Michael Kastl Photography

Tag: nature

  • Jaw dropping moment, still can’t believe it

    After last weeks massive sun flares, polar lights were predicted for the weekend. Even down to central Europe. I first saw a glimmer at 10 PM and instantly took a photo with my phone in night mode. That was the jaw dropping moment. Did I really witnessed polar lights for the first time in my life? The whole photo had a violet glow on it.
    I instantly went up, set up my DSLR and took some more pictures out of the roof top window. Amazing. I frequently checked the situation throughout the next hours.
    Around 1 AM the whole sky was glowing and those typical “columns” were visible by naked eye. Awesone! I grabbed my gear and went out to have a wider view and less light polution. This is what I got. Happy with the outcome and another tick off my bucket list: polar lights.

     

  • Smoke tree awesomeness in 2023

    It was time again, the autumn colour [paradise] had been painted. Like every year, just georgeous.

    I did an upgrade of my gear in September last year. This was the first time I went out with my Sigma 17-50 2.8 lens. I always wanted a wide-aperture lens on short focal length and so far, I am happy with it.

     

  • Achadas da Cruz

    Achadas da Cruz, located on Madeiras west coast. Accessible by a steep cable car from a 450m high cliff.

     

  • Ponta de São Lourenço

    Ponta de São Lourenço. Different spot on Madeira, another magnificient view. This time over the most eastern part.

  • Fairy Forest

    Old laurel trees, known as the “Fairy Forest” of Fanal. Perfect weather for strolling through and taking pictures.

  • Jungle walk

    A picture of a Levada winding through jungle like nature along the mountainside. There is often just a small footpath next to Levada to hike along. Makes meeting other hikers interesting sometimes.

  • Breathtaking

    Another shot taken during Levada hiking on Madeira. They call it the European Hawaii. Never been to Hawaii but Madeira is just breathtaking.

  • Cascata Levada do Rei

    Madeira is amazing. Just follow one of the many Levadas and hike along. A new surprise around every corner. In this photo: Cascata Levada do Rei.

  • Smoke tree awesomeness

    As all the years before, autumn paints this hillside red. And again, it’s just gorgeous.

  • #loveusedom


    From a trip to Usedom island in September this year.

    Or as “Swagger” once adapted the well known “Westerland” song:
    “Oh, ich hab solche Sehnsucht.
    Ich verliere den Verstand!
    Ich will wieder an die Ostsee, ohoho.
    Ich will zurück nach Usedom!”