"Capture Alpine Beauty, Power and Emotions that Make Up their Essence with Rigor and Dedication."

Thomas Crauwels

A Few Words
Thomas Crauwels

"I live at the service of these impetuous guardians of the eternal snows. Watching their light, vibrating to the rhythm of their beauty has become second nature. I like to live these moments of contemplation of panoramas both frozen and changing, which feed me with their greatness.

In these moments, I taste peace and melt into the landscape. When the clouds are absent, when my gaze goes on forever and I can let my inspiration flow freely. Without any particular goal. Just to live. To let myself be carried.

At other times, I become a truth hunter. I look for the ephemeral moments. The coming storm. The elements colliding. The wind, the air, the rock, creating a chaos that engulfs me in intense and intoxicating sensations. These minutes where I hold my breath so much they are nimbered of a perfection which exceeds me and carries me in a different space. A space that my eye and its accomplice, my camera, know how to capture. Suddenly, everything calms down. Just after the fin of the world, the revelation of another world arrives. Before my amazed gaze, my senses on the alert, the clouds are torn apart like the curtain rises on a new show. The highest summits are adorned with another light, a new contrast.

Nature creates before my eyes. Trembling with an inner joy, I try to capture impermanence. It is like a miracle always renewed. Just after the storm, when the first rays of sunlight illuminate the peaks with their royal light.

My daily life is punctuated by the study of weather forecasts. Detecting the approach of the forces of nature. A subtle alliance between intuition and the rational study of the elements. I am at one with nature, who is the chief creative artist...and I the humble craftsman.

Mixture of experience and naivety, dancing alchemy of summits and elements, fusion between nature and the human being that I am. Who am I in front of all this? A stardust, present, vibrating, panting in the heart of the mystery of life. I aspire to the mastery of the moment which however escapes...

In the end, should I really try to control the moment? When I have everything in place with rigor and yet failure looms, I let my heart speak. And then, sometimes, the miracle happens. This miracle that floods me with joy. I am happy to share with you some of the nuggets I brought back from these journeys to the end of my dreams...

My quest for an ever-renewed perfection, nature has offered it to me so that I can offer it to you in turn. I hope you will have as much pleasure in dreaming in front of these photos as I had in looking for the perfect moment, the right moment.

Thomas Crauwels

Exhibitions
Thomas Crauwels

Exhibition
Location
Year
Collective Exhibitions - Until December 15
Hotel Beau Rivage - Geneva
Currently
Villars-sur-Ollon
Currently
Val d'Anniviers - St-Luc
Currently
St. Moritz
Currently
Val d'Anniviers - Chandolin
Currently
Val d'Anniviers - St-Jean
Currently
artistic black and whiter mountain image Mont Blanc massif

High Mountain Photography in Black and White.

Between Beauty, Majesty and Purity : Thomas Crauwels invites us on a grandiose and authentic journey to meet these giants of snow and ice that have overwhelmed him. Passenger of emotions, halfway between two worlds: his works elevate us.

The Quest of
Excellence.

Modern romantic artist, Thomas Crauwels has a recognized and distinctive style that has been awarded in Switzerland and internationally on numerous occasions. His quest for excellence is the very testimony of his intimate and sincere link with the Alps.

Award-Winning Art
Thomas Crauwels

Event
Description
Year
artwork Photograph of Mönch and Jungfrau.
GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023
See the print
Highly Commended (Top 10)
2023
black and white mountain book
International photography awards (ipa)
See the print
Honorable Mention category fine-art book, nature book, self-published book
2022
black and white mountain book
PX3 - Paris Photography Prize
See the print
Silver Award in the Fine-Art book category for the realization of ABOVE.
2022
black and white mountain book
Passy Mountain Book Fair (32nd edition)
See the print
Grand Prize of the picture book for the realization of ABOVE.
2022
Cultural Merit 2022 - Vionnaz
Award from the commune of Vionnaz for my photographic work on the Alps.
2022

Press & References
Thomas Crauwels

Praise for the mountains in black and white: the visionary art of Thomas Crauwels

Interview for Oniriq magazine Discover

Discover Germany & Switzerland

Cover + Interview Discover

Animan

Portfolio and Cover of Animan N°235 Discover

RTS - Funny times

May 10, 2023 funny show with Karine Vasarino and Simon Matthey-Doret. Interview of almost 2 hours on my approach, the mountain, the future. Discover
Photograph of the Schreckhorn - View of one of the giants of Grindelwald, the Schreckhorn - Portrait of summit emerging from the sea of clouds.

High Mountain Photography in Black and White.

Between Beauty, Majesty and Purity : Thomas Crauwels invites us on a grandiose and authentic journey to meet these giants of snow and ice that have overwhelmed him. Passenger of emotions, halfway between two worlds: his works elevate us.

Editions
Thomas Crauwels

1

Above

Through his photographic quest, Thomas Crauwels invites you to contemplate the universe of the high mountains. Go with him to discover the Alps, in exceptional atmospheres, enhanced by the magic of black and white and its wide range of contrasts.

82 CHF

Thomas Crauwels - Alpine Legacy

Alpine Legacy

This book in a limited edition of 1'250 copies is a testimony of the beauty of this majestic Nature from above which seems eternal to us, but which, slowly, is transformed. An ode to preserve, contemplate and one day bequeath this celestial kingdom, timeless but so fragile.

150 CHF

#Instagram
Thomas Crauwels

This panoramic view highlights the Imperial Crown of Zinal, in Switzerland. It is made up of the most prestigious summits over 4000 meters in the #Alps. These mountains dominate val d’Anniviers, in the canton of Valais, on the border with the Zermatt valley.The photograph, taken not far from Mount Besso, plunges us into the heart of this natural jewel. FromThe Obergabelhorn, we sail towards the #Matterhorn, The Dent Blanche and Grand Cornier, to arrive at the Pointe de Zinal. The only summit peak in the picture with an altitude of less than 4,000 metres, it owes its name to its neighbouring village. In the background, the mountains surrounding the Zermatt valley, including Liskamm, stand out through the mist. I was lucky enough to climb all the summits peaks that make up this magnificent panorama.I made this work in the early afternoon, as the clouds were dissipating after the passage of a winter storm. I sought to accentuate the depth of the image. In the background, the summits clouds rise almost mystically from the sea of clouds in the foreground. I love this celestial atmosphere, which sublimates the beauty of the high #mountains in a very uncluttered setting.For this vibrant, mysterious picture, I was inspired by the style of Vincent Munier, an animal photographer who creates his work in very light tones. This photograph is therefore very different from the more powerful blacks and whites I usually use. Here, white dominates, bringing a strong luminosity to the whole. This bewitching, voluptuous clarity is a real eye-catcher, and generally very pleasing.--------------------------------This artwork is available in limited edition--------------------------------#ImperialCrownofZinal#SwissAlps#Valais#Mountaineering#MountainPhotography #Switzerland#Zermatt#ValdAnniviers#OutdoorPhotography#HighMountain@valaiswallis@valaisactif@zermatt.matterhorn@zermatters@cerviniavalt@valdanniviers@grimentz.zinal@sierrezinal_officiel
Journey to summit of the #Weisshorn which, from its 4506 meters of altitude, dominates the Imperial Crown of #Zinal, in the Swiss Alps. The mountain is located at the border of val d’Anniviers and the valley of #Zermatt. This sumptuous #photograph highlights the northern ridge of the Weisshorn, one of the most beautiful crossings in the #Alps. It leads us to the Grand Gendarme and then to #summit of this incredible rock pyramid. On the left, we start the descent by the normal route to Randa, passing by the Weisshornhütte. On the right, the west face of the mountain plunges towards val d’Anniviers to take root at the foot of the Arpitettaz hut. The Weisshorn rises majestically, surrounded by the legendary summits . Exceptional panorama. The Monte Rosa massif unfolds on the left, with the Dufourspitze and the Nordend, while on the right, the Breithorn massif reveals its five summits of more than 4000 meters of altitude. This photograph is an ode to the Weisshorn and its remarkable stature. I took it on a winter afternoon, while a pristine snow was still covering its summit. The sun illuminates the mountain like a precious stone. Exquisite brilliance that makes its suspended glaciers sparkle in the shadows and its best exposed walls sparkle. The work draws its beauty from the lightness of its silvery contrasts. Conveying the grandeur of the mountain through the softness of the tones is an art I have spent years mastering. Just as climbing the Weisshorn took me three years of preparation. I had to wait until the conditions were right to embark on this fabulous adventure. I had to be ready, physically and mentally. And I am so happy to have succeeded! This crossing remains one of my best memories of #mountaineering as it was so magnificent. Just like this photograph that I have the great pleasure to share with you today.---------------------------------This artwork is available in limited edition---------------------------------#Summit#Alpine#SwissMountain#ImperialCrown#Mountain#MonteRosa#MountainPhotography@zermatters@valdanniviers@grimentz.zinal@sierrezinal_officiel@outdoorphotomag@earthofficial@voyaged@instagood@bestofthealps
Splendid portrait of the Matterhorn freshly dressed in white. The Matterhorn, famous mountain of the Valais #Alps, rises at 4478 meters above the valley of Zermatt, in Switzerland. In front of us, the Hörnli ridge is the normal route to its summit. The Furggenn ridge, on the left, and the Zmutt ridge, on the right, cut the impressive silhouette of this ruler of the Alps into the sky. Behind the rump of the rocky sphinx, the The Dent d'Hérens appears as a shark's fin. In the photograph, the Matterhorn glaciers are open. Until a few years ago, this detail indicated that we were in summer. But, as the snow is getting scarcer and scarcer, the ice is now cracking as soon as spring arrives.I took this picture after a violent summer storm. I waited for this moment for so long! When the snow falls this much in summer and the light sublimates its beauty, the mountain is adorned with interesting textures and sensational graphic effects. To immortalize the Matterhorn in this way, I went up to this viewpoint the day before. I managed to deploy my tent before the storm hit the heights. And the next morning, when I opened my eyes, I could witness this grandiose scene. A diamond of the Alps was offered to me, magnificently snowed and carried by this unique light. Luckily, the sun, hidden by clouds, was indirectly illuminating the Matterhorn. Thanks to the softness of its contrasts, my work reveals the fabulous purity and grandeur of this legendary summit . The light and diffuse light brings to the fore the majesty of the Matterhorn, inviting us to discover each detail, each pebble and each piece of snow.-------------------------------This artwork is available in limited edition-------------------------------#Matterhorn#Zermatt#Mountain#Alpine#Summit#Switzerland#valaisalps#valais#valaiswallis@valaiswallis@valaisactif@zermatt.matterhorn@zermatters@cerviniavalt@rockansicemag@alpenliebe_official@visitswitzerland@myswitzerland@swissbook@super_switzerland
Infinite beauty of the Obergabelhorn which, from its 4064 meters of altitude, dominates the val d’Anniviers, in #Switzerland. It is without doubt one of the most emblematic high summits of the Valais #Alps and inspires me deeply. This magnificent photograph is an ode to the purity of this mountain that I love so much.Making this work was epic! Admiring The Obergabelhorn from its most beautiful angle is not an easy task. It took me several hours to reach this beautiful viewpoint on the #mountain. I went up alone on skis, carrying my tripod and my telephoto lens. I was exhausted but, despite the fatigue, there was no way I was going to give up. I felt guided by an incredible inner strength. I was getting my energy from the high mountains. The powerful desire to witness a unique spectacle in front of summit pushed me to overcome all obstacles. And I succeeded. As if to reward me for the efforts I made to honor her, nature offered me a breathtaking picture. The very embodiment of a kingdom where purity reigns supreme on the horizon.-------------------------------This artwork is available in limited edition-------------------------------#Obergabelhorn#Swissalps#Valais#valaiswallis#Alpine#MountainPhotography#NaturePhotography#Summit@valaiswallis@valaisactif@valdanniviers@grimentz.zinal@sierrezinal_officiel@outdoorgomag@montagne_my_life@mountain_planet@earthoutdoors@earth_shotz@earthofficial@voyaged@instagood@bestofthealps
Majestic black and white portrait of Bietschhorn, emblematic mountain of the Lötschental valley, in Switzerland. Located on the right bank of the Rhone valley, in the canton of Valais, it is nevertheless geologically attached to the #bernese alps massif. Rising to 3934 meters above sea level, it can be easily admired from the #Hockenhorn ski area as well as from the Lötschenpass and its refuge, the Lötschenpasshütte.On this very beautiful photograph, the Bietschhorn presents itself to us adorned with its most beautiful finery. Its walls, freshly whitened with snow by the violence of the winter precipitations, illuminate the horizon. I would like to climb this summit one day. But it is not easy to discover. Isolated in the heart of a wild nature, the approach is long before being able to reach it. Nicknamed the King of the Valais, it dominates the horizon without however mingling with the world.The photographic work owes its beauty to the play of lines and light that sculpt the mountain. I had to be there at the right moment to sublimate its forms. To trigger my camera at the precise moment when the sun illuminated only some of its faces, endowing the picture with deep contrasts. Between light and shadow, the image reveals the perfect symmetry of summit. The exceptional graphic design of the portrait highlights the impressive silhouette of the mountain. An inspiring pyramid with perfect contours that reigns over the Valais while rubbing shoulders with the heavens.--------------------------------This artwork is available in limited edition--------------------------------#Bietschhorn#SwissMountains#Valais#LötschentalValley#MountainPhotography#Alpine#Summit#MountainMagic#NaturePhotography#Switzerland@bernese.oberland@newlyswissed@best.mountain.artists@montagne_my_life@mountain_planet@earthoutdoors@earth_shotz
The thundering Aiguille du Midi pierces the sky with its sharp ridges. This peak rises to 3842 meters above Chamonix , in the Mont-Blanc massif. This mountain of the French Alps owes its fame to the ski lift that takes us from the valley to its summit in just a few minutes. An amazing journey that takes us as fast as the wind into the heart of the heavenly and magnificent realm of the high mountains.I've been watching the Aiguille du Midi for several years, waiting feverishly for the moment when it would offer itself to my eyes dressed in its most beautiful finery. Several conditions must be met for the walls to be plastered in this way. I try to apprehend them, to anticipate them, but no one can master nature. You have to trust chance and be patient. To connect with the mountain to be present when the magic happens. When the snow finally clings to the rocks, transforming the summit into an immaculate white fairy-like being. A subjugating spectacle that only lasts a few moments. The time of a photograph which testifies by the black and the white of an ephemeral and absolute beauty.I made this work at the end of the day, when the Mont-Blanc massif had just faced the fury of a winter storm. The Aiguille du Midi emerges from the mist, dazzling and determined. Around it, the clouds hanging on summits endow the picture with a dramatic intensity. In the background, the Dent du Géant, the Aiguille de Rochefort and the Mont Mallet bring an incredible depth to the photograph. These mountains rising several kilometers from the Aiguille du Midi reinforce the balance and the splendor of the picture.--------------------------------This artwork is available in limited edition--------------------------------#AiguilleDuMidi#FrenchAlps#MountainPhotography#Alpine#Summit#Mountain#NaturePhotography#montblancmassif#chamonix@montblanc-nr@chamonixmontblanc@auvergerhonealpes.tourisme@savoiemontblanc@montblancstories@bestofthealps@french_alps@lesalpesfrancaises@reponsesphoto
Fabulous portrait of the Jungfrau which, with the Mönch and at theEiger, dominates the bernese alps, in Switzerland. The mountain culminates at 4158 meters above the valleys of Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. From Wengen, Mürren or Grindelwald, you have to lean back to see summit because of its height and its vertical cliff. This black and white photograph highlights the western face of the mountain, with its two summits: the Jungfrau and the Wengen-Jungfrau, which give it the appearance of a cat's head. The generous forms of this legendary mountain, whose name means "Young Girl", invites you to dream, have always inspired me. On the right, the Rottasattel pass, the last step before reaching summit, leads to the Rottalhorn.I waited eight long years before I was able to achieve this exceptional panorama. At each storm, I tried my luck. But I was always under the clouds, without being able to see the summits. When the mountain would finally clear, day would give way to night, preventing me from photographing it. When the storm hit at night, I would rush to get there at daybreak before it tore through. But it was already too late. The Jungfrau was lost in the blue sky, offering to see a postcard landscape devoid of any emotion. Then, one day, the miracle happened. I will always remember this suspended moment where exaltation was mixed with deliverance. Incredible victory after so many failures. I could finally breathe, fulfilled to have been able to attend such a beautiful show and proud to have succeeded in immortalizing it through my art.--------------------------------This artwork is available in limited edition--------------------------------#Jungfrau#BerneseAlps#SwissMountains#MountainPhotography#Nature#Alpine#Swiss#Switzerland#MountainDreams#Summit#Mountain@grindelwald_eiger@grindelwaldfirst@bernese.oberland@jungrauregion@jungfraujochtopofeurope
A journey in search of the absolute. In front of us, the legendary Biancograt ridge winds its way, deliberate and majestic, up to summit du Pizzo Bianco. This magnificent pyramid of rock and ice is just a few metres short of the 4,000-metre mark. It's a sad fate for a mountain which, despite its incredible size, cannot match the fame of the highest summits in the Alps.In this fabulous photograph, the Biancograt reveals the path leading to the kingdom of heaven. But, from the crests of the Pizzo Bianco, there is still a long way to go to reach the summit of Piz Bernina, which culminates at 4048 meters above Saint-Moritz. Between earth and sky, the sumptuous ridge is a perfect illustration of Robert Louis Stevenson's words, which I will summarize as follows: the important thing is not the destination but the journey itself. Each of our steps carries us towards the sky as it lifts our soul and enriches our hearts. The adventure is played out from one end of the path to the other. An allegory of existence that invites us to live each moment as intensely as possible. To let ourselves be surprised and to trust nature to finally reach summit, overwhelmed with fatigue but free and happy. Between earth and sky, this is the surprising journey that Biancograt offers us.When I made this portrait of Pizzo Bianco, I was in the middle of a storm. The west wind was blowing violently on summit and the clouds were clinging strongly to the freshly snowed wall. The timeless and mystical atmosphere of the painting is sublimated by the stunning audacity of Piz Bernina forcefully emerging from the mist. Like the ghost of a fallen ruler trying to reconquer his kingdom according to our wildest dreams.--------------------------------This artwork is available in limited edition--------------------------------#Biancograt#PizzoBianco#PizBernina#Mountain#Alpine#swissalps@montagne_my_life@mountain_planet@earthoutdoors@earth_shotz@earthofficial@voyaged@instagood@bestofthealps

Begin Your Own Heritage Of Above.

Thomas Crauwels posing in front of one of his prints of the Matterhorn

Notice of Purchasers

A magical vista for mountain lovers

By Ève
1

Passionate about the mountains, in love with black-and-white photography, the images created by Thomas Crauwels can only seduce us. The purity of the lines, the simply unique viewpoints, the photographic work carried out by Thomas and the exceptional quality of prints make them works of art. From initial contact at the mountain show to home delivery, Thomas offers a highly professional service. We enjoy this magical view every day! Ève M.

We enjoy it every day!

By Corinne & Werner
1

As former inhabitants of Zermatt, it's hard to forget the Matterhorn, even in a new environment of mountains and nature.
We discovered this large photo of the Matterhorn in a gallery, so strong and intense, it was impossible to forget it........
It became obvious that it should adorn our new apartment as a centerpiece.
What's more, we had a very sympathetic contact with the artist, who came himself to deliver his work.
It's very appreciable and adds a dimension to the object, to know its creator, his passion, the conditions under which it was taken.
The texture of the photo resembles a painting, the lights play on it, Next the hours. It seems alive. A real daily pleasure!
Corinne & Werner

We were bowled over!

By Gabriella & Gilles
1

My wife and I are amazed at the quality of print and the rendering of this magnificent photo. We waited many years before putting a picture on this empty wall
because we had never "flashed" on a work of art. Now we've found it, and it fits in perfectly with the entrance to our apartment.
What's more, it depicts 3 summits that are particularly close to our hearts: the Weisshorn, Dent Blanche and the Matterhorn, a real symbol...

We would like to thank you again for your impeccable service (rapid response to enquiries, hyper-realistic projection of the work on the preliminary photos of the wall).
In short, we have nothing to complain about and look forward to seeing you at a vernissage.
Gabriella et Gilles

An incredible print

By Quentin
1

Thomas quickly answered all our questions, confirming our desire to acquire one of his photographs. Once we had received print , it found its perfect place in our living room, where it has since opened up an unrivalled window onto the magnificent horizons of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn and Dent-Blanche. The quality of print on the contemporary support is truly exceptional, allowing us to enjoy every detail of the photograph.
Quentin D.

Monumental Black & White Fine Alpine Photography

Fine Alpine Photography
Scroll