In the aftermath of a winter storm, when the elements have finally calmed down, the Pointe Percée rises like a solitary sentinel, gradually revealing its contours through a veil of mist. This black-and-white photograph captures the precise moment when the sun, still shy, lights up its eastern slope. Between light and shadow, the Doigt ridge emerges like a spine, sculpting the mountain in a contrast that is both Soft and sharp. The snow-covered flanks exude an impression of absolute purity, while the rock faces appear like a severe relief, witness to the unleashed force of the winds.

I particularly love the enigmatic moment when only the summit of the Pointe Percée emerges from the darkness. Over the years, I've hiked many mountains, but this one has a unique character. Rightly nicknamed the "Lord of the Aravis", it captivates with its slender form and almost silvery shades of grey. On the ridge, you can clearly make out the "Doigt", that singular rocky outgrowth that seems to point skywards. Above, we can make out the famous "hole" of the Pointe Percée, a natural opening that has become an emblematic landmark for mountaineers. Finally, our gaze wanders to the summit, with its discreet but very present cross, struck by the first rays of daylight.

The scene unfolds as the storm recedes, giving the mountain an aura of mystery. The fog persists, as if to envelop the slopes in a hushed atmosphere. The clouds, still heavy, slowly disperse in the background, highlighting the luminous trajectory that hugs the ridge line. It's almost like a supernatural apparition, with the Pointe Percée rising out of an ocean of mist. So close to the valley and yet so inaccessible at this early hour, it reminds us that nature remains sovereign, imposing its own rhythm and laws.

In this work, I wanted to transcribe the duality that animates the high mountains: on the one hand, the infinite softness of the snow-covered curves, which seem wadded up by the last snowfall; on the other, the rough power of the outcropping rock, bearing witness to the whims of time and erosion. Black and white emphasizes this paradox particularly well: a single ray of sunlight transfigures the material, revealing the smallest details of the relief while leaving vast areas in shadow. It is precisely this tension, between the exposed and the hidden, that gives the image its poetic dimension.

I waited several years for the perfect conjunction: a storm dense enough to envelop the mountain in an immaculate mantle, then a sunrise flooding the eastern slope with light. Weather conditions at this altitude are often unstable, and there are few moments when the peak remains visible while the mist has not yet left the lower slopes. Every second counted, the landscape changing as the clouds receded. Deep down, I know how brief and precious these episodes are, revealing the fragility of our presence in the high mountains. And that's what I like: to feel humbled by the grandeur and purity of these high places, and to share this emotion with you through my photographs.

Contemplating this portrait of the Pointe Percée, we realize just how small we are in the face of immensity and the power of the elements. The silhouette of the mountain, majestic and solitary, embodies all the wild beauty of the Aravis. Both an enigma and a revelation, this scene invites us to contemplate, reminding us just how prodigious nature can be when given the time to express itself.