The hero of the picture, the Zinalrothorn soars skyward between the Val d'Anniviers and the Zermatt valley, in the heart of the Valais Alps. Captured from the Val d'Anniviers, this photograph reveals the wild splendor of its north face. It's a fabulous journey into the world of high mountains. The Zinalrothorn is one of the finest alpine climbs, a unique challenge that combines absolute beauty with the highest standards.

I shot this masterly portrait just as the raging winds had covered the Zinalrothorn in snow. On that day, the mountain appeared wild, totally untouched by human presence. Too snowy, too unpredictable, it arrogantly refused access to its summit. It will take several days before the snowpack melts sufficiently to allow man to once again walk on its summit. Observe the play of light. Softness and purity emanate from the silvery nuances of this photograph. Observe the lines. From the glacier to the tip of the Zinalrothorn, our gaze is lost in the diagonal.

Through this work, I pay homage to the grandeur of the Zinalrothorn. The gigantic glaciers, seracs and crevasses vividly illustrate the mountain's immensity. Every year, the glaciers melt and reveal their intractable faults. The retreat of the glaciers reminds us of the fragility of a heritage long considered eternal. As a photographer of the Alps, I pass on to you a legacy of a mountain still shrouded in glaciers. May this picture be for you the memory of a once eternal kingdom of ice and rock.