Engadin: Photograph golden larches

During larch season, the tripods sometimes outnumber the trees along the famous lake shores of the Engadin. We’re going somewhere else: somewhere quiet where the light is good. Whether you shoot with a smartphone or a DSLR is beside the point. What matters is what you see. **Morning: sharpening the eye** We meet at 10 a.m. in Pontresina and stroll gently into one of the side valleys of the Bernina region. Which valley we choose depends on the morning light, weather and snow conditions. At our first stops we watch what the light is doing and hunt for images you won’t find on every postcard. At midday we picnic at a spot where you’ll want to linger. **Afternoon: developing your own ideas** Now everyone works on their own subjects. Your guide stands beside you, offering tips and searching for perspectives that haven’t been photographed a thousand times before. **Closing: the golden hour by the water** Finally we wait at a waterside spot for the last light. If the wind cooperates, there are reflections; if not, there’s still light. We head back by headlamp, and a thermos of something warm is now worth its weight in gold. **What you take away** You’ll recognize good light before it arrives and already be in the right place. You’ll consciously compose images with foregrounds, lines and reflections instead of just pointing and shooting. You’ll know the key tricks for shooting autumn and backlight with any camera or smartphone. And you’ll go home with a handful of pictures you actually want to show—and an idea of how to find new spots yourself. **For whom?** For anyone who loves being outdoors and wants to take better photos, whatever gear they use. If you’ve been photographing for a while, this is a day about finding subjects and working with light rather than f-stops and ISO. For deeper camera and filter techniques, see the two-day alpine landscape photography workshop at beanywhere.ch. **Requirements** About 15 km and up to 800 m of elevation on good trails spread over a full day with 4–5 hours of relaxed walking and plenty of stops. The pace is set by the light, not the clock. Snow on golden larches isn’t a reason to cancel—it’s the best subject of the year. **Prices** CHF 240 per person in a small group. Prefer it just for you or you and a friend? A private day costs CHF 550 flat for one or two people, with date, pace and route tailored to your wishes. **Your guide** Falko Burghausen of beAnywhere is an internationally awarded landscape photographer and aspiring mountain guide. His fine-art prints from the Engadin and further photography workshops are at beanywhere.ch.