Lake Hintersee & Islet

This image was taken along the north shore of Lake Hintersee, looking onto the small two-tree islet in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden. To reach this location, you'll need a car. Input Lake Hintersee into your GPS and then begin your journey to the lake. Once you're in the area, park your car in the nearby lot, which is called Parkplatz Seeklause (47.607673, 12.852116). Head northeast on Am See and then take a slight right toward the waterfront. Reference the GPS coordinates and you'll come to the exact spot where I stood to get this south-facing perspective of Lake Hintersee. Please note: a boat is the only way to get a person onto the island without getting too wet. There will be boats along the shore to rent if you want to send your model to the islet.

In order to photograph the green landscape, I recommend visiting Lake Hintersee in the summer. For reference, this photo was taken in August. Last winter I got the chance to take some photos after a heavy snow fall and I really liked it! Autumn is also great as the trees will have an amazing color.

Visit on an overcast day during the morning, midday and late afternoon for similar lighting conditions. Additionally, I enjoy visiting at sunrise and sunset because the lake is calm (perfect for reflection practice) and there aren't as many people visiting.

Try to use a wide-angle lens so you can capture the small islands in the lake.

You could also bring along a zoom lens to get closer to the mountain peaks — they are beautiful when you get a more detailed look!

Get lower to the shoreline to have some of the rocks in the foreground for an added sense of depth.

Having my model stand in the center of the photo allowed me to emphasize the symmetry within the shot.

I wanted my model to stand out, so I suggested that they wear yellow. The color popped against the more neutral surroundings.

If you want another subject in your photo, I recommend renting a boat and sending it out on the lake.

Travel with friends or family and enjoy a picnic along the shore of the lake.

You can also grab a bite to eat at Café Gelfart, which is next to the parking lot.

If you want to stay overnight, there are a few hotels, like Haus am See or Ferienwohnung Seepanorama, that are all withing walking distance from the photo location.