Blog
Magnolia 2026
My long-term photography experiment with the magnolia tree in our garden is entering its 13th round.
This year I deliberately decided to shoot with two very different cameras – on the one hand with the Sony a1 and long focal lengths (70 – 640mm) and on the other hand with the Leica M EV1 with the Light Lens Lab 1.2/50mm «1966» – a kind of re-edition of the legendary M Noctilux 1.2/50mm from 1966
Sony a1 with long focal lengths
Leica M EV1 with the Light Lens Lab 1.2/50mm «1966»
2025
Leica SL3
2024
iPhone 15 Pro max
2023
Leica SL2 with the two prime lenses SL 35 mm and SL 90 mm
I limited myself to two prime lenses.
2022
Leica S3, Leica SL2, Sony a1
For the first time, I took photos with more than one camera. Variety is the spice of life;-).
2021
Leica SL2
I missed the peak of 2021. Therefore, the yield was relatively meager.
2020
Leica SL2
2019
Fujfilm GFX100
2018
Leica CL
2017
Panasonic GH5
2016
Leica SL
The Leica SL was definitely a boost for my photography. Mirrorless photography with targeted over- and underexposure was (and still is) an ingenious experience. Furthermore, the only lens available at the beginning – the SL 24-90mm – has a quality that I previously only knew from prime lenses in the 35mm DSLR range.
2015
Nikon D810
2014
Nikon D810
My picture in the Himalayan Museum
One of my pictures made it to the Himalayan Museum and Sustainable Park near Everest Base Camp
I have already taken photographs several times at Nepal's first and for a long time only PET recycling plant. The symbolic image above is one of my favorite photos because it tells a story in one frame: the starting material, the gloves that symbolize the recycling work, and the finished recycled granules.
Prakash Barati, the head of Himalayan Life Plastics, has now sent me two pictures showing that this picture is in Himalayan Museum and Sustainable Park in Syangboche was used to illustrate the recycling process on the way to Everest Base Camp. In addition, Himalayan Life has placed the photo on a booklet that they are handing over to the staff. It's cool that one of my pictures is taking such a trip.
A small note for those interested in photography: I took the picture with the Leica SL and the Vario Elmarit 2.8-4.0/24-90 mm.
You can learn more about Nepal's first PET recycling plant in this short video:
Feedback from the portrait photography course
Enthusiastic participants in the portrait photography course in Ticino. Maybe you'll be there next time too?
For the first time, I conducted a weekend course on portrait photography at Casa Moscia in the canton of Ticino. And I am overwhelmed by the great feedback from the participants.
«The courses at Peter's will immerse you in the world of photography. Content is conveyed in an understandable, lively and diverse way. The participants' different backgrounds of experience are skillfully addressed, and in an appreciative atmosphere, every question can be asked and everything can be tried out. Warning: Expect to be infected by the enthusiasm for photography!»
Rachel
Photo: Michael Brunner
Photo: Timna Kieser
Photo: Pavel Kraus
The courses are not only about diving deeper into photography, but also about having a good time together as a group and inspiring each other. Michael sums this up in his feedback:
«The portrait photography course in a completely new location is extremely inspiring. The unknown environment and a new environment make it special. Collaboration and exchange with the committed and interested course participants is also stimulating. Not only does the course take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but you are also in conversation outside the course room, making the course an experience. I was able to take a lot of the talent for photographing all participants and bring it into my perspective of photography.»
Michael
Each person stood in front of and behind the camera – this also gave all participants the feeling of what it was like to stand in front of the camera. I was particularly pleased with Timna's feedback in this regard:
Thanks to Peter Schäublin's leadership, you could try it out and step out of your usual comfort zone – be it when taking photos yourself, editing images or even testing yourself as a model in front of the camera. Peter's calm and open manner automatically encouraged one to try new things and thus significantly expanded one's repertoire.
Timna
To ensure that the content taught is not simply developed in gray theory, we try out what we have learned in practice. We experimented with different light sources – from daylight with and without brighteners to artificial light and lightning, and we also used different backgrounds. This diversity is appreciated and gives all participants the opportunity to experiment.
Your instructions, the lighting and background material opened a new window for me.
Rolf
Here is a small picture gallery with photos that the participants have taken – from classical to experimental, with and without additional light sources. All photos © by Beat, Daniel, Helene, Michael, Pascal, Pavel, Rolf, Timna and Rahel, who also created the large introductory picture in the article.
Would you also like to discover or deepen photography?
I regularly conduct photography courses and individual training courses in Ticino, Schaffhausen or –for individual training courses– at the location of your choice. You can find information about this in the chapter «Training».