Forgotten Paradise

------------------------- Hard to beliebe, but this image here was made only one minute walk from a public car park. While everyone just passed this beautiful spot, I had to stop and admire this little paradise. Beauty is everywhere. You only need an open soul to find and to see the beauty. -------------------------

Mountains and rocks

------------------------- A shot I made during a hike with my dog in the Swiss Alps. I really was lucky to enjoy such a cool atmosphere in the middle of July after trying to capture something beautiful during several days with no clouds in the sky. I really hate blue skies but this morning was finally different. I hope you enjoy and thanks for watching. -------------------------

Sunrise and Hallelujah

------------------------- What an amazing location in the northern of Spain I had here. I must admit that coming from Switzerland this here is just incredible for me. It’s completely opposite to everything I know. I would have been just happy with having only the sea in front of me, but to have such cool rocks and foreground in combination with such a fantastic light of the sunrise, it was like having birthday. I hope you like it as well and thanks for watching. -------------------------

Hidden Cascades

------------------------- Far away from the mainstream locations in Switzerland I found one day this hidden gem here. A place with 3 cascades which convey into one mountain stream. I was so surprise about the beauty of the area which was full of so many different spots to shoot and to try. This one here shows the 3 cascades in the distance and was made just when the first rays of the sunrise could touch some parts of the rocks in the foreground and I hope you like it. -------------------------

Light Explosion

------------------------- A shot I made in the early hours of the morning when I was hiking through the night to reach this area here. And I was rewarded with a light explosion at sunrise. How cool this was and how honored I felt when I was experiencing this wonderful moment with my dog in the mountains. -------------------------

Small mountain stream in twilight

Rheinfall in the morning

------------------------- Just another wonderful shot from the famous Rheinfall I made some years ago. Have no idea why I never processed it. But here it is and I hope you like it. Thanks for watching. -------------------------

Shining Morning

------------------------- So much time has passed since I was here the last time to visit this small but picturesque lake in the Swiss Alps. And once again it was worth to be here. This place really offers so many different spots. Since the lake is in the middle of a small forest, you can even make some forest shots after having made some images from this small lake. Well, I hope you like it as much as me :-) -------------------------

Fate and Destiny

------------------------- A shot made at this very known and beautiful lake in the middle of the Swiss Alps. The bad thing was that the sunset was just behind the majestic mountain peaks but nevertheless the last light of the day was so strong that some green parts of the landscape were illuminated by a golden touch and everything seemed so magic like coming from a fairy tale. I must confess that despite there are so many images from this place I can’t resist to visit again and again this place. -------------------------

Evening Spring Cascade

------------------------- Just a few weeks ago, I knew it would be a bit too early to find cool spots in the Swiss Alps. And especially too early this spring season after such a hard winter. There is still a lot of snow in the mountains and the spring season is only coming slowly to all places. Well, nevertheless I found this really picturesque area here. An area I know very well as it is on my way to a lot of other cool places, but I never had the idea to make a shot exactly here. Well, things always change and this time I gave this place a chance … but honestly, I hope to b e the right photographer to capture all the beauty of this area in all its splendor. -------------------------

Golden Shine over the River

------------------------- What a light mood I found here at this place on a foggy day, when I decided to make some river shots in the mountains. I love this place and especially I love it even more in spring. And although you can’t see it in the image … as soon as the snowmelt starts after a hard winter season, the river basin fills up with a huge amount of water, which flows down the mountain with incredible power. Not to mention that getting too much into the center part of the riverbed can be a bit dangerous considering the strong current of the river in this season of the year. -------------------------

Winter Shadows and Light

„Winter Shadows and Light“ ------------------------- Well, I think this here will be my last image with snow for this winter season. But hey … after the winter season is always before the next winter season he he he. I can’t wait to the next winter to make some more shots with all the areas covered by a beautiful white cape. This here was made when I was with a friend of mine looking for some cool spots and we decided to make also a shot from the distance capturing the sun disappearing behind the majestic mountains. I hope you like it. -------------------------

Mood Presure

------------------------- I made this shot here last year during the winter season. I was on a hike with snowshoes together with my son exploring the area having really bad bad weather conditions and low visibility. But when we arrived at this place here the light could shine through the dense fog and clouds and produced such a mystical mood that I decided to make a shot from this moment here. Would have been a crime not to do it and I hope you like it despite the spring season has already begun. -------------------------

The Beauty of Winter

------------------------- About a bit more than a week ago, I posted a picture of this area on Facebook. I was not so happy with the light conditions when I made it more than a year ago. Well, and now this here what you see is exactly the same area but taken four weeks ago when I visited this location again with a friend. And this time I pointed the cam 180 degrees in the opposite direction. I always wanted to capture the beauty of the whole area, but I failed because it was never possible with only one shot. Therefore I decided this time to make a panoramic vista with 9 vertical single images and stitched them together into one shot. I hope you like it and thanks for watching. -------------------------

Winter Shoreline

------------------------- What you see here is the shoreline from the Kirkjufellfoss. The iconic mountain is exactly on my left. Really difficult to make here at this iconic place something special as it is photographed thousand times. Here I tried to make a special and not so well known vista from this place and I hope you like it as well. -------------------------

Ice Lake

------------------------- A good friend of mine (Juan), whom I met on my trip to Iceland, visited me in Switzerland some weeks ago. It was obvious that I went with him to photograph some cool spots I know in the Swiss Alps. We really had a bit of bad luck with the weather conditions (too blue) and also many areas I know were closed due to avalanche danger. But nevertheless, we had a lot of fun and I think here at the lake „Klöntalersee“ we were blessed at Sunday evening, because the weather was in our favor. But even down here on the frozen lake we could not stay too long because we were standing on a small ice island in the middle of the frozen lake and behind us the water locks to the lake were opened. We had to leave the place really quickly to have the chance to leave without having to swim. And just before we left I could make this image here! -------------------------

Sand dunes in golden light

„Sand dunes in golden light“ ------------------------- Not much to say about this well known iconic place in Iceland. I hope you like it and thanks for watching. ------------------------- For Landscape Photography Workshops please visit: - Swiss Alps 2 days Workshop - Snowdonia 3 days Workshop Further Information at https://www.manuelmartinphotography.com/WORKSHOPS -------------------------

Breath of the Dragon

------------------------- A shot I made in the Swiss Alps during this winter season when I was looking for new spots with friends. Actually, we first wanted to visit another spot, which is located behind this mountain massif. But when we saw this area here, we thought it might be better to wait here for the firework once the sun will reach this area. Our presumption was right as you can see and we were experiencing a great morning around all these rocks. -------------------------

Waterfall-Cave

------------------------- Another shot I made at the iconic place Kirkjufell. This time I show you the vista I made just below the icy waterfall. As the entire water was frozen I could place my tripod just under the waterfall. Was really cool this experience and I hope you like it as well. -------------------------

Old Lava Fields

------------------------- This area here is located in Bùdir (Iceland) and is famous because of the black church that is not far away from where I took this shot here. To be honest, I was more attracted by this old lava field than from the church. This incredible area here has as many spots as there are stars in the night sky. Finally I was lost in all the small canyons looking for the right shot. This image here is one of the many shots I made. Thanks for watching. -------------------------

Iceland Canyons

------------------------- A shot I made when I was visiting the Fjadrargljufur canyon on Iceland. For sure not the best weather conditions to make justice to this wonderful place, but I had to take what I found that day. And I’m so happy that I could see this magnificent place and I hope you like it as well. -------------------------

Black Curve

------------------------- Another shot I made in Iceland. I was in front of the iconic mountain in Vestrahorn and found this wonderful foreground. Despite the bad weather … (lol) … well I hate blue skies, because they always remind me of postcards, I could not resist and made the shot. -------------------------

White Freedom

------------------------- Well, nothing much to say about this iconic place in Iceland as it has been already photographed billions of times. But the place is wonderful and magic here at the foot of the mountain Kirkjufell. And as you can see the weather was also cool with lots of clouds and hints of light. I hope you enjoy this image from my trip to Iceland and thanks for watching. -------------------------

Idyllic Boathouse

------------------------- It was absolutely the opposite of idyllic when I took this image here. Snowfall, intense wind gusts, icy cold conditions and strong waves … this was what I found in the northern of the lake Ammersee in Germany when I visited this area here with friends. But hey … with a long exposure of 4 to 5 minutes you see nothing of that he he he! Everything is tranquil and there are absolutely ghostly vibes in this magical moment here. I must say, I love to make such shots from time to time. -------------------------

Ice Dancing

Golden Kingdom of Heaven

A piece of heaven

------------------------- This is another shot I made in the Swiss Alps during a hike with friends when we were looking for new spots. I made it during the evening hours at this wonderful mountain lake when the sun was disappearing behind some mountain slopes. Well, this will be my last post for this year. I wish everybody Merry Christmas and of course a Happy New Year. Take care everybody and I hope you will enjoy the time with your dears. See you next year :-) -------------------------

Riverdreams

------------------------- Well, a very old shot I made two years ago when I was visiting this area here. The morning was really promising when I reached the area and in fact when the light came it was like being in a autumn dream. All fall colours began to shine when the sun came out. Again and again, a true miracle such lighting moods. -------------------------

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. -------------------------

At Dusk

------------------------- Well, a shot I made in the Swiss Alps weeks ago when I was hiking this area with friends. A very challenging day in terms of photography as I can remember. Very strong wind, coming and going clouds and towards the evening at sunset I could just in time capture some last light of the sun. I was very lucky at this time of the day as the sun showed its glory only for some short time. -------------------------

Dreamlike Timberline

------------------------- Of course I had to return to this wonderful forest high up in the mountains near the tree line. It’s my second year that I visit this amazing place. And it’s really wonderful that there are still such marvelous and for photographers unknown forest places in Switzerland. For sure a place to protect and like last year I was amazed about the beauty and about the amount of spots. This year I made only two shots and this one here is one of them! -------------------------

Brighten the Darkness

------------------------- Well, many of you have already seen that I was one week ago with my buddy Markus Brandstetter and Matthias from Kase Filters Germany in the Swiss Alps scouting for new spots for future workshops. Well, as you know I’m always here in the mountains and so we could find a lot of places. What you see here is the entry of one of those fabulous spots of the region we found. Of course, this shot was made one month earlier. It was early October when I visited this place. And although I did not find any clouds the early morning long before the sun came up, I still was lucky enough after sunrise. Actually, I never take pictures at this time of the day, but I liked how the left part of the valley was lit up by the sun and I hope you like it as well. -------------------------

Golden Autumn

„Golden Autumn“ ------------------------- A shot I made last year when I was visiting this special valley. I simply love to return again and again in Autumn at this wonderful place in the Swiss Alps. As you can see I can always find new places for shots and therefore it feels for me as a little treasure. I hope everybody is enjoying the day. -------------------------

Caprice De Dieux

------------------------- Again and again the whim of nature is amazing. I planned to come to this valley and according to the weather forecast, the morning would be perfect for shooting. Cloudy and varied it should have been. And so it was everywhere, except in this valley here. Not a single cloud far and wide. Oh boy!!! As soon as I reached the gates of the valley, I noticed that the weather made its own rules here. Well, that’s just how it is! Take it or leave it I told myself. Therefore I decided to go for a twilight shot at the shoreline of this mountain river. -------------------------

Land of the Druids

------------------------- I made this shot here in a completely new area for me. Completely unknown where I had to go and where I would find some cool spots for new images. But nevertheless, after a research with maps I decided to go up this mountains here and this long before sunrise. After some time I found a forest clearing and to my surprise there were some rocks like this here you see in the image lying on the ground. Really strange to see such formations, but so much interesting. I decided to include one of those rocks into my foreground with the vista down the canyon with a mountain range in the distance. I was lucky enough to experience the sunrise in my back and illuminating the sky with wonderful colors. -------------------------

Fallen Tree

------------------------- Look at this scene I found in a wonderful hidden valley. Well, I call this valley hidden because I can’t remember ever having seen any picture from a photographer of this valley in any Social Media portal. I was so fascinated like a little child when I saw that fallen tree in the middle of the little mountain cascade. I had to make a shot of course, but the composition was not very easy. The result was that I had to position me with one leg into the cold and icy water. As I was completely alone here it was obvious that I had to take off my pants (lol). I think this would also have given cool scene (lol). But honestly, what would you have done in my place? -------------------------

Golden evening mountains

------------------------- For sure not the first time I post a shot from this iconic place in the Swiss Alps. Well, very easy for me to get up here as I’m really often in the area with my family. And I hope these pictures do not bore anyone because you see this place again and again in my gallery. The day I made this shot here I was hiking with my kids to this place, and there was not any special reason to be here … just another way to kill time and to hike a bit. But we always enjoy constantly the magnificent view from here and the hike is always worth. -------------------------

Illuminated Double Axe

Well, I think this will be my last seascape image for this year as Autumn is already here in Switzerland. This shot was also made at sunset at the beach called „Playa del Silencio“. As you can see I positioned me just in front of some rocks and waited to the point as the sun was exactly in the middle of tow rocks. A very easy shot but nevertheless I hope you like it. _________________________

Towards Valhalla

------------------------- This amazing cave and rock formation located on the beach of Campiecho (Asturias, Spain) are only accessible at low tide. Well, during my stay of two weeks in Asturias I had to plan good for a visit of this location here. I wanted to be in the cave at low tide, and be also exactly at sunset at the spot. And my third problem was to have the perfect weather for my visit. With a clear sky this shot would have been more difficult due to the difference of light between the inside and outside of the cave. After studying all the necessary pieces, it was clear that I had only one or two days for a try. Well, I’m really grateful that everything went well on my trip and I could make some shots as you can see here. I hope you like my vision here. -------------------------

Sunshine, gold and glory

------------------------- Another shot made at the iconic and famous coast called „Gueirua“ I made one early morning when the world was still sleeping. But this is exactly what I really love, because it is most of the time so rewarding. To get up still in the night and asking why I’m doing this, only to get to the place, to wait till the right moment and to see this glory. And exactly this moment here is the response to all questions I made during my way to the place! For me it’s like food for the soul and I hope you like this sunrise shot here! -------------------------

The Green Pearl

------------------------- You have no idea what I had to do to reach this place to capture this wonderful area here in Asturias (Spain). For hours I wandered in the woods of this wonderful forest until I finally … well, to be honest no, I’m just kidding (lol). Not 30 seconds from here, we parked our car. We were on our way to the beach, as suddenly I saw this place on our route. I was so surprised to see this. I had to come back … that was obvious. And days later, when the evening light was more suitable for such a place, I came back. I was wearing only flip-flops and not the usual mountain boots. That was so cool and so easy and comfortable to get at such beautiful place :-) -------------------------

Last flawless light

What a pleasure for me that I had the chance to experience such moments at the coast of Asturias (Northern Spain). I was visiting one evening this amazing place called „Playa del Silencio“ and I was looking for some cool foregrounds when suddenly I found this one here. This structures and shapes of the rocks in the foreground somehow reminded me of something extraterrestrial … alien-like … he he he. Therefore, I decided to wait for the last rays of sunshine to capture this vertical here. I think I never had a similar strange foreground and I hope you like it as well.

Symphony of the mountains

A shot I made last year during the summer season in the mountains. I was trying during several days to capture something similar like this shot here. Some days there were no one single sign of a cloud on the entire area and some days the sky was too overcast with one single color …. I mean grey without any structure in it. But this morning here I was lucky enough to have the right amount of clouds in the sky and as I knew exactly the position where the sun will come out and show the entire power of the light I had only to wait to the right moment! I hope you like my vision here and I wish everyone a cool coming week ahead.

Shimmering Silvercoast

Well, I think it’s time to begin with posting several images I made during my stay in Asturias (Spain) some weeks ago. I made this shot here at a very iconic beach called „Gueirua“ one rainy afternoon. A single long exposure shot which I found very difficult to make as I was cleaning the lenses all the time due to the rain! And more it was not so comfortable to stay balanced over the rocks and stones during a heavy wind and rain, cleaning all the time the lenses and at the same time trying not to fall into the sea with all my equipment :-) But it was so rewarding to be there and I could’t care less about the weather … I was so happy to finally, finally, finally to see the sea again after so much time as I have no sea in my country :-)

Light of Fate

Several times already I have shown pictures from this magical place here. And once again, I cannot resist to show you another one … first of all, because the place is epic and for sure I love to be here and secondly, because the light mood here can be truly unique in certain situations. This shot here is one of those special moments I’m talking about!