Capturing the Swiss Passes on Portra 400

There’s something timeless about Switzerland’s alpine landscapes—the way the jagged peaks cut into the sky, the endless ribbons of winding roads, and the serene, glassy lakes that seem to hold the reflection of eternity. My recent trip to Andermatt was an ode to this breathtaking terrain, a journey through the heart of the Alps, capturing the essence of the Grimsel, Susten, and Furka passes.

Armed with a Nikon F and a roll of Kodak Portra 400, I relied on the Sunny 16 rule to embrace the simplicity of shooting film. No digital previews, no safety nets—just instinct, light, and a mechanical masterpiece in my hands.

These passes, legendary for their sweeping views and cinematic hairpin turns, offered an endless palette of textures and tones, from the golden glow of mountain grasses to the moody blues of shadowed valleys.

Every frame felt like a meditation, a balance between the technical constraints of film and the raw, untamed beauty of the Swiss Alps. What follows is a collection of those moments—a visual narrative of three iconic passes and a journey that felt both retro and refreshingly real, framed one shutter click at a time.