Lonely cow in the Alps | Switzerland | travel photography by Laura Dijkslag

I love to go on long hikes during my holidays and I always drag my camera along, despite the weight because you never know what you might encounter. During this hike I came across a herd of cows, long before I saw them I could hear the bells in the mist. They are brown and white cows with a white head, a breed of cattle called simmentaler. I shot many images that morning of which this is one of them. This picture appealed to me because the cow is isolated and the mist in the background makes the mountains disappear, making it a very small world.

With this work you bring the outside in, it fits into almost any interior with both dark, light and natural colours. It looks great in the hall, bedroom or toilet. The work would also do well as photo wallpaper.

The Simmentaler, with its brown and white coat and characteristic white head, is an iconic sight in the Swiss Alps. Originating from the Simmental valley, this breed lives mainly on alpine pastures, where the cows graze on rich mountain land full of wild herbs and flowers. Their muscular build and sturdy legs make them ideally suited to the rugged terrain and steep slopes of the mountains. The Simmentaler often wears a traditional bell around its neck, the sound of which echoes through the valleys. These bells help shepherds locate their flocks and add a nostalgic charm to the picturesque Swiss mountain landscape.