Instagram: rugged Switzerland through the lens of @mountains_rocks
Switzerland still has landscapes untouched by human activity, where the animal world prevails and a golden silence endures. It is one of the things we all love about Switzerland, and it is what inspired Dylan Nicolier to populate his Instagram account @mountains_rocks with images that prove that photographed from any angle Switzerland's beauty never fails to stop you in your tracks.
Dylan's images have such impact not only because he is a talented photographer but also because they testify to a love of nature. At 22, the young man hopes to make it as a photographer and is already making a name for himself on social media (@mountains_rocks is also active on Facebook and snapchat). Meet an enthusiast who spends every spare minute capturing his region and Switzerland through the lens of his camera.
A masterclass among forum veterans
Dylan Nicolier took up photography five years ago, sharing his work on specialist forums as a way to improve his technique. "It was very technical and allowed me to make rapid progress. I learned as I went along from comments from specialists and photography lovers." Still an apprentice photographer, he began to wonder how his photos would be received by the public. Instagram, an online platform for sharing images with viewers attentive to quality, seemed the ideal way to find out.
Sharing on social media
Dylan jumped straight in, launching @mountains_rocks without a word to friends, family or acquaintances. "I wanted to see how big it could get, to use hashtags rather than rely on the people I know." It seems he got it right – his Instagram account gradually found an audience and nowadays young photographer from Château-d’Œx can count on more than 16,500 followers.
Inspired by Château d’Œx and the surrounding countryside
Having lived in the Pays d’Enhaut region since he was a child, Dylan feels privileged to live in proximity to nature. He may have the mountains in his blood, but his passion for photography came later. "When I was little I read an article for children about wildlife film-makers. I fell in love with the idea but it wasn't until years later when I was about 17 that I took up photography."
A drafter in an architecture firm during the day, Dylan leads a double life, turning image hunter after hours. Although he enjoys his day job, he hopes that like Mr Hyde, Dr Jekyll's alter ego in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, his nocturnal activities will one day get the upper hand.
The mountains, his only limit
Followers quickly notice that Dylan Nicolier's base camp is in Château-d’Œx. Some of his images are taken on the way home from work. "I'm always on the lookout. As soon as I'm in the car, out walking or running in the mountains, I try to imagine the photos I could take." But the popular instagrammer is also looking to expand his repertoire. "I'm enjoying getting out of my comfort zone and entering unknown territory". He has many projects in store, such as visiting the region surrounding Switzerland's famous Aletsch Glacier.
Dylan's photos betray nothing of certain constraints imposed by the natural beauty they capture. "I leave very early to get the best light. Sometimes I even spend the night camping on the mountain to make the most of this beautiful natural environment and to give others the chance to share it." That's when from time to time he'll be lucky enough to cross paths with sheep, wild foxes or young ibex locking horns in the early morning.
To finish, Dylan Nicolier lets us in on one of his secrets. "I don't set myself any limits and I take advantage of any opportunity that comes my way"... to the delight of all of his followers on social media!
