Meet Kevin, a talented and passionate photographer from Switzerland. Growing up close to a beautiful forest, Kevin’s connection with nature fueled his desire to photograph its enchanting beauty. In this article, Kevin shares his experiences photographing different locations in Switzerland and Madeira. As a friend of colors, he also talks about his editing style. A few years ago, Kevin joined Lightexplorers and the person he had always looked up to, offering workshops within Switzerland.
As a young boy, I loved being in nature, growing up very close to a forest in Switzerland that became my playground. I explored it curiously, constantly amazed by the variety of discoveries it offered, especially the fascinating changes in seasons. Switzerland experiences four perfectly coordinated seasons and is renowned for its stunning scenery and well-preserved nature. Each season has its unique characteristics and nature in Switzerland is well attuned to the interplay of the seasons, with plants, animals, and people adapting to the changes and embracing the beauty and challenges of each season.
One day when I was about 12 years old, my father gave me a film camera and encouraged me to explore the forest freely. Thrilled with the results, I realized my passion for photography and aspired to discover the world through the lens. However, reality brought in other obligations, and I had to complete my compulsory schooling. At 16, I began my apprenticeship as a carpenter. Though it was an exciting profession with historical significance and relevance in the construction industry, I still longed for photography.
After finishing my apprenticeship and working in a company for a few years, I decided to take on another professional challenge. I continued my education in the industry and started studying to become a timber construction technician. The training was strict and demanding, but after completing it, I found solace in the forest, recharging my batteries and capturing beautiful motifs with my iPhone. This experience reignited my passion for photography.
I bought an old Canon camera and learned how to manipulate images with different settings, finding it fascinating to understand how a camera works. My self-study included goals like experimenting with various f-stops and examining the results. This was also the beginning of my discovery of Switzerland through my camera.
Where I grew up, the region is characterized by its picturesque hills, heavily forested, and is beloved by many locals. Despite its beauty, this area is not as widely recognized as other stunning locations in Switzerland, making it less known among photographers, though its popularity is gradually increasing. The hilly landscape runs through the region like a tongue, with its highest point soaring above 1000 meters above sea level. During autumn, the lowlands often gather dense blankets of fog. However, the Jura chain, a mountain range, usually keeps the fog confined to one side of the valley. If the fog rises approximately 900 meters above sea level, it cascades over the hills, creating breathtaking fog waves – a natural spectacle well-captured by several regional photographers.
Determined to capture this mesmerizing phenomenon, I set my sights on the perfect moment. Researching and planning extensively, I identified three crucial factors to consider. Firstly, there must be fog, and the altitude of the fog should be precisely right for it to flow over the hills. Autumn and winter are the best seasons for witnessing the fog wave in all its glory. Thus, my goal was to photograph the landscape during sunrise, beautifully highlighting the autumn colors of the forests enveloped in mist, combined with the golden hues of the rising sun.
However, the journey to achieve this shot was not without its challenges. I had to wait for the opportune moment, with the weather playing a significant role. Countless early mornings were spent on location, hoping for the perfect conditions. Unfortunately, some attempts fell short, and autumn came to an end without capturing the desired shot.
Undeterred, I decided to focus on winter, and one morning, the weather forecast showed promise. Prepared for the frigid temperatures and strong winds, I ventured out at 4:30 a.m. Armed with my backpack, camera, tripod, and filters, I made my way to my chosen spot. The sight before me was breathtaking as the fog gracefully cascaded over the hills, resembling a waterfall just as I had envisioned.
Setting up my camera (I switched to Sony a few years ago), I carefully adjusted the aperture to f/8, focusing on infinity, and taking a test shot to ensure sharpness and composition. Since the fog was not moving rapidly, I opted for a slower shutter speed, using an ND-16 filter for a longer exposure and a graduated filter to balance the bright areas in the sky. As the sun neared the horizon, I was ready to capture the decisive moment. With joy and satisfaction, I finally obtained the shot I had been waiting for, a photograph that had eluded me for about four months. My next goal is to capture the fog wave in autumn. Hoping for success, I anticipate yet another stunning natural spectacle, ready to immortalize its magnificence through my lens.
Being in nature is not only worth it when having a camera in my hands and a specific objective for a photograph though. Nature offers the opportunity to set aside the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a place where you can fully focus on yourself and the beauty around you. Spending time alone in nature provides a valuable opportunity for relaxation and self-reflection. It allows you to calm down, clear your mind and find inner balance and true tranquility.
Experiencing sunrises and sunsets is particularly something very special. It’s a magical moment as the world is bathed in warm, golden light. The stillness and peacefulness of the early morning hours or dusk amplifies the experience and allows me to enjoy nature in peace. A camera helps me to capture the mood, the colors, and the atmosphere, and to share it with others. It doesn’t come without effort thought; getting up early in the morning is not always easy. It requires discipline and the will to experience these moments. I have learned to adapt to nature and to have patience. Nature goes its own way and doesn’t have a schedule like in our hectic times.
The following I’ve learned as a result of pursuing the best possible shots in nature:
Selecting the ideal motif is always a subjective matter, as individual tastes and opinions vary greatly. I’ve encountered this truth on multiple occasions. Let me share an example: I meticulously prepared myself to capture a well-known spot in my home region. It demanded impeccable lighting and weather conditions. After about ten attempts, I finally managed to freeze the moment just as I had envisioned, filling me with immense satisfaction. However, the reactions from people I knew were diverse: some appreciated the beautiful atmosphere, while others expressed that it didn’t appeal to them. During this time, I realized that photography, like any art form, doesn’t need to please every person in the world.
I realized that the better I understand my camera, the better my results will be. I now possess a profound awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of my camera, using this knowledge to skillfully assess each situation. Over time, through continuous practice and experimentation, I’ve honed my camera-handling abilities, ultimately finding my unique style in landscape photography.
In landscape photography, image processing plays a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of the captured shots and achieving the desired visual impact. Adjusting exposure, contrast, and colors, along with sharpening details, reducing noise, and utilizing various techniques, all contribute to shaping the final outcome. It is important to me to find a balance between achieving natural results and emphasizing my personal style. Through this creative editing process, I can enhance the mood and refine the composition of each image, turning them into unique and captivating landscape photos that reflect my individual vision as a photographer.
It took me approximately two years, after watching countless photo editing videos, to develop a consistent and reliable workflow. My objective was to discover an efficient and personalized approach that could be applied to all my RAW files. Through extensive practice, I eventually honed my distinctive style and continued to refine it with specific processing steps. The outcome is a collection of photos imbued with a distinct and recognizable quality, all stemming from my unique and individual workflow.
I’m a friend of colors and I like my images to be colorful. When editing my pictures, I always try to show the landscape as I found it, but with a bit more color and saturation. At the same time, the image should not be dominated by the colors and should not stand out too much. This is always a small challenge for me; to not push the saturation too far up.
To illustrate my style with a photograph, I could share a before and after taken in Ribeira da Janela at sunrise. Even before arriving on the island, I dealt intensively with the spot. When I was still in Switzerland, I knew what the finished picture should look like. I did a lot of research at home and prepared well. The shot should have some drama and a little painterly feel. When I was at the spot I knew I had caught the perfect moment.
At home on my PC, I began editing the pictures using Lightroom. For shots like these, I create three copies of each image: one for the sky, one for the subject, and one for the foreground. I then proceed to edit each respective copy in Lightroom.
To achieve a strong and gloomy effect on the sky, I reduced the exposure slightly and utilized the Haze Removal slider. Additionally, I adjusted the white balance to create a warmer tone. As for the motif, which consisted of rocks in the sea, I enhanced the depths a little and added more contrast to make it stand out.
The foreground was a crucial aspect of this shot, and I wanted to capture the waves in all their splendor. To achieve this, I set a longer exposure time of about 15 seconds. In post-processing, I lifted the shadows in the foreground and added more contrast to highlight the textures.
After completing these steps in Lightroom, I moved on to Photoshop. Now it was time to blend the three edited shots together. I used luminance masks and brushes to bring out distinct details in each part of the image. To add a final touch, I applied various effects from the NikCollection.
For this shoot, I used my Sony A7RII with a 24-70mm f2.8 lens. I am very pleased with the outcome, although I still see room for improvement. I know I will return to this island for more photography adventures in the future.
The trip to Madeira was one of my most remarkable outdoor experiences. Madeira is a stunning and highly photogenic island, a paradise for both photographers and hikers. One of my main goals during this trip was to visit Ponta de São Lourenço. As a Swiss person accustomed to mountainous landscapes, witnessing such a coastal landscape with an ocean was a rare and awe-inspiring sight for me.
To ensure I captured the shot perfectly, I thoroughly prepared for this opportunity, knowing I had only one chance. I conducted extensive research at home, determining the best time to be on location, the ideal camera settings, and the required focal length. Since I planned to photograph the sunrise, I anticipated dealing with a high dynamic range, necessitating the use of plug-in filters. Additionally, due to the slightly curved nature of the headland, I opted for a small focal length and chose the NISI 15mm fixed focal length, which proved to be the right decision.
When the alarm rang, I packed my gear into my backpack and drove to the parking lot, which took around 40 minutes. From there, I mounted my headlamp and hiked for another 30 minutes until I reached the spot. The view from the top of the headland was tremendously breathtaking, leaving me utterly speechless. At that moment, I felt certain I could perfectly capture this dream spot in my photographs.
After setting up my camera, I patiently waited for the perfect moment. Suddenly, clouds started appearing from the north, and I worried they might obscure the rising sun. Fortunately, luck was on my side, and the sun outpaced the clouds. I had a precious window of about 5 minutes to photograph the scene bathed in the golden light of the sun. Successfully achieving my goal on the first try was a rare and delightful feat, filling me with immense happiness.
Aiming for a great photograph to me means incorporating the following aspects: light, weather, patience, and imagination. Undoubtedly, light stands as one of the most critical elements in photography, influencing the mood, colors, and overall impact of an image. Understanding natural light and utilizing it at the right moments can make a significant difference in the quality of your photos. By keenly observing and comprehending light, you can frame your images to achieve the desired effect.
The weather also plays a significant role in landscape photography, as most photographers surely know already. Each weather condition possesses its own charms and can create a distinct atmosphere. It is up to the artist to decide how to capture the subject in light of the prevailing weather conditions.
Patience serves as an essential aspect of landscape photography. Often, it takes time and perseverance to discover the perfect subject, the ideal moment, and the desired composition. Patience allows you to wait for the opportune moment, observe the light, and explore the surroundings closely. Additionally, it may require multiple visits to the same location to find the desired conditions and produce the best image.
Imagination plays a pivotal role in realizing your photographic vision. You set a goal in your mind and strive to transform your imagination into reality. This process requires experimentation, creativity, and occasionally overcoming obstacles to achieve the desired result. Imagination helps you uncover new perspectives, experiment with unconventional compositions, and develop your unique artistic signature.
By mastering these four elements – light, weather, patience, and imagination – I believe you will be empowered to create impressive landscape photos and continue evolving on your photographic journey. I find that light and weather are particularly amazing elements in forest photography, having the power to create a very mystical and movie-like atmosphere.
There has always been something magical about the forest. When I first started to dedicate myself to landscape photography, it was only natural that I would seek my first subjects in the forest. Apart from the plants, I also hoped to catch a glimpse of the secret inhabitants that reside within. But the forest itself is an interesting and recurring subject. Sometimes, when searching for motifs “in the forest for the trees,” one might encounter difficulties and experience limited success. That’s why, whenever I venture into the forest, I always bring two essential items: a tripod and a polarizing filter. The tripod is crucial because exposure times are often too long for handheld shots. The polarizing filter helps reduce reflections on leaves and trunks, making colors appear much more vivid, especially in rainy or foggy conditions.
In terms of lenses, I usually rely on a wide-angle zoom lens (16-35mm) and my 24-70mm lens. When warm light filters through the trees, illuminating the forest floor, it feels like time should stand still. Unfortunately, on sunny days, forest photography is challenging as the harsh contrasts can ruin the pictures when the sun is higher up. Therefore, I prefer capturing images in the forest on cloudy or overcast days. A light drizzle or even fog adds an ideal touch. This way, I can take my time throughout the day without any haste, and the subtle nuances of the green tones shine beautifully. Often, HDR (High Dynamic Range) shots become necessary to capture the wide contrast range in the forest. Multiple exposures must be taken to cover both the brightest and darkest areas. However, these HDR shots should always be processed in a way that the technique remains unnoticeable, maintaining a natural appearance.
Whether it’s a forest, mountain, or vast landscape, effort is required and the trips usually can take a few hours up to several days. There is always a lot of hiking involved to get to specific spots. This is something you plan for when you go out alone or with a friend, and it is also a key aspect to consider and calculate very well when creating workshop itineraries.
Some time ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a person whom I’ve always looked up to. He is a well-known landscape photographer in Switzerland. Additionally, he offered various photography workshops that span different locations in Switzerland. During a conversation we had, he asked me if I would be interested in collaborating with him to offer joint workshops in Switzerland. I was thrilled by this opportunity, and I eagerly embarked on exciting adventures with my new friend and colleague, and future participants.
For the past two years, we have been conducting workshops together under the name “Lightexplorers“. I truly enjoy this work because I get to interact with like-minded individuals and have the opportunity to share my knowledge with them. At present, we have eight workshops scheduled throughout the year, and I am in the process of planning two additional ones. These workshops all focus on photography with filters, which is a subject I am passionate about. I am also currently in negotiations with the company NISI-Filter to secure a suitable sponsorship for the workshops. In my opinion, NISI filters are among the best on the market, and I wholeheartedly recommend them.
In the future, I wish that I can inspire more people with my photography and that my community keeps growing. I also hope to offer many more workshops (locally and abroad). One thing high on my list is making a trip to Iceland, followed by many other actions and ideas to develop myself as an individual and professional. There is still so much to do, soo many photographs to take in this big beautiful work, and so many people to get to know!
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