Misty morning
Eifel, Germany
I spotted this lone tree not far from my hometown on a chilly winter evening, and I immediately knew I had to return to this place early the next day, hoping to capture a foggy scenery in soft morning light. My initial plan was to isolate the beautiful tree in a more minimalistic composition. Eventually I just had to include the grotesquely shaped frost covered blades of grass as their motionlessness visualizes the absolute quietness which I experienced in this calm, fog-cushioned setting. The light turned out even better than what I was hoping for and the smooth color transition from light blue to orange in the sky adds a warm touch to the otherwise fairly cold picture.
Endless Bridge
Ponte Vasco da Gama, Lisbon, Portugal
In early mornings, the quiet and dark scenery turns into a spectacular light show when the sun rises slowly behind Ponte Vasco da Gama. Shortly after I took this picture, the clouds started to glow, illuminated by the rising sun. However out of the many photos that I took, I particularly like this one due to the harmonious balance between artificial and natural light.
Afterglow
Arizona, USA
Overlooking Horseshoe Bend is a truly overwhelming experience. The cliffs are frighteningly steep and in order to capture a great image, the tripod must be set up virtually on the edge of the rim. The canyon walls turned fiery red as the sandstone was hit by the last light of the setting sun. As if that was not spectacular enough, a phenomenal afterglow suddenly kicked in. The warm tones of the flaming clouds and the evening sky nicely complement the cold canyon colors and the distant rain adds some extra feature to this wide composition.
Grand Canyon
Arizona, USA
Walking up to the Grand Canyon rim for the first time is a breathtaking experience, especially when the deep dark valleys mystically rests in the early gentle twilight. Being overwhelmed by the experience and in a hustle to rapidly set up the equipment, the first thing I did was drop my camera. Luckily, no damage was done and I was thrilled to shoot what was one of the best sunrises I ever witnessed.
Peyto Lake
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
The scenic highlights line up like pearls on a string along the famous Icefield Parkway. On our second visit to the magnificent Peyto Lake, we could not have wished for a more beautiful sunset. The sharp trees endlessly stretch across the wide valley and the golden clouds perfectly span over the mountains, majestically rising above the turqouise water.
Uluwatu Temple
Bali, Indonesia
Due to the haze caused by the high humidity and the smoke of forest fires burning on Java island, the sunsets were mostly indistinct during my stay on Bali. This day was an exception as the clouds over Uluwatu Temple were nicely lit by the setting sun. Even better, the sound of the traditional Kecak Dance Show going on in the theater located right behind this viewpoint created a stunning atmosphere.
Sunfire
Utah, USA
After leaving the spectacular North Rim of the Grand Canyon quite early, it felt like a missed opportunity as a fiery sunset unfolded lateron. Fortunately, as we drove by a vast area of charred black trees, the flaming skies made the forest seem like still being on fire. Sometimes you get lucky!
