LEICA 35MM F1.2 NOCTILUX: THROUGH THE FOG TO THE TOP OF EUROPE

FOR THE PAST YEAR, THE 35MM F/1.2 NOCTILUX HAS BEEN A WHISPER AMONG THE INITIATED—A LENS OF MYTH AND RUMOR. THANKS TO MY FRIENDS AT LEICA SWITZERLAND, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STEP BEHIND THE GLASS.  

MY JOURNEY WAS ONE OF STARK CONTRASTS. I BEGAN IN THE QUIET, ETHEREAL SILENCE OF BIEL-BIENNE, WHERE A DENSE FOG OFFERED THE PERFECT CANVAS TO TEST THE LENS. FROM THOSE MUTED LOWLANDS, I ASCENDED TO THE JUNGFRAU REGION, FINDING MYSELF AMONG THE ANCIENT GLACIERS AT THE "TOP OF EUROPE."  

WHAT FOLLOWS IS A CURATED DOCUMENTATION OF THOSE FORTY-EIGHT HOURS: A TRANSITION FROM THE SOFT, VEILED MISTS OF THE VALLEY TO THE SHARP, CRYSTALLINE BRILLIANCE OF THE PEAKS. THIS IS THE 35MM NOCTILUX, WIDE OPEN AND ABOVE THE CLOUDS.