Some early mornings in the Alps just take your breath away because of their extreme beauty.
Chamonix has the Aiguille du Midi cable car on the north side of the Mont Blanc Massif, on the Italian side of the massif there is another cable car that takes you up to Helbronner. The two high points are linked by a clutch of four small cabins that cross high above the upper Vallee Blanche – an extraordinary traverse, provided you don’t suffer from vertigo.
Today’s image was taken from the cable car on the ride up to Helbronner. It was early morning and the Italian valleys were filled with haze, or thin mist. ‘Ethereal’ hardly does justice to the sight that greeted me as valley after valley appeared, with the ridges seemingly suspended in space above the layered haze.
This was originally a transparency, scanned with a Nikon Coolscan. The colour version was mainly monochromatic, and I think this works best in black and white although it is a litte more grainy than I would have liked. Please click the image to see an enlargement.
Doesn’t this make you want to travel high once in a while?
LensScaper 
Wow! This is really stunning! What an extraordinary shot. I don’t know what this would look like in colour but it certainly works in b/w. What an amazing sight to greet you first thing in the morning!
LikeLike
We must be on the same wave length today as I also posted an image of the Alps today Andy. LOve the layers and the B&W choice really works well.
LikeLike
Many thanks Len. There’s something very simple and effective about B&W in situations like this.
LikeLike
It does work beautifully in black and white. It’s an incredible view.
LikeLike
Many thanks Ken. In situations like this I find the camera never fully conveys the spectacle one sees
LikeLike
Yup certainly makes me want to travel…period! Fantastic image Andy and I really like the choice of B&W.
LikeLike
Thanks very much Edith
LikeLike
Beautiful image. I really like the tones and contrast. Great job!
LikeLike
Thanks Mark
LikeLike
Fantastic view, and photo. Looks as if it was made for black and white.
LikeLike
Thanks very much. The colour version was almost monochromatic palest blue – even on the ridge in the foreground that was in shadow. Colour like that looks very uninviting and rather drab, I think. But in B&W it’s just a mid tone
LikeLike
This is stunning, Andy, absolutely stunning! Fabulous drama here, black and white is the PERFECT way to go with a shot like this!
LikeLike
Thanks very much Toad. Colour was really redundant in this shot – if anything it made the image look plain muddy
LikeLike
Waves of mountains, Andy…incredible shot…and yes, makes me want to travel high…to be up there…and I don’t think color would compare to the pristine quality of the black and white. Very nice….
LikeLike
Thanks Scott – ‘Waves of mountains’ – that’s a good name for it. It’s worth getting up and out up high for vistas like this.
LikeLike
You’re welcome…. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Andy I love the range of tones here thanks. Andy
LikeLike
Thanks Andy. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Super shot Andy!!
Chris and I did that trip a few years ago, and shared the cable car with a guy who shot off a couple of rolls of film – probably one of the most photographed areas of the Alps, and rightly so.
LikeLike
Thanks Paul. It is an amazing trip. We took the kids over when they were quite young and it had a pretty profound effect on them. When I took this image, which must be less than 10 years ago, the final section up to Helbronner was in an ancient tiny cabin more akin to a sardine tin than a gondola! The contrast between it and the Midi lift is massive – about time it was modernised.
LikeLike
Great – nothing like the mountains for a good day out with a camera.
David.
LikeLike
Thanks David. It’s one of my favourites. Photographs like this remind one of the beauty to be found at altitude.
LikeLike