This is a mountain landscape photograph that I captured last January when I was hiking down from the Gornergrat station to Riffelberg in Zermatt. It is a panoramic view of the Weisshorn (4,505m/14,783ft) in winter. Additionally, you see a few of the surrounding mountains like the Mettelhorn, Schalihorn and Brunegghorn. I captured this on an altitude of 2,755 metres (9,038ft). From that same location, you can see some of the highest peaks in Switzerland, including the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. If you happen to find yourself in the Swiss canton of Valais, make sure to visit Zermatt!
I plan to publish a colour version of this photograph as well. However, I wanted to share this black & white version first. I processed it in Silver Efex Pro. The range of shadows and highlights in this photograph didn’t make the conversion easy. I have attempted to convert it many times in the past few months. I think I finally got it right, though. Initially, I used a 2:1 aspect ratio for the photograph, but I recently changed it back to the original 3:2 aspect ratio. As a result, I think it is stronger now. I hope you like this mountain landscape photograph of the Weisshorn in winter!
I used a Nikon D3x with a 24-70 f/2.8 lens. A 2-stop gradient neutral density filter balanced the exposure a bit.
Cheers, Johan 🙂
You might also like
This photograph of the Weisshorn in winter is part of our Mountains & Hills landscape photography theme. This theme contains many more mountain landscapes taken in Switzerland, including:
Please visit the Swiss Landscape Photography portfolio to see more photographs from Switzerland in general.
Uberwahltigt
Danke sehr Ed :D
Thanks Christian and 4thFolio !
Fantastic!
beautiful image
Stunning clarity Johan!
Many thanks Gail !
This is a fantastic result Johan, I love the many different shades of black and white!
Many thanks Christa!
gorgeous and grand!
Hey Shane. Thanks!
@Fabio: I agree 😀
@Michael: thanks for the compliment Michael!
@Paul: thanks Paul and nice to see you around here 🙂
a vibrating B&W! Well done
Great picture!
@Martha: thank you!!
@Fabio: that comment made my day Fabio! It’s one of my personal favourites. Need to be viewed large!
@David: appreciated David! Thanks
Needs to be printed large and hung in my living room :))
Great scene, fantastic quality processing!
incredible!!! jaw on the floor! Everything here works perfectly!
Majestuoso¡¡
~❤❤❤~
Thank you Annette :D
@Simos Xenakis: thank you Simos!
@Людмила Танасевская-Караваева: I don’t mind at all 😀
I repeat once again! Better than mountains can only be a mountain! I’m glad I found you! I’ll be watching your work with pleasure! Do you mind?
This is absolutely gorgeous, Johan. My goodness.
Incredible shot, Johan! The light, shadows and tones in this are a feast for the eye – just amazing!
thank you! This is actually one of my personal favourites 🙂
Tremendous capture of such a lovely location !
Many thanks David!
@Bernhard: danke!
@Francesco: very nice to hear that Francesco!!!
@Shawn: many thanks Shawn!
@Hengki: thank you!
@Mikko: almost like a painting 😉 Thank you!
this is absolultey stunning Johan! feel like this id not from this world so mystical and beautiful!
Gorgeous tonal composition
Spectacular image, Johan…
This is simply awesome, Johan! Perfect light, perfect tone, perfect composition! Really amazing!
just a fine winter~mountain~picture!! i like it!
@Serban: thanks for the feedback. Glad you like it!
@Milena: thank you!
@Sinead: thanks for the superb 😀
This is superb.
Beautiful panoramic view.
Fine BW conversion and processing, Johan. It gives depths to the great you’ve captured here.
The processing is great as is the photograph itself. Well done.
Thank you Rikard !
the light works outstanding in this bw.
Many thanks Markus! Hope all is well!
The time is not with me at the moment Johan :)
Hope it will be something temporary Markus !
Lovin’ it Johan 😉 How are you enjoying the new camera? ;-)
Thanks John ! I like the new camera so far, but not loving it yet. Still using the D3x for many things, especially LE work. I will be shooting with the new one more in the coming month though. Need a bit more time to get used to it (and how the images look) and to fully trust it :)
Stunning image. Absolutely nice.
Thank you very much for the compliment Toshiro !
Wow, wow dear Johan, feels so nice to comeback and see this kind of “dreamy” images.
Absolutely amazing and perfect work!!!.
Very impressed in how you can hike and think about shooting at the same time… :).
Well glad you like it Yasmin 😀
@Patrice: Thank you very mucho Patrice!!!
@Dominique: that is very unfortunate Dominique! If you want to go shooting on another day/time, just let me know! Hope you had a great time in Iceland!
@Michael: many thanks Michael!
Yes no problem Johan! I will be glad to shoot with you soon :)
do you have busy months ahead of you or a “relaxed” summer?
Unfortunately quite busy, holidays beginning of August with the family, but we will find a day Johan!
Just drop me a few dates when you know more Dominique 🙂
@Anette: thank you. Too bad indeed. Enjoy the jungle!
@Jean-Michel: merci beaucoup 😀
@Andy: many thanks for the feedback Andy!
Well converted in B&W, gives more contrast IMHO
What a cool perspective on this, very well seen!
Unfortunately I will not be able to take part to the walk Johan, fully busy with the family this week-end, even not 4 AUGUST, 13 & 14 AUGUST. I will try to attend the LE at Thun.
Wonderful compositon Johan! I think you got it right with this one!! :)
I love the framing here… And the shadow on the mountain. Great photo again Johan !
Gorgeous mountain scenery and a great composition Johan Peijnenburg
Gorgeous scene. Great work Johan .
I agree, you got it right. Loks wonderful, to bad that I miss that part in July, bugger. Oh well there will be always something better out there in the jungle :)))
@Joel: Thanks for the feedback Joel! Glad ou like it. So, do you still have CH plans?
@Eddie: many thanks Eddie! Nice to meet you!
@Radek: many thanks Radek!
Beautiful work Johan, Fabulous tones!
Beautiful shot! Love the detail in the mountains. Awesome work!
I envy the view you have over there in Switzerland Johan ! Great subject for B&W photography and you’ve done very well here. Subtle shades of white in the snow in the foreground!
@Chris: the virtue of going places wit snow shoes 😉 Many thanks!
@Julia: glad you do! Appreciate the kind words 😀
@Aileen: thanks Aileen!
@Lilia: thank you, The colour version of this one is quite nice as well. Might post that as well later 🙂
@Sophie: you made my day with that comment Sophie 😀 Thank you. This is an image that need to be viewed large and really taken in and you did exactly that!
Beautiful tones and a majestic view Johan! Love your B&W mountainscapes! :)
Beautiful work Johan ! Love the depth of the plans, great B&W!
All that untouched snow… where’s my snowboard when I need it?! Great shot Johan :)
Wow! Johan …after a few minutes looking and staring at this remarkable shot…i take a deep breath….i keep looking, observe the shadowplays, the rolling mountainscape, the sharp peeks, the passing clouds…my heart is fulfilled with joy, with warmth, with a great miss to the mountains!
I found this one very intense for the eye and i really love your work Johan , you really understand the energy of the mountains, so congratulations with this spectacular work!!
You really make my day with this outstanding work!! 🙂
Have a nice weekend!
Usually, I would prefer colour to b&w but this is… Wow… awesome… so beautiful! :)
Stunning!
O_O
Awesome for detail, tone and mood.
Cheer
many thanks!
@Sudip: many thanks for the kind words Sudip!
@Ian: a nice compliment Ian. Thanks!
@Lucille: glad you like it so much Lucille!!!
Fantastic work Johan … totally love this shot… it’s quite literally a place where no man has set foot.. at least that’s what the lack of prints tell me 🙂
Silky smooth Drama Johan, Seriously nice image man. Impressive work!
Johan Peijnenburg: that is one of the most beautefull places on earth, despite all the tourists. Thank you for catching that in your picture.
my pleasure! Glad you like it!
Wow I almost missed this, this is stunning Johan! The tones are beautiful, bringing out the ruggedness of the mountains and the smoothness of snow, to go along with a darker background of the sky. Just an overall amazing shot!
@Sandy and Meg: thank you!!
@Andrew: the Matterhorn is just to the left of these! Thanks for the nice feedback Andrew!
@Stefan: many thanks Stefan!
@Dalibor: thank you and thanks for the visit!
@Vitor: glad you like it Vitor!
@Ben: thanks! Good to hear 🙂
@Dominique: hope you can make it. It will include a view on the same mountains 🙂
@Mike: thanks again 🙂
@Ada: thought it was time for some snow in our Summer 🙂 Glad you like it!
Oh yes I do love that conversion Johan. It looks fantastic, the contrasts are superb and love the softness of the snow off set by the rugged mountains. It it does look so much better big. Must look great in real life too. Visited the Matterhorn about 20 yrs ago.
Fantastic shot Johan, I love it :)
Wonderful, Johan!
Lovely shot Johan. I like the way the light appears to skim across the snow in the foreground.
very good image.
awesome view Johan
Stunning mountain scene.
I close my eyes hoping that when I open them I will find myself in this picture , nope it did not work 🙁 still, this picture made my day! I really needed it! (fighting extreme annoying heat is not easy). I love this picture!!!
Many thanks Maggy and Mike!
Glad you like it Dominique!
@Dominique Dubied: merci! Will you join on the 29th?
I cannot check my agenda now but I will when back :-)
you are welcome Johan. Splendid shot :-)
Magical +Johan Peijnenburg! Amazing composition, soft lines, hard lines, great light and drama in the sky, perfect! :)
Beautiful scenery Johan!
gosh, my knowledge of the written word is far from good enough to describe how beautiful this image is, just breathtaking. Love it!!!
nice one Johan, well worth the big view :-)
Wowww, what a gorgeous image, Johan!!! Love it very much!!!
@Leyla : many thanks Leyla!
@Kurt: very kind words Kurt. I will definitely do that :D
Thank you as well Matthias!
what an impressive alpine shot Johan
Amazingly gorgeous B&W +Johan Peijnenburg !! Wow! I love the contrast between the layers of snowfield, craggy peaks and the sky. Print this guy! :)
Stunning & Wonderful B/W image
Beautiful image Johan indeed! It is almost more beautiful on picture then in real life… Fortunately all the “sweat and tears” you produced whilst processing this picture are not visible 🙂
dank je wel 😀
Beautiful image, Johan. Your B&W conversion is so crisp. The details in the landscape really stand out.
thanks for the compliment Tom!
As if everything floats…. an awe-inspiring feeling. Ich muss unbedingt mal wieder in die Berge.
danke vielmals 😀 Bisst du am 29. July dabei? Es ist das selbe Ort 🙂
I will try, but I have to work the next day and would have to get back to Zürich.
@Maria: Thank you Maria !
@rohan: that’s what I thought as well Rohan 😉 Thanks for the feedback!
There is a beautiful flow to this Johan
@Sumit: many thanks Sumit!
@Stefanie: that is one of the reasons why I don’t live behind you anymore 😀
@Athena: hey Miss USA 😀 Thanks for the compliment. You are right about the thumbnail. It is so nice to view this on a large monitor …. if I may say so myself 😉
@Anthony: thank you Anthony! Nice to meet you :)
Beautiful indeed!
Beautiful.
The thumbnail does not do this image justice – I hope everyone clicks to open lit larger! It’s beautiful +Johan Peijnenburg. :)
Stunning stuff Johan. Love it!
Wow Johan, sitting here slack jawed and struggling of words for what I see!!! 🙂 I already told you how much I love seeing the mountains, but never seen something like this before. Stunning tones and unbelieveable whites. The smooth texture on the snow, the details along the mountain range, everything is so perfect, it´s like I am staying inside the scene. Fantastic, and I mean it!!
that was VERY nice to read Stefanie! You know, when you live in the Alps you start to take things for granted. I have quite some shots like this from all the winter hikes I did and for me it is sometimes quite difficult to determine what is special or not. Many thanks for the kind words!
You know the highest elevation here are our dikes Johan, oops forgot you were born just behind them :D
that is one of the reasons why I don’t live behind you anymore 😀
@Nikola: Dank je wel 🙂 It is sooo nice when you catch a day without haze and some nice clouds in the Alps. It can create very nice contrasts.
@Davorin: many thanks Davorin! Planning the walk already?
Beautiful pano Johan , very nice processing.
Wonderful image Johan such a clear view!
@Wilfried Haferland: and many winter images left to go Wilfried 🙂 I think i caught it, but ask me again in a week 🙂 Thanks!
Yihaa! ;-)
are you drinking Schnapps already?
@Carsten: my pleasure. Good luck!
@Dawn: thank you and nice to meet you 🙂
@Cameron: glad you like it Cameron!
Wonderful image, guess you’ve finally catched the right processing! No coincidence that you let us enjoy a winter photo these days… Thank you!
Very nice / spectacular Johan Peijnenburg :)
Absolutely stunning!!
Fantastic view and excellent processing (and of course a ND grad filter is perfect for this kind of photos). I’m trying to order a Lee filter system for several weeks but it is hard to get one here in Germany :(
try http://www.teamworkphoto.com in the UK Carsten. They usually deliver quite quickly. Thanks for the compliment!
Thanks for the tip :)))
Fabulous work Johan – love how well you control the tones in your work
that’s nice to here Johan. It was very very hard to find a balance in this case. When I see it again in a week, I will probably have a go at it again ;)
What a photo! Wow! Wonderful b/w. Love it. :))
thanks for the wow Barbara! 🙂
Oh yes, you got this right. The mountains have great depth, the sky is dramatic but realistic, and the snow is smooth and white (you may say duh about that last one, but just have a look at the average shot with this much snow:-) Great landscape.
And Weisshorn is in my book the most beautiful peak in the Alps. (And Brunegghorn has a special meaning for me – it’s the first and only (small) ice face I climbed when I was young and stupid.)
great feedback Peter and very nice to see you stop by again 🙂 It is a very nice and characteristic peak indeed. Hard to miss as well 😀
Don’t know why, but these high alpine shots always look more impressive in B&W to me. Well done :)
thanks! Sometimes they do yes, especially when there is a lot of light play like in this one. The colour version is in this case very nice as well … by the way …. this you will see on the 29th as well !
Bummer… I can’t join you guys on the Zermatt walk :(
bummer indeed, but many other opportunities :D
@Jerry: Thanks very much! I expected that that would create in interesting effect yes.
@Thanks David. Will do a colour version as well, but thought the B&W was quite striking 🙂 Nice to meet you by the way!
@Jeffrey: many thanks Jeffrey !
@Margaret: glad you like it Margaret! This was a real tough one …
the details are fantastic, i like the effect of the shadow, well captured Johan.
Such beauty, especially using black and white…
Absolutely gorgeous Johan !! It’s breathtaking!!
Yet another stellar b&w beauty Johan! I especially like the soft and gentle foreground that creates a violent contrast with the striking textures found in the background peaks. :-)
@David: Thanks David ! 😀
@E.E. Giorgi: it’s always winter somewhere! Thanks!
@Jim: my pleasure and thanks for the visit!
@Mark: and you are almost always one of the first people to comment! Many thanks 😀
Another winner Johan! Great work as always! ;-)
A beautiful image on one of my favourite hikes. Thanks for sharing it!
wow, this is stunning!! truly beautiful, and very refreshing to see this time of the year! :-)
Stunning B&W shot Johan ! Beautiful panorama!