A look back at a special year, 2024
- Adrian Wirz
- Dec 20
- 8 min read
These posts used to be called Top 12, Best of, or something similar. The last year-end review I did was in 2021. That's already three years ago; it's time to revive this tradition, perhaps not every year...
For me, there's one highlight that, in retrospect, casts the year 2024 in a very special light; more on that later. In January, it snowed for the second time that winter—not much, but still. I launched my drone below the Bölchenfluh to capture this special atmosphere early in the morning.
For this photo, I tried the typical "into the light" technique, which suggests a sunrise on the side. Interestingly, the woman by the flag is looking towards the sunrise, giving the photo a special touch. This year, I've been out and about a lot with my drone. I find it very practical now to be able to use both types of cameras: drone AND camera. Which brings me to a related point: In June, I treated myself to a new camera, a Nikon Z8. And after about six months of use, I can say it was worth the purchase. The dynamic range has improved again, not by huge leaps, but noticeably. For the first time, an "old" camera didn't end up on an auction platform like in the past; instead, the Nikon Z7 continues to serve me well on my e-bike tours. Together with the Nikkor Z 24-200 , it's a perfect combination, as the Z7 is considerably smaller and lighter.
I wasn't very active during the first few months of the new year, partly due to moving house. After 26 years in Sissach, I returned to Gelterkinden, my hometown and where I grew up, on December 1st, 2023. Okay, it's not exactly a trip around the world... but after 26 years, it's still quite an adjustment. Here's a photo taken with my trusty old Nikon Z7 and the 24-200mm zoom lens.
Because I have such a beautiful view of Gelterkinden from my living room (and yes, from my office too), I experimented with various model trains, which frequently passed by. I wanted to capture the entire collection in every season. Here, representing the many others, is the TGV in front of the church in autumn, as well as one without a train but with heavy snowfall.
As you'll surely notice, this isn't a retrospective of the classic top 12, but rather organized by topic. In June, I finally decided to buy the Nikon Z8. I'd wanted to photograph the lupins in the Upper Engadine for a long time, and at the beginning of July, they were in full bloom – a perfect spot to test the Z8. I was there in the evening and could look around and plan in peace and quiet; there wasn't a soul in sight. I actually thought that would change the next morning, but no such luck.
After a peaceful night in my mini-camper, I was back on site early in the morning... if you're interested, the blue link above leads to the detailed blog post about these lupins. Here's a photo as an example:
For me, this visit to the lupins in the Upper Engadine was another highlight of 2024. I'd wanted to go there for so many years, to experience a touch of Canada. But the Engadine isn't exactly around the corner; it's quite a distance from the Basel region to the Upper Engadine. It worked out, though; the lupins were in magnificent bloom, the new camera did its job, and I was happy. Things continued this way into the second half of 2025. Unfortunately, my next trip wasn't successful; the snow was still very deep on the Grimsel Pass, making a hike up the Sidelhorn impossible. I then drove to Valais and the Turtmann Valley, but again without success. In August, I finally wanted to go back to Ticino, a canton that doesn't evoke pleasant memories for me. After all, I had to spend most of my compulsory military service there. So there I was, standing before the very gate where my "military career" began as a recruit. Back then, some barracks gardener shouted at me in Italian, and I didn't understand a thing. Until a fellow sufferer pointed out that he wanted to see the marching orders. That was a fine start.
But first, I made a planned stop at the Tremola, the old Gotthard Pass road. Light trails were on the agenda. So far, so good... but in summer, there are so few cars on the road, maybe the occasional wannabe Eddy Merckx battling his way up the curves. But I quickly realized that wasn't going to happen and made a beeline for it. A waterfall was next on the list, and the light should be perfect. Everything was great, except the 14mm focal length wasn't enough for a landscape photo. Okay, I could have taken a few portrait shots and stitched them together later in Photoshop, but the spray was so intense that I soon got tired of constantly drying the lens. So I continued on to the Valle Verzasca. I spent the night in the parking lot right next to the Ponte dei Salti. But it was so hot that I couldn't sleep. I was very glad for the refrigerator, though; you can even freeze fish sticks or cutlets in it... if you want to. My mineral water was already showing signs of freezing; the refrigerator was set too cold. I was already scrambling around on the rocks down below shortly after five in the morning. I was less focused on the bridge now, and more on the church in Lavertezzo in the other direction. Perhaps you'll notice something in this photo?
Yes, I used my headlamp to illuminate the stones, since it was still pitch black. I think I did a pretty good job; I have quite a bit of practice illuminating objects. I waited until the sun was supposed to appear behind the mountain ridge, revealing the Ponte dei Salti bridge in the foreground, but that didn't happen either. Just as the sun was about to emerge, a thick cloud obscured it. By then it was incredibly hot; the morning was well advanced. So I set off. My destination was Lugano, but I didn't even get that far; the heat was unbearable. Yes, of course, there was air conditioning in the car, but I couldn't leave the car running all day. I just wanted to get higher, this time to the Nufenen Pass at around 2,500 meters above sea level. Up there it was simply wonderful, around 19 degrees Celsius, and I slept in the car for a few hours. I didn't really want to go down into the valley anymore, but I also wanted to be in Montreux at Chillon Castle early for sunset.
I've only been here once, it must have been in January 2016. Back then, I was with Schnitzel. I still remember our conversation at the boat landing when I mentioned that I was planning to buy a Nikon D810 soon. He already had one. Schnitzel replied, "That camera won't tolerate any mistakes!"
But back to August 2024. I arrived early at Lake Geneva and enjoyed some time at the beach, taking a dip in the wonderfully cool water. Even on the shores of Lake Geneva, it was a pleasant 30 degrees Celsius. After taking my photos, I headed home. I wanted to photograph this castle again in October, this time with its autumn colors. But one thing at a time. On my many bike tours, I'm always discovering new things. Perhaps a few words about that. A few years ago, after leaving Lightexplorers, I had to find other paths. One of them has already been discussed extensively elsewhere years ago. Another was a return to my roots; the Basel region still has so much beauty to offer. How often did I have to answer, "No, unfortunately, I don't have a photo of that..." Representing many other photos of the Basel region from 2024: a hiking trail leads through a natural tunnel of branches, past mighty willow trunks.
These kinds of photos aren't exactly groundbreaking, but they're in demand and they bring in good money. I simply can't imagine making money with depressing forest pictures anymore, except maybe as advertising for workshops or a book, but otherwise? And you won't get rich from selling a single photo, but perhaps you have different experiences? These days, I also photograph landscapes outside of Instagram and Facebook, just with a more commercial approach. Here's another picture; this photo now graces the website of the small village of Hemmiken in the Basel region:
And just like that, it's autumn! I'm still raving about those dreamy foggy conditions, especially that morning at the beginning of November when I stood up there alone at 5 a.m. with the sea of fog below me. It was simply breathtaking. Or that morning when the fog ceiling was around 1000 meters and I took off with the drone, searching for the Bölchenfluh. The sight of that little rock face rising up, surrounded by fog, was simply stunning!
Another object that's always on my radar: the church in Kilchberg. As I was observing the fog that morning, the church still completely obscured in the pitch-black darkness, the police suddenly pulled over to the side of the road and asked me what I was photographing. With my large lens, I was naturally a suspect; yes, the Basel-Landschaft police are always on the lookout, even in the most remote corners. I explained what I was planning, but they probably still haven't grasped it!
I almost skipped over October, but I've already described in detail how beautiful this autumn was in this blog post: A fantastic autumn 2024
Here is another photo from my 2-day trip to Lake Geneva and the vineyards of Lavaux.
Winter arrived at the end of November; I had already focused a lot on drone photography at the beginning of the year, I think the ratio is almost fifty-fifty.
Here I mainly focused on panoramas. There's a reason for that, of course; perhaps more on that next year. But I also find it fascinating to look at these aerial shots. Many of my bike trails can be seen from above, and I'm already looking forward to spring and especially summer when I can bike over the hills of our Basel region again.
Above is an aerial view of Sissach and below is of Gelterkinden, where I have been living again since December 1, 2023.
And finally, to conclude this successful year, we mustn't forget the second highlight: after a six-year hiatus, the Bölchen Photo Event will be back on November 22, 2025. There will be a blog post about that as well. We would be delighted if you could join us!
Photo above: Langenbruck on December 29, 2024
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At this point, I'd also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to my approximately 1000 subscribers. Each and every one of them deserves to be addressed personally with "you" on the blog. I look forward to gaining another 1000 subscribers! I wish you a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! Perhaps we'll see each other at the Bölchen photo event in 2025? I'd be delighted!
