Unleashing the wild in a tame alpine region

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Looking northwest. The lake is 17.5 km (10.9 miles) long. © Christian Helmle

© Christian Helmle

View from a park just outside the region's biggest town, Thun. © Christian Helmle

Looking south from the north shore. The pyramid-like Niesen on the left has attracted artists for centuries. © Christian Helmle

The Gummi gorge, which leads down to the north shore. Christian Helmle

A classic view of the alpine trinity; the Eiger (third peak from right), Mönch (second from right) and Jungfrau (first on the right). © Christian Helmle

© Christian Helmle

The Niesen casts its winter shadow. © Christian Helmle

Looking from the north at the south shore. © Christian Helmle

The Justis valley runs down to the north shore. A traditional cheese sharing festival takes place here every autumn. © Christian Helmle

Town lights below, mountain lights above. The two mountains topped with lights, the Niesen (left) and Stockhorn (right), both have restaurants on their summits serviced by either a funicular or gondola. © Christian Helmle

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In this series of images, photographer Christian Helmle captures the majestic mountain scenery around Lake Thun. The many towns and villages, roads, and railway lines dotting its shores are reduced to the role of extras.

The photographer has been acquainted with the region – about half an hour’s drive from the Swiss capital, Bern – since his youth. His understanding of light and shadow, and his ability to see the iconic lakeside peaks as more than mountains, carries on the tradition of Swiss artists like Ferdinand Hodler and Paul Klee, who were also inspired by the setting.

In only two of the photos, which were taken after dark, can the viewer see how built-up the area clearly is, with a chain of towns and villages lining Lake Thun’s shores and valleys.

The lake itself has been violated by man. Up until the 1960s, the Swiss army dumped thousands of tonnes of munitions here, as well as in other large alpine bodies of water.

The bookExternal link

Pictures: Christian HelmleExternal link, Text: Dale Bechtel