Alpine Duality

This photograph of the Moléson (2002m) and the Dent de Broc (1829m), taken in winter, is one of the few images in my work representing summits that do not belong to the world of high mountains. But is it any less mystical, any less powerful than my depictions of the Alps' 4,000m?

Here, the two summits pierce a thick sea of clouds covering the Fribourg Pre-Alps, the small town of Bulle, and the castle of Gruyère... civilization, which is not far away, is absent here: the viewer's attention is focused entirely on these mountains, which the clouds render massive and impressive. The strength of this shot lies in the balance between whites, greys and blacks. In the foreground, the Dent de Broc soars skyward. Its subdued light provides a perfect contrast to the Moléson, thanks to the grey tones of the fir trees that cover its faces. In the background, the Moléson, less sharpened, wider and stretched out, balances the space with its snow-covered face.

With this shot, I wanted to capture the contrasts and crystallize the nuances. From one mountain to the next, the aesthetics vary, the rhythm changes. There's something ternary here: to the slender, dark forms of the Dent de Broc, the Moléson imposes itself, calmly, in the distance in all its whiteness, the two mountains linked by an infinite sea of clouds...

In its own way, this photograph is an invitation to an authentic voyage of discovery of these low-altitude mountains, which are part and parcel of the spirit of the Alps. There's something sublime about summits . We never tire of them, nor should we. We need to rediscover and appreciate them in their simplicity, in their familiarity... they are the summits of our childhood, the ones that remind us of escapades with family and friends. These small mountains welcome us: green in summer, dressed in their beautiful white mantle in winter. Accessible and familiar, they continue to amaze those who take the time to look at them with fresh eyes.