In mid-July 2023, I received news that the cherry tree in Buus had not survived the recent thunderstorm unscathed. Since I had planned to visit this area in the Basel region that same evening anyway, my path also led me to this cherry tree. Cherry tree in bloom near Buus The photo above was taken at the beginning of April 2023. The one below is from July 12, 2023. Cherry tree Buus after the thunderstorm of July 11, 2023 Broken cherry tree after thunderstorm Cherry tree near Buus I'm curious to see what happens to this cherry tree. I think the drought and its age (over 100) have taken their toll, and since it was (and still is) somewhat exposed, a strong gust of wind was probably all it took. As far as I could tell, the cherries had been picked, so it wasn't carrying any extra weight. What wonderful and varied hours we spent by this cherry tree! Very often, early in the morning, tripods would be lined up next to each other, and interesting conversations would develop. We were also able to hold several cherry blossom photography workshops there. Cherry tree in bloom near Buus Sunrise at the cherry tree At 4 a.m. I remember vividly how I'd had this photo in my mind for so long. On that (very early) morning, everything was perfect! The full moon at my back and the blossoms at their peak. I arrived at the location at 4 a.m. There had to be just a little daylight so the sky wouldn't be completely dark. Eventually, I got my shot, and when the next photographers arrived, I left. The sky in the east had become overcast, so there was no chance of a breathtaking sunrise. Photos of this tree with the full moon have frequently appeared on social media and websites. They are all fakes; the moon was digitally added later. Besides myself, I only know one other person who has the original image of the tree and full moon: Ch. Schlatter. Everything else falls under the category of "creative manipulation with Photoshop" or "we're adding a moon to a photo." The quality of my photo isn't good enough to present here; as I've mentioned elsewhere, the combination of a Nikon Z7 and a Sigma 150-500 lens didn't work. Cherry tree in the Basel region Want to be notified as soon as a new blog post goes live? Subscribe to my newsletter or RSS feed. at the bottom of the footer.

At the beginning of July, I spontaneously decided to travel to the Upper Engadine; the lupins at Lake Sils were in full bloom. In other years, this was already the case in June, but this year spring was taking its time around Lake Sils. On a whim, I packed everything I needed to "survive" two days in the Upper Engadine. Lupins at Lake Sils Shortly before sunset, I reached Lake Sils and the spot with the lupines. Even then, I could already imagine how breathtaking it would look when the light fell into this high valley. I used the evening to take some photos with focus stacking. I'd used it before, but somehow I'd gotten a bit too lazy in the past and neglected it. So I practiced for a good hour, but I just couldn't get the hang of it. I'm a one-shot photographer; for me, everything has to be perfect within a single image. There are already plenty of moon and Milky Way photographers out there. So I set off to find a cozy spot for dinner; it was already past 9 p.m. and I was hungry. No, this time I wasn't looking for McDonald's; I had macaroni and cheese on the menu... or in other words: a plastic cup of freeze-dried Knorr. Boil water, then pour the water into the plastic cup, wait a few minutes, and "enjoy." Cooking in the car I've often been asked why I chose a high-roof station wagon as a (mini) camper. Since I rarely spend more than 2-3 nights in the car at a time, I don't need anything bigger; for most of its life, it will be used as a normal passenger car. Camping box in high-roof station wagon I opted for a camping box from Campal, which is easy to remove and reinstall. I can sleep fully stretched out, and the mattresses have the perfect firmness. Image editing and browsing in the car Very often, taking photographs also means waiting; I often bridge this time by surfing the web or editing images on my ASUS laptop with an OLED screen. St. Moritz After a hearty dinner, I drove to St. Moritz. I wanted to take a panoramic photo of this idyllic mountain farming village. But it didn't work out; the lake didn't reflect well, and the sun set behind St. Moritz. This meant the sky remained bright for a long time, and St. Moritz, despite the lights, was dark. St. Moritz Back at the car, I had to find a place to park. I used one of the public parking lots in St. Moritz Bad. The thermometer read 8 degrees Celsius, so I unpacked the electric blanket. Of course, I had a power station with me to keep the blanket warm and the compressor refrigerator cool. Since I feel constricted in a sleeping bag and get claustrophobic when everything is twisted, I bought a thermal blanket. It's perfect down to 8 degrees; below that, I have to use a heater. So, after the short night, the alarm went off at 4 a.m. I was quickly back on the road, waiting to see what would happen. First came the fog, thick and sticky like a thick bowl of barley soup. But it didn't reach this small bay on Lake Sils. And as expected, I was completely alone and could really stretch out without anyone in my way, which is something that can easily happen there. Because only with a 14-16mm focal length can you capture these lupins in the frame and still have sufficient depth of field, I didn't bother with focus stacking at all. The Nikon Z8 has a menu item for this function, where you can adjust several parameters, such as how many images it should take and whether the focus should be close, etc. But back to the fog: of course, I was hoping for a magical atmosphere. Shortly after my arrival, it lifted again, and the first rays of sunlight fell on the opposite mountain peak. I think this mountain is called Piz da la Margna. But feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! First I was enveloped in fog, then I was clear again, then the mountain peak became visible through the fog. This continued for a good hour until the first rays of sunlight also reached the lupins and made their colors glow. Lupins at Lake Sils After about three hours, I packed my things and left. Below are a few photos from this beautiful day among the lupins in the Upper Engadine. Lupins in the Upper Engadine Lupins near Sils in the Engadine Lupine Upper Engadine Lupins at Lake Sils Sunrise at Lake Sils I hope you enjoyed looking at the photos?? No, of course not... You can find fun on other (picture) blogs. Large-leaved lupine - Invasive neophytes. The large-leaved lupine is native to North America. It was introduced to Europe as an ornamental and forage plant, as well as for soil improvement and erosion control. In many regions, it is now subspontaneous or established, encroaching on protected mountain meadows and displacing native flora. Furthermore, the leaves and seeds contain alkaloids that are toxic to livestock. I took all the photos with the Nikon Z8. You can read about whether this camera is an improvement over the Z7 in a new blog post: Nikon Z8. 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I've owned a Nikon Z8 for about a month now. What are the key improvements compared to the Nikon Z7? Nikon Z8 Of course, I also watched countless YouTube videos and read reviews beforehand. You want to know what you're investing your hard-earned money in, after all. Somehow, after watching most of the German-language videos about the Nikon Z8, I can't shake the feeling that everything is simply sugarcoated. No one can tell me that such a review or long-term test is done independently; it's constantly emphasized, but I wouldn't let anyone else test my product if it received a bad review. And when Nikon or Canon, etc., introduce a new camera, it's pure cash thanks to the thousands of clicks. The sooner you get such a camera from the manufacturer, the more clicks your YouTube videos are guaranteed. And we're not talking about 10 or 20 francs here, no, we're talking about much larger sums! And why would anyone say anything negative? For example, why this camera turned out to be such a clunky thing? Did they simply create a camera for photographers with bear-like hands? I actually thought that the era of bulky cameras was over with the approaching demise of the SLR. The size is only mentioned as a disadvantage in very few YouTube videos. Below is a size comparison between the Z7 (left) and the Z8 (right). A Z7 weighs 671g and a Z8 weighs 910g. Nikon Z7 and Z8 While the Z7 with its L-bracket fit perfectly in my camera backpack, the Z8 utilizes all the available space. But I think owners of a Nikon Z9 would only smile wearily at such a "problem." Below is a size comparison between the Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera and the Nikon D7500 DSLR, which still serves me well for wildlife photography. Nikon D7500 and Nikon Z8 Unfortunately, the Nikon Z8 no longer accepts third-party batteries. Let's see how that develops and whether Nikon reverses course. I find the evolution of the remote control connector interesting. But first, a little recap: let's start with the Nikon D750 from 2014. It had a DC2 connector (see photo). Then came the switch to the Nikon D810, which had the DC0 connector. Later, the switch to the Nikon D850, but the remote control connector remained the same... a certain degree of consistency was noticeable. This camera was stolen in the South of France, everything gone! That was the point at which I bought the Z7. But oh dear, it has the DC2 connector again... "...where on earth did I put that DC2 remote control back then?" The search began, but I found it. Recently, I switched to the Nikon Z8... I think you can guess what's coming next... exactly, it has the DC0 connector again. So, keep your remote control after buying a new Nikon. Luckily, I bought a wireless remote control years ago, which came with both cables and connectors. That kept me going until the new remote shutter release arrived. But what's the point of this constant switching? DC2 remote release Remote release DC0 But I need a wired remote; wireless remotes are great and convenient. The only problem is that the battery usually dies when you're out in the middle of nowhere or on an 8000-meter peak, and then the frantic search for a spare in your camera bag begins... but the battery has already settled comfortably in my desk drawer at home. Anyway, back to the Nikon Z8. Below is a photo with all three: from left to right, Nikon D7500, Z8, Z7 But of course, there are also positive things to report. For example, there's a top-of-the-line 45 MP sensor. That alone made the purchase worthwhile. The color noise, which is undoubtedly bothersome in long exposures on the Z7, is significantly less pronounced in the new Nikon Z8. Yes, this sensor is fantastic; I noticed it immediately during my first (short) long exposure – absolutely no color noise, simply perfect. The dynamic range has improved again, albeit only slightly. I think the era of major leaps is over anyway. The sensor shield is also new; it protects the sensor from dust, etc., when changing lenses. I think that's excellent. But I almost forgot something very important, perhaps because it was never a priority for me. Nevertheless, it's great that this shortcoming has now been addressed: the autofocus. It's now back to the level of the good old Nikon D850, and this focus was sharp on absolutely everything, even under a full moon. I had real problems with that on the Z7, but somehow it worked. But it's also reassuring to know that autofocus is no longer an issue with the Z8. Lucerne Chapel Bridge Another positive aspect is the two memory card slots. The good old SD card slot is also included now, but I didn't actually miss it. CFexpress cards are so durable; I'm still using my first two from 2019, and they're working perfectly. But SD cards are a cheap backup alternative for the camera. Nikon Z8 with wireless remote control But what will happen to my Nikon Z7 now? Will I sell it off? No, I'll keep it; it only has 8,000 shutter actuations, which is very, very low for a five-year-old camera. It will continue to be my faithful companion on my e-mountain bike tours in the Basel region. With the Nikkor 24-200mm lens, it's a perfect combination when weight saving is a priority. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70 2.8 Conclusion: No, I haven't regretted the purchase! Knowing that this 45MP sensor, which I already had in the D850 and Z7, has taken another leap forward makes me approach certain projects with a bit more composure. A quick note: Even though this post is titled "Review," I don't claim it's comprehensive, and I'd prefer a different title, but that brings us back to the beginning of the blog, to YouTube. I need clicks too, and Google values them more highly with the keyword "review" than with "Yay, I got a Z8..." Nikon Z8 Finally, one more thing: If you're thinking of getting into the Nikon Z system today, you have a wide selection of lenses, including those from third-party manufacturers. Back in 2019, the selection was very limited. I bought the Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 and the ridiculously expensive Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8. These two lenses alone cost me around 4700 Swiss francs. Later, I added the Tamron 70-200 SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 with an adapter. That was another 1200 Swiss francs. So, to cover the classic landscape photography focal length range, I spent around 6000 Swiss francs on lenses. Today, in 2024, things look much more convenient and, above all, cheaper. My lenses today would be: Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S (CHF 1179.00 - this lens is simply brilliant) Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 (CHF 713.00) I'm not familiar with this lens, but from what I've seen of Tamron so far, I'm sure it can hold its own against any comparison. Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD (CHF 542.00) Test report here. If we add that all up, we arrive at CHF 2434.00, that's quite an argument, isn't it? I've sold so many pictures and photo files, and no one has ever asked me about the lens I used. With constantly declining income from image sales, why should I invest this money in incredibly expensive lenses? For better quality? Tamron and Sigma are also top-tier players these days. It makes no sense to use an expensive camera with bad lenses. Subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of this page and you'll always be among the first to know when a new post is online on my website. Approximately 3-4 times a year.

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. Bölchenfluh Sonnenaufgang 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. Nikon Z7 mit Dji Air2 S 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. Kirschblüte in Rünenberg 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. Gelterkinden-Baselland Gelterkinden 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: Lupinen im Oberengadin 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. Kaserne 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? Lavertezzo - Ticino 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. Schloss Chillon bei Montreux 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. Baselland 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: Oberbaselbiet 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! Belchenfluh-Baselland 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! Kilchberg - Baselland 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. Rivaz am Genfersee 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. Luftaufnahme Jura 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. Sissach Above is an aerial view of Sissach and below is of Gelterkinden, where I have been living again since December 1, 2023. Oberbaselbiet Panorama 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! Langenbruck-Baselland Photo above: Langenbruck on December 29, 2024 Rünenberg - Baselland Gelterkinden Subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of this page and you'll always be among the first to know when a new post is online on my website. Approximately 5-6 times a year. 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!