My 10 favourite places to photograph in the Wilder Kaiser region
Prachtvoller Sonnenaufgang von St. Johann i. T. aus geschossen
The Wilder Kaiser region in Tyrol attracts countless tourists to the region. Not only professional photographers are on the lookout for the most beautiful places, but also the rest are on the lookout for the best photo spots to then publish the pictures on social media or in the family album. If you're one of them, you've come to the right place. Here are my top 10 photo spots around the Wilder Kaiser. Have fun!
An article by Benedikt Jankowski from KAISER SHOTS
#10 Sunset in Ellmau
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If you like sunsets and are not looking for the standard places to take pictures, then this is exactly the right spot for you. In Ellmau, near the Marcher settlement, you can take exactly this photo. If you look northwest, the Scheffauer shows its most beautiful side.
Especially good conditions prevail in winter or spring, but this place is also recommended in summer when the sky is slightly cloudy. The golden hour, the last hour before the sun disappears, is simply wonderful to capture.
Hint: Don't try to photograph the entire emperor, but zoom in and find the spot that looks most interesting to you.
Für die gesamte Wanderung mit diesem und weiteren Fotospots, klicke auf den Button
#9 A different angle from the Prostalm
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Are you looking for idyllic Alpine landscapes and at the same time want to see the Wilder Kaiser from a different perspective? Then I recommend the Teufelsgassenrunde. The view from the Prostalm is especially beautiful.
You feel like you've been transported back to the 19th century with a seemingly endless alpine landscape. With all the trees and pastures, the Wilder Kaiser stands out wonderfully in the background and gives the picture that certain something. But to get to the place, a somewhat longer hike awaits you.
Hint: Here I would use a Circular Polar Filter, if available, to specifically enhance the blue tones. Also, zoom out and try to capture the entire expanse in one picture.
For the entire hike with this and other photo spots, click on the button
#8 Sunrise at the Walchsee lake
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Most people only know the front side with Ellmau, Scheffau, Going and Söll. But the back side also has its photo spots to offer. For me, Walchsee is always a wonderful place to take a leisurely but varied photo excursion.
I particularly like the opposite side of Walchsee, the village of the same name. At the campsite on the shore, you can take really great photos of the reed-covered eastern side of the lake early in the morning. A real miracle of colour.
Hint: Try to get as close to the water as possible. Maybe even take a pair of rubber boots and go into the lake for a bit. Believe me, it will be worth it!
For the entire hike with this and other photo spots, click on the button
#7 Splendid views from the Huberhöhe
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The Huberhöhe provided me with a positive surprise. It is right next to the mountain road and here you can see what a difference a few metres in altitude can make. From this height you can photograph the Wilder Kaiser from the side.
The undeveloped landscape and dreamlike nature of the Wilder Kaiser region enchants once again and I stayed in this place for at least half an hour. The Huberhöhe gives me a feeling of freedom and makes all my worries fade into the background.
Hint: To get more depth into the picture, I would go slightly behind the ridge and include the mountain flowers in the picture. Slightly blurred but still recognisable, a beautiful composition of this dreamlike mountain landscape is created.
For the entire hike with this and other photo spots, click on the button
#6 The idyllic view of the Jochstubn
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If you are looking for an idyllic picture with lake, alpine pasture and Wild Kaiser, then this is the top location for you. This photo spot just before the Jochstubn with its lake is not so easy to reach, but it is worth hiking up here, taking the photo and then simply enjoying the atmosphere.
You can reach the Jochstubn either on foot or by bike. I recommend the latter, as you are more mobile here and can also check out so many other photo spots. If you don't want to go all the way up, you can also take the gondola from Scheffau or Ellmau and then continue to Jochstubn See.
Hint: I wouldn't zoom out too far here. The ideal weather conditions are when it is slightly cloudy but windless, as the Wilder Kaiser is then reflected in the lake.
For the entire bike tour with this and other photo spots, click on the button
#5 The reflection of the Schlosserbergsee
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An idyllic reservoir is hidden in St. Johann; namely the Schlosserbergsee. As soon as you come up to the lake, you are offered this magnificent view. When there is no wind, the Wilder Kaiser is beautifully reflected and the rest of the alpine paradise also fits wonderfully into the picture.
The lake is accessible on foot and also by mountain bike. You can swim wonderfully in the lake itself and you also get a free wellness programme, as there are little fish that nibble off your old skin. Really relaxing!
Hint: At this point you shouldn't go too far down with the camera, otherwise too much of the Wilder Kaiser will be cut off. If necessary, you can stand on the benches to get a better angle. But please clean your shoes first.
For the entire hike with this and other photo spots, click on the button
#4 Wildlife photography made easy
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If, like me, you're not always the most patient person, then I recommend the Aurach Wildlife Park. Here, countless deer and roe deer run around, posing extremely photogenically for the camera. But other species like owls, goats and even lynxes can be observed as well as photographed here.
Yes, I understand that it is not exactly the clear definition of "wildlife photography" but hey...sometimes you just have to trick. Plus, the beautiful surroundings provide the perfect backdrop. On top of that, just outside the park entrance, you can see numerous rare as well as free-living birds.
Hint: Get there towards the end of visiting hours, because that's when the light is at its best and the sky colours up beautifully. I also recommend coming when the weather is foggy, as you can take really mystical photos of the animals.
For the entire gallery with this and other photo spots, click on the button
#3 Grießbachklamm's photo paradise
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As a hike itself, the Grießbachklamm is my number one. In this gorge or ravine, you can find a variety of highly interesting photo spots. My favourite spot here is the second wooden footbridge where you walk along the stream.
The slightly longer straight line, the high rock walls and the lush, drooping grass together make a beautiful composition. It is best to go two days after a heavy rain shower, as the colour of the stream has calmed down a bit, but the grasses and trees really shine in a lush green.
Hint: At the footbridge, I would get down on my knees and hold the camera really close to the ground. This makes the picture even more impressive and lets the wooden footbridge act as a wonderful guiding line.
For the entire hike with this and other photo spots, click on the button
#2 The Lieblingsplatzl bench at the Astbergsee
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Yes, this place might look familiar to you. It is one of the most photographed motifs on Instagram in relation to the region. The favourite Platzl bench. In general, the Astberg is THE paradise for reflection photos for me. Due to the elevations to the east and west of the lake, there is almost always no wind here.
This photo spot is also great for photos with people inside, so you can stick the picture in your album or hang it up at home as a nice souvenir. The Wilder Kaiser in the background with the fir trees is beautifully reflected in the water and besides the bench, there are so many other photo ideas here that you can find on my website.
Hint: Try to be there at sunrise or even before, as you need to prepare all the settings and angles. You have got around 45 minutes at best to capture your shots around the lake.
For the entire hike with this and other photo spots, click on the button
#1 The island of the Hintersteiner See
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For me, Hintersteiner See is one of the most beautiful mountain lakes I know. A leisurely round around the lake is done in about 1.5 hours and there are extremely many photo spots here. However, I have included a larger tour on my website. My absolute favourite spot is on the north side of the lake near the water. From here, in calm conditions, you can take perfect photos of the small island in the lake with the Kitzbüheler Horn or Kitzhorn.
In general, the crystal clear water and beautiful nature is an eye-catcher that you won't soon forget. So if you want to shoot a reflection photo with an interesting subject in the picture, this is the perfect place to do it.
Hint: Go there in the late afternoon as the winds calm down and the sky is more satturated. Then go as far down as you can capture the island still within the forest top.
For the entire hike with this and other photo spots, click on the button
Finally: A map with all photo spots at a glance
Here you will find a map with all the photo spots marked again. You can either click on the photo icons or open the bar at the top left with the individual points to click on. Have fun!
What about your opinion?
So, those were my top 10 favourite photo spots in the Wilder Kaiser region. It was not easy to compile this list, because on the one hand there are so many photo spots and on the other hand I have by no means discovered or explored all the treasures of places to photograph.
Therefore, I would like to ask you: If you know of more beautiful places or have comments on my photo spots, please let me know in the comments. I would also be happy if you could tell me whether this article was helpful for you.
You can find more information and hikes on my website KAISER SHOTS.
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