09 January 2024

After spending the first week of January pretty much confined to my four walls due to illness, I was all the more looking forward to the first tour of the new year. The aim of this one-day trip to the mountains was to discover the rock ptarmigans. To do this, I went to a location where I was able to observe and film rock ptarmigans several times in December. However, due to all the fresh snow, these rock ptarmigans had looked for a new location in the meantime and could not be found that day. As a result, I was unable to spot a single creature in the snow for nine hours. Shortly before the end, a few alpine choughs made their rounds over my head and the beautiful snow-covered landscape alone was worth a trip. 

11. January 2024

As I had already made my way to Zurich that day to visit Photo Schweiz, where I was allowed to exhibit some pictures, the journey to a spectacle of nature was not too far away. A flock of around a million bramblings spent December and January near Langenthal. This spectacle occurs every few years during cold snaps and I could hardly wait to see this event with my own eyes for the first time. In fact, it was one of the most beautiful nature experiences of the past month. The hundreds of thousands of birds moving swiftly through the air in search of a suitable roosting place made for a much more spectacular picture than the photos would suggest. 

13.- 15. January 2024

After these four days in the mountains, I had the suspicion that I might not really be able to achieve much in January. Of the fourteen days in total, there were some rather unsuccessful attempts, which I won't go into in detail. However, these four days were not primarily about taking photos. Rather, I was able to visit a few locations and get a picture of them so that I would be better prepared for the black grouse mating season in spring. I was actually able to spot some black grouse and observe and film them feeding from a greater distance. At least I didn't come home completely empty-handed. What I didn't realise at the time was that January was only going to get better from now on :)

19.- 21. January 2024

On this trip, luck found me for the first time in the new year. Over three days in Graubünden, I was able to spot several Alpine ibex and photograph them in the snow. It had been on my wish list for a long time to take a minimalist photograph of an Alpine ibex in the white snow. I was therefore very happy when this opportunity arose. In addition to the Alpine ibex, I spent a few hours photographing various species of titmouse. I managed to take a photo of a fir tit flying towards me against the light, which I particularly like. It took almost four thousand pictures until the wing position of the nimble tits was right for once. 

26.- 28. January 2024 

This weekend I was able to exhibit around twenty of my pictures at the Photo Neuchatel festival. It's always something special to see the pictures printed and framed and it was a great experience to spend three days talking to enthusiastic visitors about my work and animal photography. Another highlight was that several international photographers, including familiar faces, were among the exhibitors and we spent a few days photographing together after the exhibition.  

29. – 31. January 2024

After the exhibition, I spent a good week with two Polish friends in the forests and mountains of western Switzerland. Once again, the Alpine ibex was on our agenda. Unfortunately, the snow had completely melted due to the amazingly high temperatures and we had to make do with brown meadows. But the lack of snow was compensated for this time by wonderful light moods and super photogenic ibexes. We were able to spot and photograph several ibex on each day. Another highlight was a capercaillie, which I was able to photograph and film for the film project.

The continuation of this trip will take place in February's monthly review. But I can already say in advance that this week was a photographic success from A to Z :)

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Levi