Observe. Decide. Stick with it.
“Glaciers are our planet's thermometers. They relentlessly show us the consequences of climate change.”
The Idea
For over a decade, I've been photographing the glaciers of the Swiss Alps. At first, it was pure fascination – their immense size, the quiet, the light on the ice. Then came the awe at how fragile these giants are. And eventually, the realization: once you've seen this change with your own eyes, you can't look away.
This project came from a simple belief: when you see reality clearly, you make better decisions. And once you've made a decision, you need the strength to follow through.
The Project
Since 2023, high-resolution cameras have been permanently installed at over 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet) on Diavolezza in Engadin. A new image is captured every 30 minutes – day and night, summer and winter. The view looks directly at Piz Palü, Piz Bernina, and the Pers and Morteratsch glaciers.
This has created a publicly accessible archive with over 30,000 images. No selection, no filters. The camera simply shows what's there.
The goal isn't activism. The goal is visibility.
It's not my job as a photographer to explain what causes these changes – that's for science to figure out.
But making the change itself visible, precisely and over long periods, that's something I can do. This project is planned for at least ten years.
Why Glaciers Affect All of Us
Glaciers are more than just ice. They're part of a connected system – water cycles, alpine biodiversity, permafrost, tourism, infrastructure, cultural heritage. What happens to glaciers has effects far beyond the mountains: on water supply, habitats, and the economies of entire regions.
Real Images in an Artificial Age
In a time when AI-generated images are almost impossible to tell apart from real ones, the value of authentic documentation is growing. What can we believe in the future – and what can't we? Nature shows us. It has no political agenda, and it's not curated by algorithms. That's why we need clear, fact-based images – so we as a society can make meaningful decisions in the long run.
#consideryourimpact
Everything we do has an impact. Not just on the climate – on everything. How we treat people. How we make decisions. How we manage resources. How we lead, work, consume. Every action has consequences, whether we see them or not.
Glaciers make this principle visible – slowly, unstoppably, and without excuses. Thousands of small decisions over decades shape the landscape we see today. In the same way, thousands of small decisions shape our lives, our relationships, our society.
Inspiration is Just the Beginning
1.5 seconds of attention on social media isn't enough. Real change needs more. It needs that moment when you truly look. It needs the willingness to make a decision. And then it needs the hardest thing of all: endurance. The discipline to stick with a decision, even when that initial enthusiasm fades.
Nature shows us how it's done. A glacier doesn't move with grand gestures. It moves slowly, steadily, over decades. It doesn't know hype or quarterly thinking. It follows the laws of physics, not the trends of the day.
I don't want to lecture anyone with my pictures. I want to inspire – to make more conscious decisions. And to work hard towards the goals that come from those decisions.
Who's Behind It
Jürg Kaufmann is a Swiss photographer based in Thun and Zurich. After ten years in corporate consulting, he decided to follow his passion for mountains and the sea.
Over the past 15 years, he has photographed several Olympic Games, the America’s Cup, mountain expeditions, and glaciers throughout the Swiss Alps. For eight years, he was also the official photographer for the Patrouille des Glaciers—the world’s toughest ski mountaineering race, which traverses the glaciated high Alps from the Upper Valais to the Lower Valais. His work appears in international media and in private and public collections worldwide.
Glaciers.Today is his longest-running project to date—planned to last at least 10 years.
What You Can Do
Every contribution, no matter how small, helps keep the cameras running, maintain the archive, and further develop the project.
Support the project — Donations from CHF 50
Everything we do has an impact—always.
