Second level ... Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is a typical "Maisäss" in an altitude of about 1400 metres - high above the village Gortipol in the Austrian Montafon valley. Maisäss incloses the words "May" and "to sit", the place where one sits in May, before cattle can be driven up to the mountain pastures, the Alm, when they are free of snow, about the end of May or the beginning of June.
They mostly are situated in a clearing in the forests in an altitude from 1200 to 1600 metrers - with some huts and cattle sheds. They sometimes also have an own chapel.

Life of the farmers there happens in three different altitudes in the course of the year: in autumn and winter in the village in the valley, in late spring on the Maisäss and in summer on the alp. In German it is called "Dreistufenwirtschaft", that means "3-level-economy".
Often butter and cheese are produced on the Maisäss. This kind of dairy cattle farming is common in the Swiss cantons Grisons and Valais and in the Austrian state Vorarlberg and in Western Tyrol and it was "invented" by the ethnic group of the Walser (in Valais). They migrated in 13th and 14th century-especially to the aforementioned regions.

besnard, dta, Budapestman, asajernigan, jhm, ktanska, xuaxo, emjleclercq has marked this note useful

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saxo042 (16554) 2009-07-21 23:44

Good morning Frank,
A beautiful view! A very beautiful landscape here in this valley, that´s for sure. The combination here of forest and open, sunlit meadows create a very special pattern, more like a nonfigurative painting. A fine observation!
Kind regards
Gunnar

danyy (69903) 2009-07-21 23:52

Bonjour Frank,
cette altitude est impressionnante et donnerait le vertige. Une très belle palette de verts dans cette photo où l'oeil est attiré de suite par cette prairie au centre des bois.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

besnard (31316) 2009-07-22 0:15

Bonjour Frank
Une belle prise en hauteur de cette forêt avec ai ce,tre ma clairière au vert tendre avec quelques petits chalets.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

dta (6540) 2009-07-22 1:15

Bonjour Frank ,
Une belle vue de ce mayen , comme un îlot de prairie au coeur de la forêt . La vue lointaine le situe bien dans son environnement , mais peut être que l'image aurait gagné à ce que la clairière soit moins centrée .
Amicalement

Budapestman (43238) 2009-07-22 2:50

Hi Frank,
Beautiful natural impression with attractive composition and nice details, the green tints are beautiful and rich. Superb shot. Tfs! Have a nice day!
George

asajernigan (14392) 2009-07-22 3:09

Frank,
This is a great mountain landscape. The clearing is well framed by the surrounding forest. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and detail. The contrast created by the dark trees and the light colored clearing is very nice.
TFS,
Asa

jhm (83742) 2009-07-22 3:26

Hello Frank,

Exactly a picture out of a plane with this wonderful panorama view about the forest.
Splendid green colour also the open places give a good contrast
Nice captured and lovely composed. TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Nicou (46171) 2009-07-22 4:44

Hello Frnak,

mangigique détail, c'est comm ici dans les montange, une clairière au milieu des beaux sapins avec des chalets, sueprbe vue, ces tons vert sont splendidie.

Mercie t amitié ici aussi orageux.

Nicou

ktanska (16741) 2009-07-22 6:02

Hi Frank,
Impressive viewpoint across the valley. Two openings catch attention in the middle of forest, one cow pasture and another no doubt made by avalanche.
Quite a lot of information packed with a simple mountain scene. Maybe I should try harder with my next upload too...

bracasha75 (22519) 2009-07-22 14:38

Halo Frank
So kann nur Osterreich sein und das ist ein perfectes ort zu "baterien" wieder aufulen
Was fur ein bild mein lieber Frank
Wir sehen uns noch
Tschus,Bratislav

xuaxo (5909) 2009-07-24 8:52

Hallo Frank,
Very good photo and note about the Dreistufenwirtschaft.
The photo is much better than a GoogleEarth Satellite view ;-)
Greetings from 30ºC Portugal,
Francisco

ellelloo (5019) 2009-07-25 0:51

Hallo Frank,
An attractive photo with nice patterns created by the patches of pastures and trees. And your note is really interesting too. The first time I heard of "Dreistufenwirtschaft". You can learn new things every day on TE! Thanks for sharing!
Greetings - have a nice weekend!
Lasse

emjleclercq (14620) 2009-07-25 23:46

Very instructive note to expalin the presence of these small clearings in the the forest. And from an esthetical point of view, I like the light green patches surrounderd by the darker color of the trees.

All the best,

Emmanuel