Alpine Conquerors Photo

Photographer’s Note

Just the other night I saw a TV program on rbb (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg) about those brave men of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc that keep a close eye on the surrounding glaciers. How they explore the ice masses to prevent possible disasters from happening.

Not only from the outside, but they actually enter with the melting water, trying to understand where and how it passes beneath the surface. And, foremost, that it doesn't build up to a future glacial catastrophe.

Such an eruption took place in nearby [25kms/15mi] St-Gervais-les-Bains in July, 1892, when an ice-debris flow killed 177 people. This was caused by a sub-glacial lake having formed under the Glacier de Miage.

Seeing the program I was reminded of a stay in Chamonix in 1976, when we finally were able to access the Aiguille du Midi in beautiful weather. During the cable car ride we spotted several mountaineers on the different routes toward the summit of Mont Blanc.

A "piece of cake" for the real Alpine Conquerors!

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Scanned from diapositive film at 600 ppi.

Norte, Wanda1, jorgi, alainh, kiks, Power, jiherka trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

ssengonul (63) 2008-01-09 16:25

Very good.

Norte (531) 2008-01-09 17:18

Hei Kaj!

A simple but very effective picture to show the dimensions of the landscape. The vertical composition is perfect for that purpose. Sharp and fine, so youve done a decent job with the scanner and PP.
Interesting note - and I know such glacial eruptions has happened also in Norway.
Thanks for shearing!

Hilsen Jon

kmarscher (2881) 2008-01-09 17:39

What an opportunity and what an unforgettable shilouette! Stunning contrasts and achievement.

Wanda1 (11015) 2008-01-09 21:02

Hi Kaj,
This really shows how small man is compared to nature. Great subject and execution. There is a real feeling of solitude here, just these two people in this vast landcsape. I love the contrast and the vertical format draws our eye up from one climber to the next. Great work!
Regards
Wanda

partha (13667) 2008-01-09 22:55

One of the best shots of TE. Excellent use of the light as well as shadow. the human inclusion tells the rest of the story.
partha

JPlumb (3153) 2008-01-10 0:12

Hi Kaj, I've seen climbers silouetted against the sky before but never against the snow on an opposing hill. This works very well. The composition with these guys working there way up the slope is excellent. The light and colour very good.

Thanks, John

BoisBarb (9389) 2008-01-10 0:17

Alors ca c'est magnifique! ces petites silhouettes le long de la paroi avec cet extraordinaire arriere plan donne toute la force a cette photo
Du beau travail
BoisBarb

prises2vues (531) 2008-01-10 0:20

As an alpinist and a photographer, I think this is an amazing shot. Obviously the silhouettes are great, but also the texture of the glacier below which seems so far away. Such great shots are not easy to get - if you were in the cable car then well done for getting such a well constructed photo in what must have been a couple of seconds!

Matt (Sandrine's husband!)

jorgi (3800) 2008-01-10 0:34

Hi Kaj,

excellent capture. Absolutely great composition and silhuette work. It shows very well how small we are. :)Sharpness is superb. So fresh and powerful. Excellent.

Best regards,
Jeri

barni (14567) 2008-01-10 2:18

Hello Kaj
YES... It's incredible!!!
Congratulation
Christophe

alainh (35385) 2008-01-10 3:44

hello Kak

Terrible !!! splendid silhouette, great colmpsition between black and blue !!!
have a nice eeening
alain

kiks (6147) 2008-01-10 4:12

I'm glad you remember this photo. Realy breathtaking and beautiful. I love the sillouets against those soft snowtextures at the bg.
TFS
KIks

jluca (10320) 2008-01-10 5:40

Hi Kaj,
absolutly splendid ! The combination between the shapes of the small men and the magnificient landscape works very well.
Cheers
Jean-Luc

Power (191) 2008-01-10 8:39

Hi Kaj,
Very impressive picture, with great cntreasts between the vertikal rocks and the stunning glacier on the background.
Excellent detail on the climbers. Good thing you remembered this picture.
TFS,
Steven.

claudio74 (6666) 2008-01-10 13:19

Hello Kaj
Very nice picture....great shot.
well done
regards

totoamoto (2288) 2008-01-18 10:18

Magnifique.
Terrible.
Impressionnante..etc...
Vraiment très belle photo
On voit même les cordes, on suit le regard de l'homme du bas..
Quel contraste..
Félicitation..
et hop dans mes favoris..
Cyril

jiherka (4465) 2009-05-01 14:13

Hello Kaj,
Great view of this rocks with the guys climbing it. The angle is good and the dark of the roks make the job of these men more hard. Beautiful range of blue on all the ice in background.
Well done.
Salutations
Jacques