Ascent to the rising sun

Facing the majestic Matterhorn, we contemplate the immensity of the Alps. This panoramic black-and-white photograph focuses on the southern slope of the Matterhorn. Overlooking Cervinia, the Italian wall resembles in many ways its northern counterpart, which rises in Switzerland. Its flat summit brandishing a cross. Two mirrored faces with very different aesthetics, but reflecting the same reality. Grandiose and wild.

On the left, the Lion ridge leads past the Carrel refuge to the shoulder of the Matterhorn. Pic Tyndall owes its name to the first mountaineer to conquer it. Our ascent then continues to the top of the mountain. Jean-Antoine Carrel was the first mountaineer to gain access to summit via this route. On the right, the Hörnli ridge comes into view, illuminated by the rays of the rising sun. Surrounded by the other giants of the Imperial Crown, the mountain displays its regal stature to the world. On its left, the Dent Blanche shines brightly, while on its right, the Ober Gabelhorn, the Zinalrothorn and the Weisshorn follow one another. On the horizon, the Doldenhorn and the Blüemlisalp crossing carve out the border between the Valais Alps and the canton of Berne.

To create this portrait of the Matterhorn, I waited a long time for a storm to hit the mountains in early summer. Plastering the summits to give them a new beauty. The snow deposited on its rocks endows the Matterhorn with fascinating textures. Through gentle contrasts, the mountain reveals itself. No life is possible up there, but the Matterhorn is welcoming to both the soul and the imagination. Placed at the center of the picture, it invites us to discover the high mountain, powerful and eternal. The other summits 4000-metre peaks reinforce its grandeur, glorifying its charisma and the splendour of its contours.