Switzerland

Since my wife worked in Switzerland during her gastronomy training for one year, twenty years ago, we decided to revisit Switzerland. The journey brought us from Chur, where she worked back then, to Ascona in Ticino. At a bar, we had a Hugo Cocktail, where my focusing was merely on the glasses. 🙂 

Post processed with: Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/10
• Shutter speed: 1/80s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 1000

The Botanical Garden of St. Gallen convinces with an appropriate variety and ingenuity of the flower creations. Many exotic plants are meticulously maintained. The ponds are home to many different water lilies. Informational cards describe the origin and cultivation of the plants.

Post processed with: Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/4.5
• Shutter speed: 1/60s
• Focal length: 64mm
• ISO: 200

A Swiss lake stretching from Ticino to Italy. I did the tour from Ascona across the Italian border with an e-bike. It was a 20-kilometer drive that I used for a swim in the lake and was able to shoot some photos — an impressive landscape, between the foothills of the Swiss mountains merging into the warm Mediterranean landscape.

Post processed with: Silver Efex Pro, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/11
• Shutter speed: 1/200s
• Focal length: 28mm
• ISO: 80

I was so impressed with the monument that I post the comment of Mark Twain, which says it all:

Around about are green trees and grass. The place is a sheltered, reposeful woodland nook, remote from noise and stir and confusion—and all this is fitting, for lions do die in such places, and not on granite pedestals in public squares fenced with fancy iron railings. The Lion of Lucerne would be impressive anywhere, but nowhere so impressive as where he is.

Post processed with: Aurora 2019, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/2.2
• Shutter speed: 1/2500s
• Focal length: 135mm
• ISO: 100

The picture shows the view from the Pilatus to the neighbor mountains. It was a memorable experience. We went uphill with the red rack railway, were exploring the summit with the dozens of hiking trails -and steps. There is an excellent restaurant with some original Swiss food. My wife Karin had even the luck to find an edelweiss. The magnificent view in all cardinal directions complements the excursion before you drive down with the red rack railway, what’s in itself is a little adventure.

Post processed with: Aurora 2019, Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/250s
• Focal length: 135mm
• ISO: 100

My wife and I stayed a few days a the Lago Maggiore. One afternoon we took a trip to the backland of the Ticino. We arrived at a dam, where I shot that photo. I tried to catch the depth and height of this monument. I leaned a bit forward, but was completely safe, standing with both feet on the ground. 🙂 

Post processed with: Photoshop 2019

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/10
• Shutter speed: 1/80s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 125

Walking through the alleys, from building to building, from sight to sight, we came to the enjoyment to watch and hear an improvised concert from two musicians after entering a church in St. Gallen. I think those were students who practiced for an exam or was it the pure joy of music? Anyway, we took place and listened. Since the concert was free of charge, we added an extra to the general donation when we were going out of the church.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/60s
• Focal length: 62mm
• ISO: 3200

After climbing up the Pilatus (or using the cable car  🙂 ), you have to overcome this last rock. Then you are at the peak. Overlooking a magnificent panorama and valley with Lake Lucerne. As looking down to a rock plateau, I saw two alphorn blowers. The deep sound fits perfectly into the massif. Great Switzerland!

Post processed with: Aurora, Luminar, Photoshop 

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/320s
• Focal length: 55mm
• ISO: 100

“Hard as a rock” – this AC/DC song is a synonym for that photo. During a tour through Ticino, I saw that crystal clear river which flows in that couloir. I tried to find an opportunity to place my feet into that water for refreshment, but due to the steep, wet rocks, it was too dangerous. I stayed with shooting some photos from a little bridge, where I could place my tripod accordingly.

Post processed with: Photoshop

• Camera: NEX-5N
• Aperture: ƒ/10
• Shutter speed: 1/320s
• Focal length: 165mm
• ISO: 640

Ascona lies at the Lake Maggiore in Ticino, the southmost canton of Switzerland. The vegetation is a mixture of alpine woods and bushes and Mediterranean plants. The southern part of the lake already belongs to Italy. The water is very clean, and in the middle of the lake, there is an island with a neat botanical garden.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/4.5
• Shutter speed: 1/1000s
• Focal length: 59mm
• ISO: 125