Images of Switzerland and it's Alps '16

[Paul Abbott]

Glacial rings of what once was. Climate change at work...

Jungfrau - Aletsch Glacier - Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Asher Kelman]

To me, these avalanche barriers are amazing, such feats of construction must have been involved in putting them up, and worthy of a photograph I think...

Avalanche Barriers - Mannlichen, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

Paul,

This is a great surprise image! The valley so far below us seems so vilnerable from this position. I had no idea they mad such barriers!

Asher

 

[Paul Abbott]

They're much needed, Asher. Obviously, they follow the contour of the slopes but they're all so perfectly parallel and equidistant to each other too.

 

[Paul Abbott]

My partner and I took a tour of the Swiss Alps by helicopter and for me this was an amazing highlight of my vacation.
Here are a couple of photographs. I am processing these as I go and so all in all it is a...slow process.

Finsteraarhorn 'Spindrift' - Bernese Alps, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott

Western Alps & Valley, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Asher Kelman]

A view of the Jungfrau mountain, it's name translates as 'Maiden'. Whereas, on the left of her is the Eiger - 'Ogre', and unseen on the right is the Monch - 'Monk'.

With this one, I spotted these branches in the foreground and loved how they mimicked the shape of the Jungfrau and it's striations, offering up some analogy; which I love and and am always on the lookout for in my photography.

Jungfrau (Maiden) - Sonnenberg, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

Paul,

I like the ideas embedded in "Jungfrau" that you explain, as it evokes for me, not just the status of maidenhood, but also the transition potential to "fulfillment" as a fertile member of the family of man.

We also see a major transition in the picture, the branch representing life struggling for its foothold and then the reality of the environment where this must happen.

So this picture, to me at least encourages us to go beyond the astonishing ensuring beauty of the Alps to consider, perhaps an array of transitions and possibilities in life before us.

Asher

 

[Paul Abbott]

I like what you've wrote, Asher.
This 'maiden' is a harsh mistress at her peak, while below and around her concertina'd ridges (skirt?), there is life clinging and thriving. You can see maybe how she might have come by her name...

 

[Paul Abbott]

Staubbach Waterfall - Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott

First, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

Silberhorn & Breithorn - Bernese Alps, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

Bernese Alps - Wengen, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

You can just make out the cable car pylon on the horizon's right hand side, which was photographed in another picture, posted elsewhere on here...

Eiger, Schreckhorn & Wetterhorn - Eiger Nordwand, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

Gimmelwald, Switzerland '16 #2 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Andy brown]

Paul, I stopped commenting on this series several images ago.

There's only so many superlatives in my vocabulary.

After, brilliant, awesome and wondrous (courtesy of Doug Kerr) I just start sounding like a groupie.

Can I ask how you envisage using this series in the short/long term?

 

[Paul Abbott]

Hey Andy, thanks for looking and commenting again...groupie sounding or otherwise.

In regard to using my images I like to get one or two printed up as Giclee prints, mounted, framed and up on my wall, every now and then.
I like the idea of self-publishing with Blurb, but i'm still in the process of collecting images that can be used in that way, all in respect of the subject material. Anyway, enough images to make a large, decent sized hardback book. I love the idea of seeing images in books more than on a wall, and there's something about showing them off that way on the printed page.

 

[Paul Abbott]

It's always been a unique peak with it's snowy mantle...

Veiled Silberhorn - Bernese Alps, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Andy brown]

Hey Andy, thanks for looking and commenting again...groupie sounding or otherwise.

In regard to using my images I like to get one or two printed up as Giclee prints, mounted, framed and up on my wall, every now and then.
I like the idea of self-publishing with Blurb, but i'm still in the process of collecting images that can be used in that way, all in respect of the subject material. Anyway, enough images to make a large, decent sized hardback book. I love the idea of seeing images in books more than on a wall, and there's something about showing them off that way on the printed page.

Paul, I like the book idea. A great way to showcase a body of work like this.

Good luck with it.

 

[Paul Abbott]

'Obscured by Clouds' - Wengen, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Asher Kelman]

Paul, I like the book idea. A great way to showcase a body of work like this.

Good luck with it.

Paul and Andy,

I like the idea of making something tangible from the best of all the great work you have made. What do we know about the quality of different self-publishing alternatives. Do you have previous experience with Blurb?

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Staubbach Waterfall - Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

There are so many extraordinarily tall waterfalls in the Swiss Alps, and easilly visible from the comfort of the alpine trains. Although one can photograph such sights, it's always a challenge to capture, convery and transmit the energy, thunder, anger and elegance when the surrounding mountains dwarf them like this.

In fact, short of a helicopter tour from the air or a video with zooming in close to the water fall, the majesty is muted.

Still we make these great pictures. Here you have succeeding in making the waterfall part of a picturesque and memorable vista........I use it to recall so many views from confined to a railway carriage, where I longed for wings to fly close and get soaked with spray!

I recommend this picture for printing for the wall, as it represents so much of the Alpine scene, but also to make this a key candidate for the core collection of you coffee table book!

Asher

 

[Paul Abbott]

Asher, your right in regard to your experiences of the place and it's waterfalls, and I agree with you.

Staubbach waterfall has a path leading 1/3rd up from it's base. It was carved out of the cliff-side so that you can get close to being behind it's fall of water, but I found it didn't get close enough and you couldn't get behind it, only alongside it...Probably the waterfall has receded over time from when it was man-made.
You can see it, there is a carved line in the rock face angling up at 45 deg. from the grassy hill in front of it.

In regard to Blurb, I did get a small softback book made incorporating images of my family's children growing up and that worked out a treat in my view. The actual creative options and templates for creating the layout of the book were great, and the quality of paper and printing was also a great thing.

Thanks for the nomination of this image, Asher...

 

[Paul Abbott]

The Sphinx Observatory is one of the highest astronomical observatories in the world...

Sphinx Observatory - Jungfraujoch, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Michael Nagel]

Excellent series - thanks for showing.

Best regards,
Michael

 

[fahim mohammed]

You must ave thoroughly enjoyed the trip Paul. And have captured some wonderful images.

Thanks for looking in to my post, too.

Best wishes.

 

[Paul Abbott]

Thanks, Michael.
Thanks Fahim, I guess I got around a little and managed to get a lot out of the vacation. There is so much to see and do here. Everything and everywhere lies on your doorstep in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and it never gets boring.
It was quite an experience and an expensive one, to say the least.

 

[Paul Abbott]

Mannlichen, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

Another one found at the back of the locker...A photograph taken from the slopes of Sonnenberg.

Eiger - Sonnenberg, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

Eiger Nordwand, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

Found this one slipping down behind the shelf in my cooler cabinet...

Stechelberg, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

Staubbach waterfall...and Swiss flag, due to it being Swiss Day while I was there.

Staubbach Waterfall - Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

And so, I found this one dog-eared and bent, lying in the back corner of the locker...

Hilltop Chalets - Murren, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Paul Abbott]

Overlooked...but not forgotten. Locker and landscape analogy there.

Bernese Alps - Jungfraujoch, Switzerland '16 - Paul Abbott​