This panorama pays tribute to the giants of Zinal's imperial crown. These most beautiful peaks of the Anniviers Valley are located in the Valais Alps, in Switzerland. In the foreground, Mount Besso, a symbol of the Zinal valley, stands between shadow and light, accompanied by the Blanc de Moming. In the background, the Obergabelhorn, the Matterhorn, also known as the Cervin, the Dent d’Hérens, the Dent Blanche, and the Grand Cornier rise in majesty. Finally, the Gran Paradiso, a high peak in the Italian Alps, can be distinguished on the horizon.

This is my first panoramic photograph of the imperial crown. It took me five years of patience to get it right. This aerial view was taken by helicopter, as this angle cannot be captured from the ground. I carried out extensive cartographic research to discover the perfect location that would give the work the dimension I had dreamed of. I was very lucky that the conditions were right, because when you take off in a helicopter, you can only hope that you've interpreted the weather forecasts correctly, and keep your fingers crossed that they come true.

Thanks to my telephoto lens, I was able to create the illusion of proximity between these mountains, even though each is several kilometers apart. This close succession of shots adds depth to the work, and allows me to bring together an impressive number of high mountains in a single panorama. Above all, however, I wanted to make this crown of high mountains physically visible summits. The succession of peaks forming an arc above the valley naturally evokes the royal insignia.

To further enhance the beauty of these snow-capped mountains, I sought to capture the ideal light. The north faces of summits are only lit for a few days a year. Here, on a winter's morning, the first rays of sunlight are reflected on the snow-white mountainsides, creating a grandiose spectacle. For the picture to be just as I wanted it, the clouds had to roll across the valley at last, giving even more presence to these already sumptuous mountains.