Approaching BeO Photo

Photographer’s Note

Passing the Swiss capital Bern - southbound on the motorway A6 and heading for Thun, Spiez and Interlaken - usually means a very sudden and dramatic encounter with the Berner Oberland (BeO) mountains. Out of nowhere they suddenly appear as a wall in front of you.

This photo is shot some 15 kms south of Bern - outside the city of Münsingen – and it was a spectacular 'wide-screen' that unfolded in front of me. Although the sun already had disappeared from the motorway, it was still reflected from the snow-covered mountainsides with an amazing light.

Never before had I seen it like this - neither at this time of the year, nor at this time of the day – so I didn't expect it. And it filled me with joy and a feeling of being at the right place at the right time. With eight hours of driving in my back - and less than one hour to my hotel - I sensed that my week of skiing would develop well.

I'm not sure of the names of the mountain peaks and ridges seen in this shot. As the road turned and more mileage was covered, new parts came into sight and the relative positions changed. But I guess Stockhorn - on this side of the Simmental - is one, as part of the first greater dividing range.

Surrounded by mountains I tuned in to "Radio BeO" and smiled...

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Image cropped, adjusted levels and curves, increased saturation +10, ran NeatImage at 60%, resized for TE, sharpened and faded to 50%, framed and saved for Web.

digi-mom, thohau, nwoehnl, mitternacht, pamastro, kent_s, orme, fanni has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Roly (1960) 2005-04-10 23:08

Not the type of landscape you would frame and put on the wall, yet a very informative shot and note. I'm looking forward to enjoying this view in less than a month from exactly the same spot. The light is beautiful and the image is surprisingly sharp and clean taking into account that it was taken through the windshield of a moving vehicle.

nwoehnl (120) 2005-04-11 16:11

Hi Kaj. Very nice view from the highway that illustrates the anticipation of soon arriving in the snowy mountains quite well. The late-afternoon glow and the slight bit of haze in front of the mountains makes the whole scene look even more interesting. Not a bad result for shooting from the car, well done.

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justinovicius (11) 2005-04-12 3:00

.... Superb shot ....
.... That black jeep in the left I love it ....
.... And the mountains, they are awesome ....
((Thank you for sharing)) I bought Olympus 770,
and looking forward to show you my shots.
Justinas

mitternacht (1836) 2005-04-12 3:18

Hi Kaj,
Very impressive view indeed. The mountains are simply beautiful. I love that feeling, when your travelling somewhere and suddenly you see something that makes you know your close, and especially when it's beautiful like this. I had a similar experience when I saw the great wall of China both from the airplane and from the taxi on my way out to see it.

Simon

digi-mom (1064) 2005-04-12 14:35

What an interesting landscape - instead of rolling hills or prarie lands going up to the mountains, it's heavily trafficked freeways. Truly a photo with two contrasting environments. Well seen and captured. :o)

pamastro (7213) 2005-04-14 23:50

Your story really brings me into this, Kaj. The mountains are very majestic and like an incredible wall as you say. And the way you mention that they suddenly appear like a giant wall gives me a feel of awe as if coming around a bend and suddenly looking up at these peaks lit by the disappearing sun. It's composed very well, with the road nice and flat and straight to the mountains. Great job, Kaj, all around.

Another thing I notice is the smoothness of the road. Something so alien to us here, I think, especially in Michigan. After driving on the Autostrada so much on my last trip to Italy it was a shock to come back to the potholes and improvised piles of asphalt filling others. I suppose I think of this now, especially, since it's the time of year when so many new holes and cracks are breaking up the roads.

kent_s (1911) 2005-04-15 3:10

If your skiing just was half the good as this shot is you must have been fantastic. Good thing you had your olympus at hand when the landscape just opened up.

Very well done Kaj

maphoto (8076) 2005-04-17 13:05

This is very good Kaj, you've manage the light pretty well, the view ont he mountains is incredible. Excellent contrast and very good result from the car, great composition, well done.

orme (6746) 2005-06-15 22:58

Beautiful shot, Kaj. The light on the mountain peaks is just incredible - and I like how they contrast with the 'jet black' of the vehicles in front of you. The red taillights seem to be 'indicting' to stop, and appreciate the view. Well seen and captured.

fanni (8873) 2009-01-20 16:27

Hej Kaj,
excellent photo (and an excellent note to it)! the pinkish-yellow-white mountains are simply incredible! They look like a sudden unbelievable mirage. A grand sight!
I read somewhere that mountains have a soul of their own, and they can communicate with humans in their own way (maybe that's why it's often so hard to quit visiting the mountains forever? and people return to them again and again).

I know how wonderful they look, and it is impossible not to feel such a sight taking your breath away - at least for a moment.
Wishing you all the very best,
Elena
PS. I remember the mountains which I saw in Engelberg..