Matterhorn Moonlight : Prints Available
Matterhorn Moonset : Prints Available
Matterhorn Alpenglow : Prints Available
The Matterhorn is the icon of icons – easily the most photographed and recognizable mountain on Earth. While I normally try to resist photographing the most iconic, oft-photographed landscapes, the Matterhorn’s magnetic pull is too much for any photographer to resist, especially me!
With a full moon and hopes for a clearing storm, this last weekend Claudia and I splurged for a one-night vacation to Gornergrat, a hotel perched on a high ridgeline nearly 5,000 feet above the town of Zermatt, with an incredible view of the Matterhorn. Though it was snowing as we rode up on the Gornergratbahn rack train, the storm broke shortly after sunset and I was super stoked to catch some photos of the iconic peak in the moonlight!
See more photos below!
Weisshorn Dawn : Prints Available
Overshadowed by the Matterhorn, many of these other spectacular peaks around Zermatt would be the crown jewels of most other mountain ranges!
Gabelhorn Sunrise : Prints Available
Gornergletscher : Prints Available
Gornergletscher Panorama : Prints Available
Awesome Jack, I have been up there twice before but only in the fall once at sunrise and once at sunset. One of these days I will go up there in the winter and stay at the Gornergrat. Did you stay up there or did they do a special early morning train?
Hey Jody, yeah we stayed up there at the hotel – it was the only option in order to have a chance at all the sunset, moonlight, moonset, and sunrise shots! It was definitely a splurge for me… I would have camped if I could have! But it was worth it (and we had a great fondue dinner as well! 🙂 )
Very nice photo’s Jack
Thanks Richard!
WOW!!! Icon it is, but shots of it, especially yours, never get old, Jack. Really stunning! I love the sliver of moonlight in the foreground in the “Matterhorn Moonset” shot. Inspiring!
Thanks Justin! Yeah the Matterhorn is definitely one of THE incredible peaks of the world… the thousands of photos still can’t prepare you for seeing it in real life!
Crazy man! I told Marla you would find some mountain to climb and get a never before seen view of the Matterhorn in unbelievable light… I shouldn’t be surprised, but these are jaw dropping images. But having a hotel right there – that’s just too much. Anyway, I don’t have a favorite and I’m glad you put the mountain in the middle of a couple of these – it’s so imposing – it belongs in the middle! BTW, Gabelhorn sunrise is lights out too!
Thanks Dave! Yeah I actually brought all my splitboard gear there so I’d be able to tour around and find the “epic” spot… but the epic spot is pretty much right on the porch! A person could get used to this… 🙂
And yeah, with peaks like this I don’t mess around with the composition “rules” whatever those may be (or even foreground, for that matter)… the peak just demands to be front and center!
On second thought, the lead-in moonlight shot is easily my favorite. It’s sick! 🙂
Jack!! Jesus! Those are AMAZING… but the first image is SCREAMING black and white!! The cloud movements and beautiful shape of Matterhorn will make a great B&W image… TRY IT 🙂 Can you tell I am excited?!! 🙂 I am glad you had a great time Jack!
Thanks Rajeev! Yeah maybe one of these days I’ll try converting that to b/w… but I like the blue! 🙂 (I’m a color guy all the way…)
Totally makes sense Jack… now that you mentioned that I realize that I haven’t seen any B&W images from you! I too love color image more than B&W… but once again fantastic work Jack! I will be back.. 🙂
Jack ..I am just found your B&W gallery and I am glad you started doing that…because there are are some great images!!
Thanks Rajeev!
That top photo – unreal – so majestic.
Mariyn
Thanks Marilyn! I took about a dozen variation of that photo, and they’re all so different because the clouds were swirling around so much… but this was my favorite! (I think…)
Hello there, Jack.
How are you doing these days?
Guess I`ll better start talking Swiss or Italian with you from now on..
You have produced fantastic photographs from Switzerland and the Matterhorn Moonlight is marvellous and awe inspiring.
Best Wishes
Seung Kye
Hi Seung Kye! Thanks for the compliment! I’m am doing well and I have a fun, action-packed April planned for my last month here in Europe. And I’m also looking forward to summer and returning home to Colorado!
I was wondering when the Matterhorn would pop up on here. These are awesome, Jack! I especially like the first two; the swirl of clouds puts #1 over the top, and I too like it in color. The Gabelhorn shot stands out as well.
Thanks Justin! Yeah, I had to get at least a few killer Matterhorn shots from a winter in Switzerland!
Hello Jack,
Nice picture.
The first one of the Matterhorn is just incredible !!!
One of the most nice Matterhorn picture I have ever seen.
Congratulations.
Greetings from Switzerland.
Igor