Photos

I would like to dedicate this photo to "PixelTerror" who shows us so many gorgeous shots from beautiful Switzerland. Thank you for your wonderful inspiring shots!! Jean Yves, I know the mountain on the left is the Eiger, but is this the Eigernordwand?

This is a view of the Eiger (elevation of 3970m/13025ft) and the Mönch (elevation of 4099m/13448ft) at sunset seen from the balcony of the place we were staying at near Interlaken last year in the beautiful Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. This photo was taken around the same time as my previous photo.

About this photo: Last summer (July 2008) we went for a trip to Europe and spent about 12 days in the area Interlaken in Switzerland. We arrived on the 12th of July in Ruchenbühl where we stayed in a beautiful Swiss chalet (ferienwohnung). This place is about 3-4km/1.8-2.5mi from Interlaken and situated above the Thunersee (Lake Thun) with views of the mountains. The problem was that it was raining on the day we arrived, it was raining the after and the next day it was raining again. We were getting a little stressed out as we couldn't do too much and weren't able to see the views as the mountains were covered in clouds.

On the evening of the 14th of July (our anniversary as well) we were watching TV and I thought I'd have a look outside on the balcony as it seemed like it stopped raining…and WOW, the clouds were starting to clear and we were awarded with the most beautiful view of the Eiger and the Monch peeking through the clouds and basking in the late sunlight. I can assure you that this lifted our spirits and it was going to be sunny for the next few days! It looked like the high peaks got some fresh snow as well while it was raining it must have been snowing up in the mountains. It sure was pretty cool that day with temperatures around +10 C/50 F.

~Camera Settings:
*Camera Model: Sony DSC-H5
*Focal Length: 30mm
*F-Number: F/8
*Exposure Time: 1/20 sec.
*ISO Speed: ISO-80
*Exposure Program: Aperture Priority (A)
*Exposure Compensation (E/V): -1.0 step

I added some contrast and saturation to this photo to bring out the colours a little more. I also ran the photo through Neat Image to get rid of the access noise.

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you like this photo!
Ann


Some information on the area of Interlaken: The Bernese Oberland is one of the most spectacular regions of Switzerland. It is well worth a visit, especially during the summer months. The combination of snow-capped mountain peaks, fresh air, summer heat, jagged rocks and lush rolling green hills will quickly fascinate you. If you like hiking then the Bernese Oberland is the place to be. You will be rewarded with 100% pure nature. From the romantic shores of Lake of Thun until the endless forests until the freezing cold in glaciers, one highlight follows the other.

Interlaken is a good place from which to explore the central region of the Bernese Oberland. This small town lays between two lakes, the Thunersee (Lake Thun) and the Brienzersee (Lake Brienz) and is located near the famous mountain trio: the Eiger (3,970m/13,025ft), Monch (4,099m/13,448ft) and the Jungfrau (4,158m/13,642 ft). Take a train or cable car to one of the many vantage points from which to view the incredible surroundings. A 40-minute train trip east of Interlaken will take you to Grindelwald. This typical swiss village is situated at the northern face of the Eiger. Unlike Wengen or Muerren over the ridge, Grindelwald is accessible by car and bus, and gets much more tourist traffic than the Lauterbrunnen resorts.

From Grindelwald you can take the Jungfrau Railway up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454m/11,333ft above sea level! Grindelwald has a network of cable-cars leading up to numerous short- and long-distance trails throughout the region and beyond.

It’s difficult to overstate how stunning the Lauterbrunnen Valley is – even seasoned Alpinists shrug their shoulders and call it the most beautiful valley in Europe! An immense U-shaped valley (the world’s deepest) with bluffs on either side rising 1000m/3000ft sheer, doused by some 72 waterfalls, it is utterly spectacular. However long you stay, two hours or two weeks, you won’t want to leave. Lauterbrunnen village itself lies on the valley floor, while the slopes above host two of Switzerland’s most appealing resorts.

Muerren to the west is the transfer point for a dramatic ride up the longest cable railway in the Alps to the Piz Gloria on the Schilthorn peak, while Wengen to the east is a stop on the train line up to Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfraujoch. Both are car-free, perched on narrow shelves of pasture way above the world below, and both offer some of the best hiking to be enjoyed in the Alps. Other places to visit include the picturesque towns of Bönigen and Iseltwald as well as the western part of the Bernese Oberland with areas such as Gstaad, Simmental, Frutigenland and Hasliberg.