I must also say that they are such nice and fine guys and I enjoyed so much the time with them and of course also with the great group we were. If you visit their pages you will know what I’m talking about, and for sure I can recommend every workshop they lead! This here in the image is one of the many iconic places that Iceland can offer to all landscape photographers. And I decided to go for a classic one and for sure I hope you like it.

Winter Thunderstorm

I’ve really rarely experienced a thunderstorm in a winter. But when I took this image here it was just one of such a rare moment. But the bad thing was that unfortunately I did not catch a lightning when I was waiting for the sunrise. But nevertheless the experience I had was unique and wonderful and I hope you enjoy this shot here. By the way … this will be the last image for two weeks as I will be traveling abroad. Take care everybody.

Breathing Space during a Snowstorm

First of all … Happy New Year 2018. I hope everybody had a fantastic time during the last days of the last year. Well, seriously … I have no idea what the hell I was doing that day I made this shot here. There was a huge snowstorm and I had the desire to make a short hike during my stay in the mountains. Of course the visibility was zero and after two hours of hike I decided to go back home as it was senseless to go on looking for a cool spot. But then there was this really short break … this really short break of only a few minutes and I took this opportunity to make this one shot here before the storm started again.

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 ;-)

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.

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 :-)

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

The snake in the valley

Hello everybody. I’m back from the Swiss Alps (oh boy, we had still a lot of snow) and I hope you all had a nice time in the meantime. This picture is still one of the last winter. And although we already have spring in our area, I still wanted to show you this one here. I was hiking in an avalanche area and was already on the way back home when I saw from high up on the mountain, how a dense fog meandered through the valley. And it was amazing to observe how the fog was nimble as a cat and supple as a snake gaining more and more of the area down in the valley and sometimes snaking slowly away over small hills. I would say the fog was like a snake covered with icing sugar on this cold winter’s day! And finally when I reached the valley I could make some shots and I hope you like this one here!

Winterly alpenglow at sunrise

I hoped the morning I made this shot here, that I could see at least once the Alpenglow during my stay in the Swiss mountains. Therefore I got up before sunrise and went on my way without a plan … well, I can say it was only a small walk. The only thing that was important for me was that I had always a mountain range in my field. And in fact, I found a suitable place to witness this spectacle. And I was lucky! I was already there at this place in my shot long before sunrise and waited … and hoped … that the Alpenglow would happen. And I got this gift. Although a small Alpenglow, but it was still a gift and I was very happy about this! I hope you like it.

Snow hills and caves above the tree line

The weather was not really the best during my stay in the mountains. But the weather report predicted wonderful hiking weather for only one day. So I decided to wander into a region which is very famous for avalanches. Of course not without the appropriate survival equipment like avalanche beacon, avalanche probe, blade etc. which filled more or less 80% of my backpack. And finally … how could it be otherwise … my cam, one lens and a tripod … I had no space for more stuff he he he ;-) This winter season is very mild and the report for avalanche danger forecast has given green light for exact this region. I love that area … here you can find only mountain guides, climbers or free ride skier (backcountry skiing). And it is really a big pleasure to admire those mountain scenes which not very much people are able to experience during the winter months. Well, I was already coming down the mountain in the afternoon with my dog Giorgio when I reached the treeline. Caves, majestic mountains, Bonsai trees and a lot of snow hills, which were formed because of the rocks on the ground … it was clear that I wanted to wait till the sunset to make some shots. The sky was not really a beauty … therefore I tried to avoid a too big space of sky in the shot. I hope you like the result. And hey … as it was a bit boring the afternoon I also made a selfie with my dog Giorgio he he he ;-)

Dark and ghostly winter morning

So there I was sitting on a snow hill on a mountain slope he he he. I got up very early that morning to catch the light of the sunrise. But I got this!!! Darkness and a gloomy atmosphere was the gift of the gods on this cold morning. No golden light and everything was just white, gray and blue. I waited an hour for the light and my goodness, was it cold! My fingers were frozen despite gloves. But honestly, I was enjoying the moment. And then only for about 5 to 10 minutes I was able to see this wonderful spectacle. A bit light, fog and in the distance the thunder of a storm … this is what I call a modicum of luck to experience a thunderstorm in the middle of the winter season he he he. The rest of the day was boring … no light, everything dark but hey, I made my shot already before the day began he he he.


Evening atmosphere over the area of Prättigau

Well, this is the area where I wandered most of the time with my skis or with my snowshoes. On this day I was two times on the top of our mountain … once in the morning and once in the afternoon. And I went through the area from left to right … from right to left … diagonally from bottom left to top right, and vice versa. That was really funny finally to see snow he he he. And then, towards the evening when the sun went down, the area was transformed into what you can see in the picture. It was so beautiful and hey, there was also a tree he he he :-) Let’s take out the camera and place the tripod I thought! I made the composition … and … hey, what the hell is that? I noticed there were tracks in the foreground! Oh boy, I was the guy who produced this mess!!! I had probably destroyed the beautiful blanket of snow already during the day … and I was calling myself „Destroyer of the snow“! Well, the situation was such that and I had no more time to look for another place! Nevertheless I hope you like it!


Cold sunrise over the lake Crestasee

I hope everybody had a good start to the new year 2016 ;-) Well, I didn’t really saw the snow till now this winter, so I decided to show you an old picture from the last winter. At least in this image I can see how beautiful it was to have some snow over the area :-) I hope you like it!