At the crossroads of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps lies a sumptuous massif. At its heart, Mont Blanc, Europe's highest summit , dominates the celestial realm. At 4810 metres above sea level, it asserts its grandeur. After an impetuous storm, the landscape undergoes a metamorphosis. The mountains are dressed in white, glistening in the winter light. Thanks to the mapping work I'd done beforehand, I knew perfectly well the ideal angle from which to capture this spectacle. So I hurried to get up high to capture this unique moment. The long-awaited moment arrives: the mist lifts and the mountains reveal themselves.

The perfect alignment of the Chamonix needles leads us to Mont Blanc, via the Aiguille du Midi. Up there, the roof of Europe shows its stature. The Deux Bosses and Peuterey ridges, in the grip of the elements, stretch as far as the eye can see. To our right, still darkened, the silhouettes of Le Goûter and Bionnassay emerge from the clouds.

This black-and-white photograph is one of my most remarkable works of the Mont Blanc massif. Clouds, light, snow... All the elements converged to forge a perfect balance. Between light and shade, between textures and alignments, nature orchestrates its own artistic symphony. I dreamt up this picture as a symbol of the celestial empire, a world beyond our reach where only the peaks decide our welcome. And when the massif is dressed in its wildest clothes, the mountaineer is excluded. Welcome to the kingdom above and to my world.