Éclat des Hautes Cimes

A celestial odyssey on the border between val d’Anniviers and the Zermatt valley, in the Swiss Alps. This panoramic black-and-white photograph features three mythical mountains over 4,000 meters high. The Matterhorn, the The Dent d'Hérens and the Dent Blanche, imposing pyramids in the Valais region, display their fresh coat of snow in the first rays of sunshine. In the foreground, Mont Durand and the Pointe de Zinal, whose ridge leads to summit of the impressive Dent Blanche, stand out in the shadows. I had to find a loophole in this impregnable fortress to succeed in making the Matterhorn and the The Dent d'Hérens behind Col Durand and Col de Zinal.

It's early summer. I've waited many years for a snowstorm of this magnitude to hit the mountains in summer. This is when the light is at its best, illuminating the most monumental faces of summits. Thus highlighted, the walls of the Matterhorn, the The Dent d'Hérens and the Dent Blanche embody the grandeur and power of the Alps, the infinite purity of the high mountains. To create this exceptional panorama, I had to be there at the right time. Given the instability of the weather, I had no certainty. But I had to be there. I had to be in the right place, watching the winds. I couldn't risk missing this unique opportunity.

When I saw the sky tear open, I suddenly realized that I had a priceless opportunity. The chance to immortalize the splendor of these mythical mountains, as the first rays of sunlight graze their snow-covered walls. These moments are becoming increasingly rare. The landscape is changing, the weather is warming up and the snow is falling less often. So I have to be more vigilant. Attentive to the will of the elements to pursue my quest. To convey the soul of the mountains in my photographs. When nature paints the rocks white and sculpts the horizon. When the clouds give way to the sun, playing with light and shadow to sublimate summits. When the picture reveals the depth of this realm that makes me so dreamy.