Mysterious Pre-Alps

A celestial crossing of the Fribourg Pre-Alps in the middle of winter. I took this aerial photograph in black and white to highlight the immensity of this mid-range mountain range. Our journey begins at summit on the Dent de Savigny, which rises to an altitude of 2,252 metres in the foreground of the picture. We then fly over the Dent de Ruth and the Wandflue, which rise to 2236 and 2133 metres respectively. At the center of the picture, the Gastlosen, monumental rock towers, brandish their sharp peaks skyward. Famous for their climbing routes, they are home to the Chalet du Soldat, pictured here. In praise of the Fribourg Pre-Alps, the photograph also highlights the more distant mountains. Over a distance of 30 km, the relief follows on from one another to offer us a grandiose spectacle. On the horizon, we gaze at the Stockhorn, which rises to 2190 metres on the right. On the left, the Gantrisch and Ochse peaks reach heights of 2175 and 2188 metres respectively.

I took this Alpine panorama after a snowstorm at medium altitude. A precious testimony to an increasingly rare phenomenon. The winter sun breaks through the last clouds to illuminate the mountains and their freshly snow-covered forests. The splendour of summits is sublimated by their white finery. The verticality of the rock faces gives us the sensation of being transported to the high mountains. Wild nature reveals its majestic power in this work.