Alps – Alex Esseling landscape & wilderness photography

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Alex Esseling landscape & wilderness photography

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Alps

March 18, 2018March 20, 2018
by alex_esseling

While exploring the French Alps last year, I saw this beautiful shaped mountain from the distance. I decided to explore the region and came across this vista. While we had some challenging weather throughout the trip with blue bird skies in the morning and cloudy evenings, it a bit of light made through clouds every now and then. — The mad mountains

Another image from last year's trip to the French mountains. Currently I have to re-plan my trips to the Alps as my previous plans were not feasible this year. On my list are currently the French Alps, Slovenia, Friulian Dolomites and the Aosta Valley and maybe Switzerland. — Remnant of winter

Minimalism

Ice cap

Area of retreat

It is always a challenge to decide what of your photography gear to bring on mountain tips. Every single piece adds weight to your backpack that takes it toll. As a photographer I would love to have a lighter backpack from time to time but I cannot imagine going out without a camera or the right amount of equipment. For this glacier hike I decided to go "lightweight". That is why I only brought two lenses: A 16-35mm and 100-400mm as well as my fullframe camera. — Ice structures

Last light

A sense of scale

This image was taken last year at the beginning of June in the French Alps on a trip with Riccardo Zambelloni Photography. Whereas the lower valleys where already in full spring mood, the higher parts of the mountains were still covered deeply in snow. During the trip we had plenty of options for compositions. From wintry images such as this one to more spring related pictures. Soon I will be off again with Riccardo Zambelloni Photographyi and Alex Leeder to explore a new area in Europe which I have not seen until now. Let's see what Snowdonia has to offer for us. — Change of seasons

Schloss Neuschwanstein

The beauty of glaciers in the Alps is simply to grasp. They appear majestic, indestructible and long-lasting until eternity. While hiking through the mountains the last couple of years, you can quickly see that they beautiful structures are heavily suffering from increasing temperatures. They retreat can easily be spot everywhere in the mountains and the speed is ever increasing. With the latest heatwave in central Europe - 42.6 degrees Celsius as a new all-time-high in Germany - I fear that the speed of destruction this will increase one more time. And more importantly it is not only targeting glaciers and mountains areas. Most trees and other plants such as heather are heavily being damaged at the moment. Sad days for landscape photography... — Transience

Although this scene looks pretty relaxing, you should always be cautious while walking on glaciers. Glaciers are beautiful and devious at the same time. Often the most dangerous things are slightly covered by snow and ice and barley visible. Walking in roped parties becomes inevitable as well as to have knowledgeable and experienced guide. At this point I would like to thank our guides Thomas and Gernot for a memorable tour. — Mindfulness

Last year I did some mountain climbing in a high mountain ranges in the Italian Alps with my dad. In order acclimatize we did some 6-7 hours tours in "lower" ranges for 3-4 days prior to go to higher areas around 4k. One evening I checked out an area and observed a thunderstorm passing by. It is always facinating to see how mountains can devide dangerous from safe weather conditions. — Weather divide

Fairytale views

Pointy peaks

Hazy summer days

Vertigo

Moonset

It is always a pleasure seeing a (full)-moon descending up behind a ridge-line. Paring this with a beautiful sunrise and some snow-capped mountains makes it even better. This shot came more or less by surprise and wasn't planned at all. As my buddy Riccardo Zambelloni Photography and I were roaming through an area in the French Alps I noticed that the moon could descend somewhere behind the ridge-line but wasn't really sure where exactly. I quickly grapped my phone, opened the app #Photopills, went into argumented reality module and looked where the moon will set. There is lots of technology out there helping you to create your images in mind but the most important part is your own creativity. — Moonset

Small mountain path

Incoming storm

Intimacy

Area of retreat

Bavarian pearl

Monte Rosa rising

Alpine drama

Coolin' down

Area of retreat

You can plan many shots in landscape photography in advance but sometimes it is just luck, an instinct or an idea that helps to capture great moments in the outdoors. There were chances that I would miss some great colors in the higher other direction due to my spontaneous decision to hike up the ridge close to sunset. I had no idea of the views on the other side would be good or not. Until now I don't regret my decision and enjoy the good memories of this great evening, a very steep ascend through snowfields and view towards one of the great north-faces of the Alps. — Grand Jorasses

This is an image from trip to the Dolomites back in 2016 with Riccardo Zambelloni Photography. The memories of this beautiful morning are still vivid and I do remember the numb fingers which I had shooting in subzero temperatures as well as highly humid conditions. It took me a long time to finish this image as I was not really satisfied with the editing I applied over the years. Reason for this was a strange blueish hue in the sky. It might not be perfect but I don't think that I will ever reach perfection with this image. Hopefully you enjoy the view as much I do. — Famous views

The Barre des Écrins is the most southern and western 4000er mountain in the European Alps. The summit is surrounded by 4 glaciers within the national park. The next higher mountains are more than 100km away in the Mont Blanc massif. Seeing the first light hitting a mountain top is always something beautiful, especially when the views are as great as this one. — Barre des Écrins

Sveti

On the shoulders of giants

"Reading" the weather in the mountains is a very important thing to do. It can quickly change from blue bird skies to dark thundery and dangerous conditions within short time-frames. You better turn back to safety rather than reaching the summit or your planned destination. On this occasion we made just in time back to hut where we could safely enjoy the thunderstorm raging outside. — Weather signs

Moonstar

Monte Cervino

Spring hyacinth

The wild mountains

The views from one of the many mountains peaks of the Monte Rosa massifs are always breathtaking. Seeing the huge walls of ice and rock and mountaineers as small black dots puts everything into relation.

#317 from the #Alps | #Italy — Monte Rosa Mountains Views

If you look very carefully you can see two mountaineers on top of the mountain. It took me a bit to realize this. The view must have been amazing but the temperatures even more freezing than where we were standing. — Morning climbs

Icelandic resemblance

Vincentpyramide

Let's continue with another glacial shot from the Alps around Chamonix, France. Undeniable it is a picturesque mountain area and I really loved taking pictures of those mountains and glaciers. Especially when the light is as good as on that evening, I easily understand why both photographers and mountaineers alike a drawn to this area. — Aiguille du Midi

Italian roar

It is easy to guess why this mountain is called Schwarzhorn (black horn). In a world full of ice and snow everything that is not covered in white looks dark. Eventhough there are some mountaineers in this picture, the picture itself only gives you a small glimpse of how big and high the area is where this picture was taken. — Schwarzhorn

The first picture from my recent trip to the French mountains. The weather my buddy Riccardo and I got was everything from blue bird skies to thunderstorms. This means that I will probably post some moody shots of the next couple of weeks. Additionally, I tested my new Tamron 100-400mm lens in its new natural habitat. The 200mm I got on top allow me to get should some new motives which I was not able to shoot before. — Mountains of madness

A throwback to this summer hikes in the Italian Alps. It was my first visit to this area of the Alps but it was definitely worth it. That morning mostly everything worked out perfectly, except some clouds were missing. Still a beautiful memory from a good mountain trip with my dad. — A calm summer morning

There are many famous peaks in the European Alps which are great for photography and other activities. Some of them are in the French Alps and reveal their full potential for photography in certain conditions. Obviously light and clouds are import ingredients for landscape photography. When you venture out for taking pictures there are days where you are lucky or not. On that particular occasion the conditions turned out to be great with some low hanging clouds and exceptional light around these great pinnacles in the French Alps. — Pinnacles

French Patagonia

Thundery weather conditions

I have posted a smiliar picture some month ago from the same location in the French Alps. I would like to show you what the difference a couple of minutes can make in terms of light. While the first images was definetly clearer as you can see details in the back, this images stands out to its lensflareish glow which the first sunlight caused in my camera sensor. I like both images in their own way. Which one do you prefer? — First light

Rjavina

Fork junction

In the middle of Germany we need to wait for some snow most likely for a couple of weeks more. With temperatures still being very high over 10°C, there is no chance of having snow any time soon. This is a throwback to some colder days in late autumn from Slovenia. In the "higher" regions about 1.600m there was a bit of snow and some nice fog. Together with my friends from the #DinnerClub, we did a short hike to enjoy the first snow of the season before driving down into the valley to enjoy some beautiful sunshine too. Different seasons can be so close but also so far apart...Nowadays grey is the new white in winter. — First snow

©Alexander Esseling

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