Magnificent view of the Zinalrothorn, one of the most impressive 4,000-meter-high summits in Switzerland's Valais Alps. It separates val d’Anniviers from the Zermatt valley.

I produced this work in 2013. It's the first photograph I ever took of the Zinalrothorn. It's moving for me to look back at it. At the time, I was discovering the Alps and exploring its massifs. I had decided to spend the night in the Tracuit hut so I could admire the mountains at sunset and sunrise, when the light is often at its best. To get to this hut, I climbed 1600 metres in five or six hours. I was still a novice mountaineer, and making this ascent was a feat in itself. It's amusing to note that my objective at the time was to reach this lair, whereas today the cabins have become my starting point for reaching the highest summits in the Alps. At the time, I was impressed by the climbers who set off in the middle of the night to complete their ascent. Now I'm one of those valiant mountain lovers who dream of climbing ever more beautiful summits .

When I arrived at the Tracuit hut, the clouds prevented me from seeing the landscape. So I went to bed, unaware of what awaited me the next day. When I opened my eyes, I was faced with an incredible spectacle. Magnificent nature. The clouds had been replaced by blue skies, and the Zinalrothorn towered in front of me. It was the first time I'd seen it like this. I'll never forget it. Such beauty! It was peacefully enjoying the first rays of the sun, illuminating its snowy mantle with purity and intensity. That's how the magic happened. In this work, I wanted to highlight the exceptional beauty of summit, its geometric shapes and impressive hanging glaciers. The interplay of light and shadow, the power of contrast and the strength of black and white tones allowed me to convey the grandeur of this stone monument with force and authenticity.