The Hunt for The White Narcissus Flowers | Montreux, Switzerland
Losing my creativity
I’m going to take you on a journey. One that involves trying to find something very important to me… my creativity.
Ever since I started blogging I noticed a change in the way I approached photography. It had become a job. A carefully planned shot list that was dependent on efficient timing and dumb luck.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but my photography was becoming a tool for my blog. I knew I ran this risk when I started; in fact, most people do when they try to turn a passion into a profession.
So there I was, in Montreux, Switzerland. As usual, I had planned a packed day with scheduled activities. Along with those activities was the anxiety of capturing them - in an interesting and unique way.
So I made a decision. I would cancel all my plans and go on a hike. I would also leave behind my friends and brave it, alone.
This is the story of my hunt for the narcissus flowers and most importantly, my creativity.
The Narcissus Trail
It was an early-morning train ride from Montreux to the trailhead in Les Avants. The plan was to hike the 2-hour narcissus trail. It was the end of May, which was peak blooming season for the narcissi. This season is playfully called the “neige de mai” (May snowfall) by the locals. I was expecting green meadows, covered in a white blanket of flowers.
Instead, it was a gloomy morning and as the train ascended into the mountains, the visibility only got worse. That white blanket of flowers was instead a blanket of fog, covering the villages below.
But on I continued, taking the funicular to the trailhead.
Then into the forest.
Melancholia
I’ve always loved melancholy. I prefer grey skies over blue, minor keys vs. major and bass over soprano. So when mist entered the forest, creating a chill in the air, it actually brought a tear to my eye.
The faded colours, the loneliness, it gave me an overwhelming sense of calm and oddly, happiness. The fact that I was alone, witnessing something so beautiful, made me excited to be a photographer. After the busy cities of Rome and Florence, I could finally breath. It was a feeling I had been missing for a while.
I found myself crawling on the ground and distorting my body in search of new angles. I looked for pockets of light and interesting textures.
I loved the dark trees, surrounded by the light haze and the straight trunks which stood beside contorted roots.
I walked slowly, I took my time.
The Narcissus path is known for several beautiful vistas that overlook Lake Geneva but the abundance of mist meant I had no visibility below.
Old me, with my shot list, would have been irked by this but the calm and creative Natasha just shrugged it off and was thankful for the unique conditions.
And Then, there they were
I was nearing the end of my hike. It had taken me closer to 4 hours with all the stopping.
Even though I thought to myself, “wow, what an incredible display of nature”, I was somewhat disappointed to have had not yet seen a single narcissus flower.
Then, just as if she’d heard me, Mother Nature said, “hold my beer”...
“Like clock work, the mist faded away, revealing Lake Geneva and Swiss meadows filled with blooming narcissi. ”
Learning from nature
The scenery instantly changed to a richly-saturated landscape, filled with vibrant colours and open, rolling hills. I finished the hike, thrilled with what I had witnessed and feeling good about the photography I took.
If there’s one thing I learned from this experience, it’s to never lose sight of why I have passions.
For me, travel photography shouldn’t be about a shot list but rather seeking moments that inspire me. Then the photos will naturally follow.
I just have to keep reminding myself:
“it’s ok to say, “fuck it” to the plans. Do what you enjoy and not what you’re expected to do.”
