About me · Behind the Lens

Behind | the lens.

Photography out of passion – for about ten years now, preferably outdoors in nature.

Jonatan «Jönu» Müller · Thun, Switzerland

Portrait of Jonatan «Jönu» Müller — Jonatan «Jönu» Müller

“Driven to capture the stunning beauty of our nature and landscapes in photographs …”

01 · Background

Growing up among canvases

Thanks to my father’s profession as a painter (visit his website), I came into contact with art, and painting in particular, very early in my childhood. Besides my father’s works in our own studio, my siblings and I got to see the works of Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Picasso and many others in museums on numerous cultural trips.

As a child I wasn’t always excited about all those museum visits. But my parents’ passion for art shaped me early on, without my noticing.

02 · Path

From pencil to camera

Drawing – animals above all – quickly became one of my favourite pastimes. I spent hours putting my observations on paper with pencil and paint. Later I discovered graffiti and lettering and filled sketchbook after sketchbook.

Looking back, I probably spent most of those museum visits in the photography rooms. I have been doing photography myself for about ten years, and very intensively for the past five.

03 · Motivation

Capturing the moment

What fascinates me most about photography is the chance to capture a moment “forever”. Outdoors, nature decides the timing: a scene can’t be recreated and perfectly lit like in a studio. Miss the moment – and it’s gone.

Photography lets me experience nature much more intensely. I now notice plants and animals I would have overlooked before.

04 · Approach

How my images are made

Many of my landscapes are taken during the golden or blue hour, often from a tripod and with ND filters for longer exposures – “The Path” on the Augstmatthorn, for example, with two seconds at f/11. For animals I switch to a long telephoto lens and a fast shutter speed so that eyes and expression stay sharp.

05 · Outdoors

On the road

Home is Thun, with the Bernese Oberland on my doorstep. My camera has also travelled with me to Norway and New Zealand. When I’m not taking pictures, I go hiking, snowboarding, paddleboarding or play hockey – ideally with family and friends.

Gear