Photohike "Bergischer Amazonas" – Jungle Trails, Waterscapes & the Magic of Butterflies 🌿🦋
- Lars-Henrik Roth
- 20. Juli
- 3 Min. Lesezeit
Aktualisiert: 17. Okt.
What a morning!
The day began with cool, damp air hanging over the parking lot in Witzhelden – a promising start to a photogenic adventure. Moments after locking the car, we stood at the threshold of another world. The trail into the Hammersbach valley led straight into a lush, almost tropical-looking forest. Mosses, ferns, mist hovering above the stream – it felt like stepping into another climate zone.
Jungle in the Bergisches Land? Yes, really.
The narrow path twisted through the tight valley. Fallen trees, slippery stones, the constant murmur of the creek – a setting where every step begged to be captured. I carried the R6 Mark II with the ultra-wide-angle lens across my chest – the perfect setup to convey the closeness and depth of this scene. A CPL filter helped tame the light and made the greens glow.Jule focused mostly on filming this time – which made sense, as the subjects were all in motion: water, leaves, flickering light.
Suddenly: Distance and Stillness
Leaving the valley, light broke through the canopy. Suddenly, there was space – fields, hills, a hint of distant views. Our goal: a lookout over the Sengebach reservoir. But: fenced off! No access, no lakeside photo. So we improvised, heading uphill again. There – a narrow trail through waist-high grass. And then: finally – a panorama. The reservoir, framed in deep green forest, quiet and almost mystical.
The forest calls – and flies.
What followed was a dense, almost ancient-feeling forest path. The ground was soft, the light diffused. I switched to the R7 with the 24–240mm – time for some telephoto work.As we approached the Wupper river, the light turned harsher, but also clearer. The river showed itself only briefly – the path quickly climbed again. And then came the magic.
Butterflies in the Light
Between blackberry hedges and wildflowers, they suddenly filled the air: butterflies – dozens of them!We stood still for minutes, just watching, drifting, photographing. I switched to burst mode, raised the ISO – this moment was too precious to miss. These are the moments where your gear either rises to the occasion or lets you down. Today, everything worked perfectly.
Uphill Like in the Alps
The final climb toward the Lukasweg was unexpectedly steep and rocky – almost alpine.Carrying two cameras, a tripod, filters and water, I suddenly felt every gram. But at the top, a quiet, enchanted finale awaited us:An ancient beech forest, tangled with ivy, so silent and magical you could hear every creak of the trees. A scene straight out of a fantasy film.
Back to the Now
The final stretch led gently downhill again – a soft landing after a hike full of contrasts: moisture, heat, distance, closeness, light, shadow.It was a tour that offered everything – and challenged us photographically.And that’s exactly why we do this.
🟢 Highlights:
The tropical feeling of the Hammersbach jungle
Wide views over the Sengebach reservoir
Dense, mystical forests with ivy-covered beeches
Butterfly meadow full of macro moments
Alpine-style climb to the Lukasweg ridge
📸 Photography Tips:
In the moist valley: Use a CPL filter for rich colors & reflections
Butterflies: Burst mode, fast shutter speeds (min. 1/1000 s), raise ISO
Ivy forest: Try bracketing – very high dynamic range
Ultra-wide angle for depth in the Hammersbach valley
Reservoir panorama only accessible via small detour
💡 Special Tip:
The butterfly section is right before the final climb to Lukasweg – be there around 9–10 am when the sun lights up the clearing. Wings dancing in backlight – pure magic.
🔎 Want to Discover More?
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