about the work

This panorama pays tribute to the giants of the imperial crown of Zinal. These summits the most beautiful of the val d’Anniviers are located in the Valais Alps, in Switzerland. In the foreground, the mount Besso, symbol of the valley of Zinal, stands between shadow and light, accompanied by the Blanc de Moming. In the second plan, theThe Obergabelhorn, the Matterhorn or Cervin, the The Dent d'Hérens, the The Dent Blanche and the Grand Cornier rise in majesty. The Grand Paradis, high summit of the Italian Alps, finally stands out 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 because this angle cannot be captured from the ground. I did extensive map research to find the perfect location that would give the work the dimension I 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 have interpreted the weather forecast correctly and keep your fingers crossed that it will come true.

Thanks to my telephoto lens, I was able to give the illusion of proximity between these mountains, even though each is several kilometers away. This close succession of shots brings depth to the work and allows me to bring together on the same panorama an impressive number of high mountains. But with this angle of view, I wanted above all to make this crown of high mountains physically visible summits. The succession of peaks forming a circular arc overhanging 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 northern faces of these summits are only lit a few days a year. On a winter morning, the first rays of the sun are reflected here on the snow-white mountainsides, offering a grandiose spectacle to the eye. In order for the picture to be true to my will, the clouds had to finally cross the valley, giving even more presence to these already sumptuous mountains.