THE FURKA PASS
SWITZERLAND
IMAGE NUMBER 1082
The Furka pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.431m, located in one of the snowiest regions in Switzerland. It’s one of the world's most iconic and exciting drives, through the Swiss Alps. The pass was featured in the Aston DB5 / Ford Mustang car chase in James Bond's Goldfinger. It's one of the highest mountain roads in the Alps. Countless tourists are attracted by the mountain panorama, the Rhone Glacier with its ice grotto, and attractive options for recreation. The drive offers many excellent photo opportunities, including stunning views through twisty hair pin corners, high elevations and steep grades. The Furka Pass also takes you within a few hundred meters of the Rhone Glacier, source of the Rhone river.
This image also features the remarkable Valais Blacknose sheep, native to the pass. (see images 1081 and 1081a). The image embodies their extreme alpine environment.
TECHNICAL NOTES
The image was taken with a hand-held Phase One 645XF Camera at ISO 200. Exposure of 1/800th of a second and an aperture of F5.6. Schneider Kreuznach 150mm lens with leaf shutter. The image was captured on a Phase One IQ3 100 megapixel digital back.