Islands in Lake Eibsee

In the deep blue water of Lake Eibsee lie eight or nine small islands, depending on how you count them, fringed with turquoise and crowned in autumn with groups of trees glowing in yellow and red. In the afternoon, the Schwarze Wand and Blaue Wand – steep mountain slopes with rocks and mountain forest on the western shore – lie in the shade, forming a dark backdrop to the autumnal colours of Ludwigsinsel, which is still bathed in bright sunshine.

On this unusually warm October day, a fresh wind is still blowing in the morning, so small waves prevent any reflection of the magnificent landscape. In these conditions, I prefer to experiment with long exposures to create a smooth surface and motion blur effects. In this dry year, the water level of Lake Eibsee has also dropped so far that Braxen Island can be reached on foot via a spit of land. 

Besides photographers, hikers and walkers, the sunny weather also attracts numerous stand-up paddlers to Lake Eibsee, who then head for the secluded islands for a rest or to sunbathe. The bay with a view of Braxen Island and the Zugspitze is a popular photo spot. There is a large rock in the bay – I call it the Instagram rock – where people often pose in a wide variety of outfits and dresses.

From the north shore, I look out at Maximiliansinsel in front of the steeply rising, shady north faces of the Wetterstein Mountains with the summit of the Zugspitze. The deciduous trees form colourful splashes in the dark coniferous forest – however, the larches have not yet taken on their autumn colours; their golden hue will only be visible in the coming days or weeks. Another reason to drop by Lake Eibsee again at a different time for different experiences and impressions.