Le Spectacle de l'Aube

Facing us are the impressive Dents du Midi. This magnificent massif in the Swiss Alps boasts seven summits peaks over 3,000 metres in altitude: Cime de l'Est, Fortress, Cathedral, Spur, Dent Jaune, Fingers and Haute Cime. It lies in the Portes du Soleil region, a famous ski area on the border between France and Switzerland.

Dents du Midi is one of my favorite mountains, as it occupies a central position in the Alps. They can be seen from the top of almost every summits over 4000 metres. And their highest points offer breathtaking panoramic views of the most illustrious mountains in the French and Swiss Alps. Beyond their location, I'm drawn to the beauty of this mountain range, its geometry and the balance it creates.

I took this superb panoramic photograph at sunrise, as a winter storm battered the snow-covered summits . As the ridges emerge from the clouds, the wind shakes the mountain in its fury. The morning light gently illuminates the Cime de l'Est. The northern faces of the mountains, still in shadow, enjoy the sun's reflection on their snowy mantle. I particularly like the subtlety of these contrasts, which highlight the grandeur of a mountain in the grip of the elements.

The most beautiful light is captured in the morning. And, believe me, I go to great lengths to immortalize it in my photographs. It's always very difficult to get up early and then walk through the snow at night, harnessed with all my equipment. But despite the fatigue and the cold, I put all my energy into it, because I know that at the end of the road a spectacle of unspeakable beauty may be waiting for me. Uncertainty also thrills me. Because, with the mountains, you can't win every time. You can only study the sky and hope. That morning, I was exceptionally lucky. Residual clouds drifted under summits while the storm was still roaring in the high mountains. Time and again, I found myself in fog, or under clear skies, or facing ridges with very little snow. On this particular day, the miracle happened, giving the panorama a dramatic scope and an intensity beyond compare. In this fine art photograph, I was able to capture the perfect balance I had been looking for.