Instant Céleste

Spectacular photograph of the Weisshorn dominating val d’Anniviers, in the heart of the Valais Alps, Switzerland. At an altitude of 4506 metres, it is the highest summit in the imperial crown of Zinal. I was lucky enough to cross the ridges of this exceptional mountain. An adventure I'll remember for a long time. In this picture, taken from the heights of Grimentz, the north ridge of the Weisshorn is particularly visible. It links the mountain's main summit to the Grand Gendarme, which rises a little lower down. When I walked along it, I expected to see more snow, but in fact it was very rocky. This is the unfortunate consequence of global warming, whose effects on the summits Alps are considerable.

I took this portrait of the Weisshorn in the early afternoon, when the sun was shining on the mountain's west face. I'll never forget that extraordinary day. One of the few times I've been able to admire this summit entirely plastered in snow. Not a single rock stood out from the thick white mantle. It was a magical moment. In addition to the exceptional snow conditions and the intensity of the light, a lenticular cloud suddenly appeared out of nowhere. An incredible celestial jellyfish that seemed to come from the farthest reaches of the universe to celebrate the grandeur of the Weisshorn. That day, the elements came together in symbiosis to offer the viewer a fabulous, unreal tableau.

When I managed to immortalize this magical moment, I was on the outskirts of the Grimentz ski area. I was concentrating on my lens, in the midst of a distracted crowd paying little attention to their surroundings. Facing the mountain, I'm fascinated and hypnotized by its infinite beauty. I can't take my eyes off it. Connected to it, I can feel it all around me. That day, I was alone with her among the skiers. When I saw this cloud coming, I immediately took out my camera. Only then did people start asking questions, looking around. And all of a sudden, I heard people expressing surprise at the silhouette of this amazing cloud. It had gone from being a simple vacation backdrop that we ignore with our eyes, to the ephemeral star of a sky already ready to carry it off into the distance. Nature only lavishes us with fleeting moments of wonder. To seize them, we need to be truly present to the world, attentive to its breathing and attentive to its movements.