Immediately when I first saw the landscape captured in this photograph in B&W, the two big rocks in the foreground seemed like stepping stones. Stepping Stones for reaching the beautiful mountains on the other side of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). Like phases in life that need to be lived, to hopefully get you where you want to be at some point. I spent the first 40 years of my life working towards fulfilling a dream. A dream of living in the Alps during the remaining 80 years of my life, and to work there as a photographer. Yes, I plan to be at least 120 years old one day! It was a challenging journey. However, I did enjoy it and got there in the end!
Besides that, the rocks in this scene reminded me of something a Canadian ski teacher told me a long time ago when he sent me down a very steep triple diamond black trail with waaaaaay to many trees: “Forget about the trees. Just focus on the space in between them”! It worked (more or less)! So, try to forget about the stuff that might get you wet once in a while, and you might be going places 🙂
I captured this photograph in B&W near Préverenges in Switzerland using a Nikon D3x and a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. The combination of a 10-stop and 2-stop ND filter pushed the exposure time to 60 seconds. As a result, motion blur smoothened the lake surface. The sky was rather bright. Therefore, I needed to use a 2-stop graduated ND filter to balance the exposure.
Click on the photograph to learn more about Stepping Stones or to buy a print or license it.
Cheers, Johan 🙂
Stepping Stones
Rocks lined up as stepping stones in Lake Geneva (lac Léman) with the French Alps rising above a band of clouds, in B&W.
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This photograph in B&W is part of our Minimalist photography theme, which also includes:
Interested in seeing similar fine art photographs in B&W? Then please visit our Black & White Photography portfolio!
@Mutita: thank you 🙂
@Jan: creatief 🙂
I’m focusing on the stepping stones, hope I don’t ski into them! The Alps seem a magical world floating in the sky, to get there using the stepping stones I would have to put on my “Zevenmijlslaarzen” I’m afraid (Now where did I put those?)
So beautiful !!
I am impressed, fantastic
Thanks again Mirosław ! 🙂
Outstanding work Johan. The mountains coming through the clouds are a completely unexpected treat. Very nice toning throughout.
thanks for the feedback and compliment Greg! Nice to meet you :)
This is a fantastic image Johan. I saw this a day or two ago and it has been sticking in head. The attention to craft is readily apparent. The tones look great. It’s the composition that really speaks to me. I’m fascinated by images that suggest transitions, both visually and metaphorically. This works on many levels for me. Brilliant.
Thanks for the kind feedback and compliment. Really glad you like it!
Yes Ilove
Thanks Tuananh !
Bloody awesome work mate.
Thanks Christopher!
Merci beaucoup Philippe !
Gatto: thanks!
Great !…
=^.^=
Vraiment bien!
simple and beautiful !
Thanks again Syuzanna :)
Love your LE!! stunning!
Thanks Myrna ! A new addiction for me and loving it. I primarily do it in autumn and spring …
@Christian: many thanks for the compliment!
@Aileen: thanks again. Glad you like it!
Amazing! So calm… ♥ it!
Very beautiful processing! :)
Serenity
Thank you again Hengki !
absolutely superb. I love it. I wish I could go back to Lake Geneva. When I last went I was a child with no interest in photography.
Many thanks Ben! It would be cool if you did go back and maybe join for a bit of shooting!
Beautiful Johan, love the silvery tones and those mountains poking through the clouds!
Many thanks Jeff !!
Beautiful. It would take a seriously long running jump and air time to reach that rock in the distance, I bet! ;)
Nah Tom. All you need is a bit of imagination 😀 Nice to see you around again!
@Sinead: that is very nice to hear Sinead! Thanks 🙂
@Marc: thanks Marc! That was actually quite tricky as I was standing on a row of stones in the middle of the lake with not a lot of room to manouvre 🙂
@Tania: many thanks Tania 😀
It’s like a zen garden, only at sea – beautiful…..
Beautiful simple comp. I really like how you lined up the two rocks and the distant peak.
Oh my goodness. I’m in awe of this shot.
S u p e r b !
Thanks you! Inspired by someone called Nathan, Nathan. I have a few other square one’s with rocks coming up as well :D
It’s really quite exquisite … it would look very nice on my wall! :-)
Great to hear that Nathan !!! :D
Great capture, bitta LE eh ;)
A bit yes Alan 😀 Thanks!
I had to comment a second time and share. I’m hypnotized by this image ! I really like it.
That is very kind of you Francis!
Sheer perfection, love it
Thank you Louisa !!! Hope all is well with you :)
Hi dear Johan, yes, it is, just so hectic as have had just a few days to find a new home and work is full on too 🙂 Happy though 😉 Hope all is good your side too:)
Busy is not always bad. Glad you are happy!! Here all is well as well. Enjoying the nice weather and looking forward to a nice couple of days out shooting end as of tomorrow :)
@Anna: thanks Anna 🙂
@Morkel: it is isn’t it 🙂
@Francis: many thanks Francis!!
🙂
Outstanding photograph, the composition and the atmosphre are truly incredible !
congrats!! always nice being selected…
Sir very nice photo
Very nicely done!
Thank you Fo Tollery !
beautiful 🙂
Thank you very much Joshi!
Ah…well, loving both minimalism & b&w as I do, I find this image very compelling.
That is very nice to hear David! Thanks for having a look!
@Rohan: many thanks Rohan. Appreciated!
@Cameron: lol, glad you like it Cameron! You can speak up again now 😉
@Seung: thank you very much Seung and thanks for stopping by!!
Fantastic work, Johan!
whistles softly, stunned into temporary silence – that is an amazing shot Johan :)
An absolutely massive fav Johan, stunning work, speechless
@Manuel: thank you Manuel! Really enjoyed your recent images!
@Horia: many thanks for the kind words Horia and nice to meet you!!
@Elena: thanks Elena 😀
congratulations on the photo extract inclusion, so well deserved!!!!
Love the layers in this scene…and especially what goes around above the horizon – i think that’s quite unexpected and keeps the viewer captivated :)
Guau!!! This is so good Johan !!
Love this silky shot
A veil
Thank you Karl !
@Michael: thank you Michael!
@Barbara: many thanks Barbara! For more you’ll have to scroll down or re-visit once in a while ;)
The water is gloriously luminous in this prologue to a fairy tale Johan. More please . . .
Such a tranquil feel, great long exposure work!
@Radek: thanks for the wow Radek! Always appreciate those 😉
@Rikard: thank you! I wasn’t either until a year ago, but liking it more and more. It’s a nice addition to what I was already doing and doing B&W does improve “seeing” 🙂
@Margaret: many thanks again Margaret!
Congratulations!! This is incredibly beautiful! I can understand why it was chosen!!!
Magical. I’m not so much into b&w but this is great. Thanks for sharing.
wow – this is great Johan. So surreal!
@Randall: many thanks for the kind words Randall. Thanks for the visit!
@Kerry: hey Kerry! Thanks a bunch 🙂
@Lili: thank you Lili. Hope all is wel in Barcelona!
@Christa: thank you!!! Nope bought the software from B&H in the US. I wanted the complete collection for LR/Aperture/Photoshop which is not available at a reasonable price here.
… and is the software bought in the USA compatible with everything here in Switzerland or do you have to consider certain points?
it is the same software. You will get a box with specific versions. For some of them you will have to download updates. All works without problems in my experience.
Thank-you very much for the information, Johan!
You are very welcome Christa
@Alex: thank you Alex and thanks for stopping by!
@Neal: many thanks for the kind words Neal. Glad ou like it!
@Nora: thanks for the wow Nora 😀
Great image and accompanying text! Did you buy the Nik’s Silver Efex Pro 2 here, Johan?
Beautiful!
Stunning image, Johan! Such an amazing scene and the long exposure work is sheer perfection! Enjoyed the narrative as well . . . great advice!
Stunning! I love the layers of little details in this scene. Really beautiful Johan Peijnenburg!
wow, this is excellent Johan!
this is stunning … love the line of clouds and the mountain top and then this wonderful rock in the silvery water … pretty much a perfect composition …
Incredible long exposure, great composition!
@Thanks Gemma and many thanks for sharing!
@Lisa: quite nice works for me Lisa 😉 Thanks!
@Neil: thanks buddy. Long time no see. Glad to see you around again :)
Amazing work my friend!!!
Quite nice! Johan
wonderful shot, so perfect
Awesome
Thank you Joe :
Superb Johan , love that backdrop!
Thanks a lot Bill Allen and nice to meet you
Outstanding!
Thanks Nate!
@Thierry: many thanks Thierry!
@Johan: Thank you Johan. Like wise!!!
Always such a pleasure to view your work Johan – nothing but the best !
This is a magical shot and work Johan :-))
Many thanks Patricia 🙂
@Armand: love that comment and the analogy with the image 😀
oh man, Johan, this just rocks
Gorgeous Johan! Those clouds are fabulous!
@Catherine: thanks for the awesome Catherine!!
@Manuel: I am not sure how, but my guess is that you were busy. Glad you like it Manuel!
@Margaret: thank you very much :)
VERY busy actually, Johan! And it’s Monday again :)
Time flies Manuel 🙂 I just got back from a trip, so no image from me today :)
It really does, Johan! That’s a pity, but I’m sure you will give us some more WONDERFUL shots in the next future :)
Thanks Manuel! I will do my best :)
@Ondřej: thank you very much!
@Sophie: hey thanks Sophie 🙂 Thanks for singing 😀
@Wes: many thanks for the kind words Wes!
it’s all been said, but this an amazing image. Let me also add my congrats!!
Superb work Johan and congratulations!
Congratulations Johan, on this photograph being chosen by Photoextract as one of the 10 TOP Google+ Photographs for June 11- well deserved it is awesome!
Woww did you see Johan, missing so many beautiful images of your that feed my soul with peaceful and lovely feelings.
Simple beautiful! and congrats for PhotoExtract always very well deserve it… :)
Nice shot Johan ;)
Beautiful “zen” scene :)
What can I say? Just WOW.. Wonderful long exposure Johan!
Just awesome Johan Peijnenburg
Fabulous shot! Love the central focus and how the stones lead the eye. Well done!
Congrats Johan ! This is a magical work with a fresh abstract compo!! Wow wow wow!! 🙂
Celebration….tralalalalalààà 😀 :-D
This is really stunning shot, my congrats.
@Ratul: Thanks for the compliment and share Ratul! Yes, I just notice that I have been included 🙂 Thanks!
@Wilfried: if you want we could do a LE shoot at the Vierwaldstättersee one day 🙂
Top idea! Btw, you have your LE equipment handy in Grisons, don’t you? :-)
Yes 🙂
@Yannick: merci beaucoup Yannick 🙂
@Fabio: glad you like it Fabio. Hope all is well!
@Stan: hey Stan. Thanks for the compliment!
This is just wonderful. Well deserved for top 10 of the day. Great work.
@Wilfried: thanks a bunch Wilfried! One day when you are a bit less hyper-active you might enjoy shooting LE’s with me 😀 We both have at least 80 years to go you know!
@Eric: merci beaucoup Eric!
@Margaret: hey Margaret. Nice to “see” you again and glad you like it 🙂 Just noticed that you seemed to have dropped from my circles. Dunno why. Sorry for that. Just added you again !
Oh yeah, that will be great! Already got a ton of questions ;-)!
@Andrew: thanks Andrew! And we both made it to Olivier’s summary 😉 I am looking forward to at least 80 of photography. Let’s hope disks keep growing !
@Sharon: thanks very much Sharon. Really appreciate your comments!
@Ian: thanks for stopping by again Ian! Many thanks for the kind words. Looking forward to see yours!
@Kurt: thanks a lot Kurt! Yes, those are he kind of sayings that stick to memory 😀
@Allan: thank you Allan!
Great one Johan. I love the layers the eye is drawn through.
gorgeous mono and exposure!
perfect perspective !!!!
Just perfect!! Fantastic work! Johan
Such a great LE Johan , luv this silky water
Wonderful exposure. I like those many details in every part of the composition, which makes it a perfect candidate for a big print. There is much more to come within the next 80 years I hope;-)! Thank you!
Love the composition of the minimalist LE!
This is fantastic Johan and enjoyed your thoughts behind the image and that great line: “forget about trees, just focus on the space between them”. The tones, gradients are superb and of course the great comp. Look forward to another 80 years of images – better buy another hard drive!
Wonderful exposure!! Great work on it. Thank you for posting Allan
Absolutely gorgeous work Johan and I had a good chuckle about focusing on the space between the trees. Very good advice. :)))
Such a beautiful mono Johan. Been working on some mono shots.. I would be over the moon with a shot like this man. First class !
Thanks Jim !
@Maggy: glad you like it Maggy!!
@Charles: thanks Charles. Glad you do! I will keep doing both then 😉
@Scott: Thank you for the compliment and for stopping by !
Great B&W here!
beautiful image Johan. I do enjoy your LE work a lot as well as your majestic mountain scenes.
Outstanding shot, Johan!!
Pure zen. Love it !
Thanks for the compliment David 🙂
@Suzie: thanks and you’re welcome. I might need 3 tripods then to shoot images but will manage 😀 Think it good to be a bit optimistic :)
Brilliant exposure and processing. The scene looks so silky in B&W.
Fantastic image and composition,
Wishing you all the best for fulfilling your dream of being 120, I know it is possible because we have a lady in our residential home who is going to be 110 in September, I have not seen a more positive thinker than her, still reads, knits and lots more, she dances on her every birthday although she is nearly bionic(joint replacements)!
Thank you Sangeeth!
@Sassi: who knows. That would be cool. Thanks for the kind words Sassi!
@Mikko: thanks Mikko. Always appreciate your words :)
Realy amazing shot! so calm, lyrical! can feel that life mystery here, very beautiful Johan!
Great shot+Johan ! Where is it exactly? I went to Morges some weeks ago, but did not find a very interesting spot.
it is here: 46°30’40” N 6°31’47” E
Damn, now I have to buy a GPS 😉
Thanks Johan!
They didn’t have it for Canon so far Dominique, but it sure is a nice gimmick. In LR4 all the location info is derived from it as well, so saves a lot of time doing meta data. I also use it a lot to figure out which mountains I shot when I arrive home 🙂
Like a Matte Painting for a movie (I love Matte Paintings), very nice work Johan
(Having said that, I wouldn’t wonder to see it one day as a cover image of a “record/CD”.)
Lovely work Johan!
Thanks Sandy and thanks again Anette 🙂
@Russ: thanks for the nice Russ 🙂
@Stefanie: thanks for the compliment Stefanie!
@Lisa: hey Lisa! Thank you 🙂
My pleasure Johan :)) I might come back again later on for another comment :))
Feel free Anette. Bring some popcorn and a drink next time ;)
Beautiful
Wonderful Johan, like the gradient tones from the water and how the mountain peaks kinda dublicate in the foreground. Great work!
Cracking indeed @Sandy :))
Nice!
Cracking photo, Johan! Very nice!
@Fabrizio: Thanks a bunch Fabrizio ! 🙂
@Sara: glad you like it Sara. Say hi to Klaus :)
Waow !! splendid :)
Well done Johan
@Vitor: thank you Vitor!
@Baldur: thanks for the feedback Baldur! Much appreciated!
@Alexandre : thank you as well!
Deep thoughts, the dlouds look like a wave coming from the mountains, kind of surreal, great image!
Completely perfect! The composition, the moment, the mountains, the b&w processing and that incredible softness. Excellent work, Johan!
Yep and thanks Scott 🙂
@Constanța: bonjour 🙂
@Matthias: thanks. Very kind Matthias! Just go out there to the right location with the right filters and you will get there :)
This is awesome, love the composition!
pictures like that really are a dream to me. One day I want to be able to do that, too 🙂 excellent Johan Peijnenburg
Bonjour !
@E.E. Giorgi: thank you very much Elena!
@Peter Paul: thank you Peter Paul.
Beautiful image, islands in both the water and the sky!
Fantastic Background ….teach LE Clouds in future…..looks very natural…. ,congrats for you, Johan !
wow, fantastic!!!
@Jany: merci beaucoup Jany and very nice to meet you 🙂
@David: thank you David. Hope all is well in Belgium!
@Markus: good morning to you as well Markus. Thanks for the kind words!
@Francesco: thank you very much! Would love to know where you find your rocky coastlines in Italy. Very tempted to come that way soon!
@Christof: I sidetrack once in a while and sometimes a sidetrack becomes a main track. I like doing this type of photography a lot nowadays 🙂 Thanks for the compliment!
@Andy: thank you very much Andy!
@Athena: really glad you like it that much! I shot this when you were shooting that lovely pier remember?
@Richard: hey Richard! Thanks for the compliment!
@Ada: very kind of you Ada and you gotta love those ski teachers. I guess you can visualize the scene that was in front of me back then 🙂
I don’t actually remember Johan, was it when I was shooting the pier with a hut on the end of it?
this one was shot in Morges. There was this long pier and that funky construction next to it we didn’t know how to shoot properly. At the end of the day we ended up at the part of the beach were the bird watchers were.
@Michael: glad you like it! Thanks for checking it out!
@Sandra: that’s a great compliment Sandra! Thanks!
@Sumit: thanks you Sumit! Hope all is well over there!
@Nikola: dank je wel Nikola!
@Sonja: thank you very much Sonja. Thanks for stopping by!
@Robin: thanks Robin and yes very true! Are you planning to be at least a 130 then. Would be nice to have a few people to chat with then 😉
@Ben: thanks a bunch Ben!
;oD … sure!
@Jen: thank you and very nice to meet you!
@Trey: thanks Trey. You look pretty smart yourself 😉
@George: glad you like it George. Thanks!
@Sudip: nice description! Thanks for the kind words 🙂
@Martin: thank you Martin! Me too 😉
@Meg: thanks for the compliment! And yes I will be 120 year old one day (at least).
Fantastic composition Johan Peijnenburg !
Sublime .
Wow Johan! As a few said before, the best B+W I have seen from you. Outstanding
Perfect composition my friend!
This is a superb, what am I saying, a perfect image! and I love the words your ski teacher told you….very inspirational and very true!
Excellent image Johan
I LOVE this. Personally I think it’s your best BW yet. 😉 3xA
Outstanding LE work Johan
Wonderful work Johan Peijnenburg
Beautifully done! Love the Alps peeping over the clouds.
This is nothing short of magical!! That LE water has the silkiest feel I have seen in a while!!
Great photo Johan! The rocks do a great job of leading you into the scene I really like it!
Great image Johan,
This is majestic, Johan, and a wonderful post to go with it. Yes, you can live to be 120 years old––the key to living that long is probably that you plan for it; most people forget to do that! ;oD
Love the soft look of the water here. Wonderful.
Beautiful!!!
Smart
Beautiful!
Great post & what a beautiful shot Johan. Hope you make it to 102 lol
great work Johan. i look forward to a LE workshop ;-)
Stunning shot Johan! Very surreal, the clouds almost seem like waves about to break over the icy calm lake onto the rocks. Lovely long exposure!
Brilliant shot!
Thanks Milena!!!
This is gorgeous Johan . The centered composition is wonderful and what a beautiful soft water and sky! Love it! :)
Thanks a lot Julia! Hey thought you were on a break :)
Oh yes, I was Johan, but it didn’t last long! I’m back now to admire your great shot here! :)
well I hope the short break helped 🙂 And thanks for stopping by !
Great shot Johan. Love the simplicity of this
thanks a lot Jim!!!
@Carsten: danke vielmals Carsten!
@Don:Thanks for the very kind words Don!
@Anette: Nah not that old. I just have my moments 😉 LE thingy will be in few months, so you have to be patient 🙂 Thanks Anette!
Patience I have, but will it before I go to Africa ? :)) Johan, will be gone end of Sept begining Oct.
not sure yet, but I think so!
man you are old :)) but I like very much your image. It tells me somehow that I need to invest a few more bucks in one more filter unless I start stacking them all on top and more and more and more, geeees when is this LE thingy due ?? :))
Wonderful image, love it Johan :))
Very rich photograph, Johan ,a masterpiece.
Very beautiful photo. The combination of the minimalistic foreground and the clouds and mountains in the background is fantastic.
@shane: thanks Shane! Glad you like the titel as well 🙂
@Emanuele: thank you for the compliment and for stopping by Emanuele 🙂
Love the vertical combination of the elements… It’s absolutely soft! Lovely work Johan !
stepping stones…PERFECT! that’s what I immediately thought of when I first saw this image. like I could run and jump to each one. love how the mountain is peeking through the layer of clouds. beautiful work my friend.
Fantastic composition Johan. Love this “3 steps” and this cloud line. Great work Johan.
thanks for the feedback and compliment Paul! Hope all is well in Austria!
@Pranab: thanks and nice to meet you 🙂
@Daniel: thanks Daniel. Always love it when part of the clouds are moving and others just sit there quietly :)
Great pleasure “meeting” you as well Johan . Hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet face to face someday in the future somewhere on this planet 🙂 In the mean time, I will look forward to seeing more of your fantastic photography as you capture them!
who knows. I will for sure try to keep posting stuff like this 🙂
Very lovely simplicity here…and those clouds are a great element as well. I like it!
This is simply fantastic,+Johan ! Love the linear visual separation between the water and the ground/mountain. And I am also digging the wonderfully diffused shadow of the foreground rock !!! Just amazing overall.
WoW Amazing work!
Thanks for the WoW Dawid :D
@Mark 😉 Thanks a bunch. Glad you like it!
@Grant: nice to see you around Grant. Thanks for the compliment.
Johan – This is a tranquil stunner, my friend!! The tones and comp are top notch!!
@Javier: muchas gracias 😀
Thanks Steve Hambley!
Wow! Absolutely stunning! Great work Johan Peijnenburg!
@Aidan: Thanks Aidan and nice to meet you!
@Pam: thanks for the compliment and the visit!
@Davorin: many thanks as as well Davorin. Hope you are doing well !!
This is really fabulous!
Fantastic shot!
Amazing!
Outstanding!!!
wonderful photo!
The mountain tops above the cloud line make this extra special.
Thanks Peter! And they were covered in the clouds 5 minutes later. Lucky me :)
An absolutely glorious photo Johan and I really appreciate the words in your post as well! I wouldn’t bet against you hitting 120 either! 🙂
Your photos are always a visual treat for me. (I did like this one on the black background I confess. 🙂 It helped to pull out and emphasise the tips of the alps for me.)
yes, this one definitely works well on black. As usual I do prefer it on white though 😉 Thanks for the compliment!
@Joel: I am blushing now Joel 🙂 Thanks!!! And I wasn’t sure yet if I was done with it …. guess you know the feeling 😉
@Yann: Many thanks Yann!
@Mike: Glad you like it !!
Haha Johan, yes I know exactly what you mean!
I love this Johan
Awesome shot!
That looks fantastic Johan! I think it’s one of your best LE B&W photos. The tonal gradations in the water and the silvery look of it are just fantastic. Great work!