opening a bottle photography

Standing in the Swiss town of Lauterbrunnen — at an elevation of 2,608 feet — its impossible to miss the presence of the mighty mountains around you. Sheer cliffs rise from the valley floor, waterfalls plunge in all directions, and even in a total fog, there is a feeling of something massive looming over you. That something is the Jungfrau, a 13,642-foot summit — a little more than 11,000 feet of vertical in just 5 miles. Over in Zermatt, the Matterhorn dominates in similar fashion, and yet, it is one of 16 peaks in the area that top 14,000 feet. The sheer scale of Switzerland’s Alps cannot be appreciated from afar. This portfolio covers the cities of Lucerne and Zürich; the Berner Oberland (including Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Eiger and Jungfrau); and Zermatt and it surroundings, especially the Matterhorn.

World-famous among wine aficionados — but little known outside that realm — Germany’s Mosel River wine region is a scenic wonder of impossibly steep vineyards, hilltop castles and half-timbered villages. Exploring the river’s many bends (and tasting its many wines) was more than just an enjoyable trip — it was a first-taste of my German ancestry. This portfolio centers on the towns of Bernkastel-Keus, Cochem, Beilstein, Ürzig, Bremm, Ediger-Eller, Senheim and Senhals as well as one of Europe’s best preserved and spectacular castles — Burg Eltz.

Travel stock photography and fine-art prints of wine culture in France. Includes: Beaujolais, City of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Paris and Provence. All rights reserved. ©Kevin Day

This collection of photos emphasizes the beauty of vineyards, wineries and the grapes that create magical wine. For other prints, view my galleries in France, Italy, Germany, California and Oregon.