Lake Weissensee

A large panorama of gorgeous Lake Weissensee from June. We stay there almost every year for now 9 years. It's such a great place, the lake is the highest european lake you can swim in in summer. During the summer months the temperature can get to 24 C.

You also can do great hikes, I took the series of images for this panorama on the start of a walk. You see fresh mowed grass and small huts. On the shore you'll notice the white strips of sand and lime. It's that color which gives the lake its name (Weissensee = White Lake).

If you visit Austria then plan to stay at this area (or any other of our beautiful lakes :-)

Dachstein

Sorry for not posting in the last time, I'm too busy...

Last weekend we were hiking in the Dachstein mountain range. The weather was bright and sunny, a welcome change after a very cold and wet May. It's said it was the coldest May since beginning of weather recordings. So you can image how we enjoyed the sun and being out all day.

Because of the bad weather there is still lots of snow in the mountains as you can see in the picture. The snow reached down to 1800m altitude, which is just where we walked that day. As we passed the track to the hut you can see in the middle back of the image, we had to cross some avalanches. The snow was fresh and clean, an indicator that the avalanches occured just recently.

And that's why we don't understand that the hiking trails was opened. Usually the authorities very quickly close trails in the Alps as soon as the danger of avalanches rises. But there many hikers and tourists walked that passage, right accross the avalanches that happend just days ago.

It was clear to us that it was not a good idea to walk there. Talking to the manager of our local hotel he agreed with us about closing the path. While we paused at the hut (and had some fine snack) we heard new avalanches coming down the mountains. It's a unqiue sound, like thunder in the distance. Sylvia also watched a small avalanche coming down at the place you see here standing in the image.

As for the image, its a panorama made of 4 shots. Using my new camera, the Canon EOS 7D, I'm amazed about the good quality it delivers. The image has 33 MB and thanks to the 18 MP of the camera I can zoom in like never before. I can switch from having the full view to see Sylvia's face in clear detail. I guess I will make some more panoramas in the future. It's fun.

Click in the image and zoom in to get the full view.

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Look Up!

This was a great winter day, I walked up a seldom visited side valley near Hinterstoder. There I reach the Dietl Alm, in spring it's a beautiful alpine pasture. Now in winter all is covered in thick snow and its very quiet and tranquil.

After walking to the end of the valley, right before the mountains' walls, I stopped and enjoyed the scenery. There was total silence, not even a bird was flying or singing. Lookup I noticed that gorgeous blue sky peeking through the white branches. It was amazing!

The image got really well, the bright contrast between the snow and the sky is perfect. I also managed to have all trees point to the middle.

If you ever need a break from everydays hustle I recommend a walk in the forest. Best you can do for your soul.

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Entry

After a while away from the Blog I will continue to show more images. I've just been too busy.

This photo has been taken at the entry to the Weitental valley which is located near Tux in Tyrol, Austria. Actually you have to hike upwards about one hour from the village of Hintertux to reach this spot. In the background you can see the waterfalls named Schleierfall. There's little water now because of the cold season. In summer there's much more water pouring down.

To get into the valley one has to follow the path through the gates and walk up a steep and narrow path on the right side of the waterfall. You can see the path on the upper part of the image where the hills form a "V".

Now in November there should be much more snow already. But this year it is a really warm fall season and we had 5 degree Celsius up to 3000m altitude! So you won't see much snow in this image, although there is some on the way leading up. Especially in the shadowy parts where there's no sun all day. The valley itself is covered on snow.

I followed the path up but I used my crampons to pass the snow and ice. When you have to pass a slope with a lot of inclination which is covered by frozen snow you know what I mean. It also feels much safer.

When I returned I rested at a bench right besides the wooden gates you see in the picture. Then I noticed this would make a great image and took this shot. It really works for me because of the combination of unusual angle and light contrasts. I also like how the waterfall is in the lower part of the image and so it's not the main focus. You also can see the primary colors for this season in the Alps: brown, blue and white. Soon it will all be covered in bright white!

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Dreaming

As we stayed at Lake Weissensee this July, we had mostly bad weather. Lots of rain, clouds and chilly wind. No summer at all. But on some days the sun broke through and we could enjoy some time in the sun.

When crusing the lake with a passenger ship we always passed the shoreline and it gave me the opportuntiy to take this shot. First I tried to place the man in the lower part of the picture but then I thought it works much better when he's at the top. This way the title fits perfectly, a dreaming person floating on green water.

The reed also is a good addition, it even matches the green of the lake perfectly. Sometimes I'm lucky to find such a motif. It's hard to plan such an image.

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Dreaming

A nice image, made while we rested on a short hiking tour in Salzburg in June. It was our last day of a three-day weekend when we walked a easy tour before driving home. This is on a summit at 2000m altitude which is easily accessible by cable car and then a 1-hour walk. So, actually we haven't been that tired, but it was relaxing to sit and watch.

After eating our picknick I noticed the colorful meadow which would make a perfect addition to Sylvia's boots and the mountains. In the next minute you could watch me lying on the ground and pointing the lens towards the shoes. Must have been funny to watch for the other people ;-)

It's a classical motif to integrate your hiking boots into a landscape shot. Look at any magazine or hotel brochure in the Alps. So it was fun to try it by my own. Although I think it is still work to make a series with models and pros. It was more fun for me.

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Mystery

I don't take pictures of clouds that often. Most of the time they are nothing spectacular and look plain boring. But this one caught my eye.

It was a bright sunny day last weekend. We hiked in the Alps and while walking we watched clouds coming our way from the horizon. It's been said that rain and thunderstorms will approach til the evening. So initially we were not happy to see clouds above us at noon.

Then I turned back and looked up to see this gem of a cloud. It's shape was changing by the minute because of the strong wind. First it reminded me of some U.F.O, then streaks and lots of details became visible. Fascinating to watch! It looked so vivid, light and fluffy.

I took some shots, all with a polarizing filter to get a strong blue/white contrast. The final image is very nice, I think of making a print of it and hanging it above our bed. Will look nice, I guess ;-)

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Pond with a view

What I really like about hiking is the hidden treasures you can find. Whenever I walk though nature in our Alps I always end up seeing something unexpected. Like this little pond in the Tuxer Alps, Tyrol. My way led up a grassy hill and I almost missed this water beauty. It must have been melted snow that built this pond. Although it was August there was plenty of snow in the heights, so no wonder there were brooks and ponds around. A year later I passed the same spot and there were no ponds anymore.

The photo is nice because it shows a reflection in the pond which is a good motif for itself. Combined with the mountains in the background it makes for an idyllic and wonderful alpine pasture. And besides, my wife Sylvia was skiing on that snowy slopes in the background while I was hiking and taking this photo.

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Water Ghosts

Shooting waterfalls seems to be an easy task. But in my opinion it is rather difficult to get something interesting on film (or chip). Using normal shutter speed doesn't really give a good image, lower shutter speeds are essential to me. But that's not enough. There are so many waterfall photos with a good water blur, yet they are boring. I always try to find a different approach to the water flow.

Two weeks ago we've been again in the Stoder Valley where the river Steyr has its origin. Now with the snow melting and flowing from the surrounding mountains there's plenty of water in the river. It has some smaller waterfalls, too. This time I tried to use my tele lens to find new views. Mounted on the tripod I scanned with full focal length at 300mm (times 1.6 crop factor). I noticed that rock barely visible and the water jet it caused. Taking some pictures this one was the best.

I love it, it has a eerie feel to it because of the whirls at the end of the jet. To me they form little water "ghosts", like hidden creatures living in the rush. And the form of the jet is important for the photo as are the matching colors of the water and the rock. Overall I'm happy with the picture, I think it will make a wonderful print. It surely will look good hanging on a wall, maybe in our bathroom ;-)

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(You can view more images of the river Steyr here).

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Alpine Reservoir

I really like this photo, it shows brilliant colors and contrasts. And I didn't have to tweak or manipulate it, it came out of the camera that way. That's because it was such a beautiful day with bright light and a clear sky. Using my tripod helped a bit to get a crisp and sharp image.

To take the shot we had to walk/climb a small hill nearby the dam. Not many people walk up there, most are tourists who prefer to walk around the dam a bit and then sit in the small cafe to enjoy the sight and sun - which isn't a bad thing ;-)

I had no idea how beautiful a reservoir and dam can look. From now on I will take every opportunity to explore new sights at these monuments!

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Hut

I love old barns, farms and mountain huts. The weathered wood, the oldfashioned windows and doors, the overall look of "age". Lucky me that there are plenty of those rural buildings in Austria :-)

This hut and its lovely window is located at the Gosau lakes, two small alpine lakes which we can reach after a two-hour drive. So we are often there, in winter for skiing and in summer for hiking or just a great day out.

I walked there in Spring 2007 and there was lots of snow still around. I had seen the hut from a distance and then I had to trudge through thick layers of snow to reach it. But it was worth it, as I arrived the sun came through and it was well lit for my photo. I like the way the trunks and the rock lie there beneath the window. It lookes like arranged but I found it that way. Makes for a perfectly balanced still life. And the white hearts on the windows are a bonus ;-)

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Follow the Light

What a glorious day out this was! Hiking with my snowshoes into this beautiful valley and enjoying the bright sun, fresh cold air and the quiet alpine scenery.

It's the Langental valley in the Sellrain mountain range, Tyrol, Austria. A small side valley seldom visited, in winter only back country skiers will walk here. That's because it is not accessible easily when all is covered with thick layers of snow. I guess I was one of the few people walking there in winter time.

After a two-hour walk upwards I stopped and walked back, but I could easily have walked for many hours more. The weather was gorgeous, although a chilly wind blew. Sometimes I had to stop and turn away from the gust blowing snow crystals in my face.

On my way back I walked past this wooden cross and then turned around to see my back view. I always do this to see if there's a good view backwards. Many people just walk ahead and never turn back - a mistake in my opinion. I then took this photo and I deliberately positioned the sun right into the picture. Often this doesn't work and just results in a great white spot or lots of lens flare, but this time it was perfect. The suns circle makes such a great motif.

I thoroughly enjoyed this day and I will recommend snowshoeing to everybody who loves nature. Unfortunately it's planned to build a reservoir and dam in that valley starting from 2011. It's sad, because another beautiful place is sacrificed for human needs.

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Winter Glory

This is the alpine peak Spitzmauer with a height of 2445m. It is in the Stodertal valley in Austria, a well known area for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. We are often there, especially in winter when Sylvia wants to ski. Because I don't ski I always walk around and take some pictures. As you can guess I already have dozens of images of the motifs there, but there's always something new to discover. For instance I like the Spitzmauer because it is such a distinctive mountain, you can recognize it from any angle.

When I took this particular image it was a cold winter day this January. After some days of bad weather the sun finally came through and the light was gorgeous. I also was lucky because most of the time clouds are around the summit. The look of the snow and rocks is great and the contrast to the blue sky works very well. It's one of the best photos I took of this mountain.

If you're ever in Austria you should visit this valley, you can do any sorts of summer or winter sports and the scenery is great.

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The Jetty

Another image from Lake Weissensee, there are so many beautiful motifs at this scenic place. This jetty and its reflection make a great photo in combination with the sunset. The colors of the sun rays match the water's blue and the mirrored poles looks good. I also like the silhouettes of the mountains in the background a lot.

It's been a quiet and serene evening. After dinner we walked around a bit and enjoyed the scenery. As we returned to our hotel we saw this scene. The sun was about to set behind the mountains and clouds and the last rays of light made a wonderful impression. Luckily the water was calm enough so we also got a good reflection of the jetty.

I can't wait to be there again this summer :-) Hopefully we have good weather so I can look for another series of great images.

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Treasure

Now this is a magical place and I like to recommend it to anyoune who visits Austria one day. It's Lake Weissensee in Carinthia, the highest swimming lake in the Alps. We visited it first in 2003 and have been coming back almost every year. The lake is surrounded by green mountains and forests and only one half of it is accessible and has roads and houses. This ensures it to be a gorgeous, quiet and beautiful place. In summer the shoreline has a distinct white color in contrast to the green water which gave the lake its name ("Weiss" = White). The temperatures can reach 25 degrees Celsius in July/August which makes it a wonderful place for swimming and diving. We often had the feeling to be in the Caribbean! In winter the lake is completely frozen and lots of people come from all over Europe for ice skating (esp. the Dutch).

We have our special place to stay (I won't tell you where, it's ours!) and that's where this photo has been taken. You have a fabulous view over the water and into the Alps, almost each day a different sunset and light. There's nothing better than to have delicious dinner and then to sit and watch the spectacle. Guess what - I took this image while sitting at the table, no need to walk around :-)

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Reach Out

The days before taking this picture I was snowshoeing and I sprained my ankle. So, despite it was a beautiful, sunny day, I had to restrain myself and just walk a bit instead of longer hikes. So while Sylvia was skiing I hobbled through the alpine village of Gosau. Luckily for me the night and morning had been really cold. The trees were all white with hoarfrost and ice. And as the sun finally came over the mountains at about 10am the trees startet to glow!

First I thought it would be easy to get good pictures, but guess what: in a village there are houses and other not-so-interesting things. And they always tend to show up in the background! So at a point I concentrated to look up and find a good motif. Which was not easy again, because either the branches just look boring or you end up shooting straight into the sun.

Finally I managed some shots, this was one of them. I really like the abstract feel of it. The color contrast is good and the details are fine, too. These are the winter images I'm after but don't get to often.

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Spring Colors

Sometimes it happens that I find a good motif just around the corner. Because I live in the midst of a city I thought I'd never find a gorgeous spring tree in a rural setting. But on a sunny sunday I took the bus and then walked a short distance. Suddenly I stood in bright yellow rapeseed fields and blooming trees were all around me. This was a stunning experience and a great day out for photos.

While I walked around and in between those trees I found this gorgeous combination of colors. A rapeseed field already makes a good photo but here I had an additional blooming tree and green grass. It looked even better in reality! This day I used my tripod very often and this is one of the best images. Looking at this picture it always reminds me of the power of spring. And I hope spring will come soon, because it's my favourite season (besides autumn).

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Winter Blues

Sometimes a turn can offer complete unexpected views. While snowshoeing in the quiet Längental valley, Tyrol, I turned my head because of the chilly wind. I saw the slope and bright blue sky and I knew, this will make a great abstract.

I like the gentle curve of the slope and the crossing with the mountains. The little white peaks in the middle are a perfect eyecatcher and the white is a good contrast to the blue.

Walking for about 3 hours to this spot with cold winds and through deep fresh fallen snow was worth it. But I almost always end up with some good images on any hike. Nature has so much to offer.

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