Milky Way on Mount Pilatus: a Night above Lucerne

Mount Pilatus is a mountain you see almost every day from Lucerne. At night, that familiar view changes completely. The contours become quieter, the rocks stand out more clearly, and above the landscape a sky appears that remains hidden during the day.

Waiting until the mountain becomes quiet

For this series, the Milky Way was not the only important element. What mattered just as much was the moment when Mount Pilatus felt quieter after dark. Buildings, paths and rock edges remain visible, but they no longer dominate the scene. This restraint is what makes night photography on Mount Pilatus especially interesting to me.

The Milky Way as part of the landscape

I did not want to show the Milky Way as an isolated sky image, but as part of a specific place. Mount Pilatus gives the night sky a clear anchor: rock, mountain buildings, paths and the distant lights of Central Switzerland form the frame. The result is not only an image of the stars, but a landscape photograph with depth, direction and a connection to Lucerne.

Photographing between darkness and light

Photographs like these require patience. The available light is limited, while the artificial lights on the mountain must not become too dominant. I am drawn to exactly this balance: enough light to keep the place readable, but enough darkness for the structure of the Milky Way to remain visible.

Why this night stays with me

For me, this series is shaped by the contrast between closeness and distance. Mount Pilatus is familiar, almost self-evident in the landscape around Lucerne. Under the Milky Way, it suddenly feels different: quieter, wider and more reduced to its forms. This shift in perspective is why I look for nights like this photographically.

Image selection for this story

More photographs from this series are available in the complete gallery.

View the complete gallery