A SUMMER WITH ME

A Documentary Photo Essay for Werde Magazin

A documentary photo series from the Swiss Alps.

This photo essay captures the journey of shepherdess Marlene Kelnreiter, who tends a flock of 320 sheep at an altitude of 2,300 meters.

Published by Werde Magazine | Text by Marlene Kelnreiter

After years of working as a dairymaid and cheesemaker, Marlene Kelnreiter was looking for a new experience and hired on as a shepherdess for 320 Valais Blacknose sheep at an altitude of 2,300 meters. Her plan was to trade the familiar cheese dairy for the vastness and silence of the mountains.

However, reality on the high plateau quickly showed its rough side. Instead of an alpine idyll, she was met with a very spartan stone hut without any comforts, physically demanding work building fences, and rugged terrain. While the flock of sheep moved effortlessly across the steepest cliffs, Marlene had to learn to conquer the mountain step by step. Over time, the shepherdess, dog, and herd grew into a tight-knit unit.

The summer also brought practical challenges, from caring for sick animals to dealing with weeks of isolation far outside her comfort zone. Living alone in the mountains showed Marlene that she can manage demanding situations entirely on her own. At the same time, the quiet life in the Alps brought a clear realization: while she had the strength for the wilderness, she also rediscovered her desire for a more connected, gentler everyday life.