Beyond the mist and dominating the Alps, the Imperial Crown of Zinal rises, majestic and flamboyant. Its continuous ridge gives life to the most beautiful mountains in the Valais. Like a grandiose air, it makes the heart of val d’Anniviers beat faster. Like a citadel of ice, resisting with strength the continuous assaults of the winds. How a crescent moon illuminates the world with its celestial glow.

When I contemplate this panorama in black and white, I realize how lucky I am to have been able to climb all these illustrious summits from an altitude of over 4000 metres. And I'm happy to share this wonderful journey with you. From Bishorn to the Grand Cornier, the work takes us over the Weisshorn, the Schalihorn, the Zinalrothorn, the Matterhorn, theObergabelhorn, the Dent d'HérensDent Blanche, Besso and the Blanc de Moming ridge. Sailing through the sumptuous peaks, our gaze feeds on the splendours of a crystalline oasis. This beyond inspires and thrills me. I never tire of admiring it, immortalizing it and bringing it to light.

I took this exceptional photograph in the twilight of winter 2023, as a final storm swept over the mountains. I waited ten years for the winds to sculpt the Imperial Crown. Ten years of tirelessly watching the summits of Zinal in the hope that one day my dream would finally take shape. And when the snow suddenly took hold of the rock, transforming the giants of the Valais into sparkling magi, I was overcome with emotion. In one swift movement, I captured the moment. A fleeting bubble of purity bequeathed to me by nature. Never before had I witnessed such a spectacle. A sea of clouds rising above Zinal at an altitude of over 3,500 metres, the scene is unreal. In this late winter, nature has given me the most precious of gifts. A masterpiece born in the Alps from the symbiosis of fresh snow, impetuous winds, bold clouds and bright sunshine.