Light on the Fortress

Sumptuous Dents du Midi overlooking the Val d'Illiez, in the heart of the Swiss Alps. This famous high-mountain massif is made up of seven summits peaks over 3,000 metres high. Visible from the Swiss Riviera and the shores of Lake Geneva, its elegant silhouette is an irresistible eye-catcher. The Cime de l'Est and the Forteresse play the leading role here. At their foot is the Chalin refuge. This work will appeal to the inhabitants of vaud alps and Villars-sur-Ollon, who are infinitely lucky to be able to admire this exceptional panorama every day.

I love these mountains, whose verticality inspires me. Each of our encounters is unique and surprising. In winter, the eastern and southern slopes of Dents du Midi bask in the sun, while the northern slopes rest in the shade until spring. But their appearance is always changing, depending on the weather and the light. In each photograph, they reveal a new facet of themselves, constantly inviting me to return to them to satisfy my quest.

I took this portrait of Dents du Midi in winter. Just swept away by the storm, the summits come back to life. The clouds part, propelling the mountain to center stage. The freshly deposited snow on its flanks highlights the beauty of its strata, witnesses to the richness of its tumultuous, age-old history. The light, subdued by the mist, illuminates summits with a glow that is both direct and diffuse, revealing the full sensitivity of the mountain. Terribly powerful yet infinitely gentle, it arouses emotion and emboldens our hearts.