I Photograph The World Above The Clouds

An otherworldly view, captured during one of the nights spent above the clouds.
In this case atop Mont Chaberton, a 3.131 metres (10,272 ft) peak in the French Alps in the group known as the Massif des Cerces in the département of Hautes-Alpes.

One of my many photos taken at night from the summit of Mount Rocciamelone (3.538 meters / 11,603 feet), depicting part of the Susa Valley below and the distant lights of the city of Turin (Italy).
The slightly cloudy night offered that extra touch of magic.

Night view from the summit of Mount Rocciamelone (3.538 m) toward the Punta Lunella (2.772 m), a mountain in the Graian Alps (Italy) whose summit here emerges from an infinite bank of thick clouds.
We can therefore approximate the altitude of the cloudscape around 2.600 meters, or so...
which means about nine hundred meters below me.
More in the distance are visible the lights of Turin (one of the largest cities in northern Italy) that lit up from beneath the mass of clouds.
Then the universe, with planet Jupiter clearly visible on the left.

A sea of clouds, exposed to the south-east, is lit by the moon (63%) rising in the east.
Yes, a huge mass of clouds slipping down steep rocky ridges from a height of about 2.900 meters.
Shot taken at night on September 6th 2012, from the summit of Mount Rocciamelone (3.538 m), Italy.
This is one of the most otherworldly photograph I've taken so far. Thanks to the intrinsic magic of the night and to the privilege of being there, silently admiring this amazing moment.
This 195 seconds exposure, at 115mm on full frame, turned the slow passage of the clouds in a sort of "silky waterfall".
A few star trails are already visible, despite the exposure wasn't particularly long. I guess we all know as the consequences of Earth's rotation are more obvious when using a telephoto lens.
Intensity of colors, contrast and white balance are strongly faithful to the scene.

Mont Blanc at sunrise, Italian side, admired while emerging from a carpet of clouds.
The sommital area (4.808 m) begins to be lit by the sun's rays.

The sun is rising, and a carpet of clouds is covering the Valle d'Aosta (Italy).
Shot taken from the area around the bivouac Pascal, located just a few meters from the summit Testa di Liconi (2.929).
Clearly distinguishable in the distance, the pyramidal shape of the Grivola (3.969 m) and, to its right, the Gran Paradiso group (4.061 m).

Self-timer shot, taken on the summit of Mont Thabor (3.178 m), Vallée Étroite (France).
An epic dawn in a severe environment, showing primordial traits.

Shot taken on June 27th 2012 at 10:42 p.m. from the summit of Mount Rocciamelone (3.538 m), Italy.
On the right we have the moon (phase 57%), while on the left is perfectly visible the Scorpius constellation.
Under the "primordial ocean" of clouds are filtering the lights of the Susa valley 3.000 meters below.

One of those scenarios that only the mountain (or a plane) can offer, for obvious height issues.
Shot taken at 4:49 am, from the summit of mount Rocciamelone (3.538 meters / 11,603 feet), Italy, when the clouds were covering the world below till to the horizon.
Even in its immensity, this is a minimalist shot.

My friend is walking in the direction of a carpet of clouds covering the Val Varaita.

In the overall composition of the image I've left also enough room to the nuances of the sky, which I think is a good thing.
The place is somewhere above the Col Agnel (2.748 m), located on the border between Italy and France.

Night shot, taken from the summit of Mont Malamot (2.917 m), France, showing the most interesting part of "our" Milky Way - the Great Rift - pointing south in between Mont Giusalet (3.313 m) and Dents d'Ambin (3.372 m).
Perfectly recognizable the Scorpius constellation, just above the Dents.

As always, the camera produces night images much clearer if compared to what the human eye is able to see on moonless nights.
I think it's important never to forget that our visibility in such nights is pretty close to... nothing! Therefore, I always try to reach a compromise: I take advantage of what the camera allows me to discover, although avoiding excesses of clarity, colors and intelligibility that nothing have to share with the mysteries of the night.

Shot taken at sunrise from the summit of Mount Rocciamelone (3.538 meters / 11,603 feet), Susa Valley, Italy.
While the clouds are covering the entire plain up to the eye can see, in the distance the summit area of Monte Viso (3.841 m) emerges from this lovely, soft and colorful, ocean of clouds.

P.te de Ronce (3.611 m), pure and white, thanks to a good snowfall the previous day, portrayed with a 300mm telezoom from the summit of Mount Rocciamelone (3.538 meters / 11,603 feet), Italy.
Contrast and brightness very faithful to the scene. Everything is blinding at that altitude.

This is an intersection of slopes in the upper Susa Valley (Italy), a landscape lost in a thousand delicate veils of mist... almost like a hand trying to grasp the intangible.

Just a "detail" of the magical landscape in front of me, lit by the moon and caressed by clouds and mists.
From right to left: Col de Petites Jorasses, Glacier de Frebouze, Aiguille de Leschaux (3,759 m), Glacier occidental de Gruetta, Mont Gruetta (3,684 m), Glacier de Gruetta, Monts Rouges de Gruetta.
Mont Blanc massif, Val Ferret, Aosta Valley, Italy.

For most of my visit the Matterhorn was covered by clouds, only at night (and a little bit at dawn) it emerged from above the sea of clouds that was covering the Valtournenche.
The point of light at the "base" of the mountain is the refuge Oriondé Duca degli Abruzzi (2,802 m), the light of its reflector filters through the clouds.

Shot taken from the top of the Rocce Alte del Losas (2.837 m), above the Giacoletti hut, Monviso area, Italy.
It's evening, while the sun goes down many ridges are tinged with red, and my gaze goes far away till to the Gran Paradiso, clearly visible on the right with its glacier.
Mountains that seem to float lightly on the delicate veil of mists shrouding the valley below.

These are the Dents d'Ambin (3.372 m) emerging from a sea of fog and clouds at twilight, after sunset.
I was on the summit of Mont Malamot (2.917 m), France, so I decided to set a slightly long exposure just to fix all the magic play of light & color of the moment.
Considering that I've reached this remote mountain location after some hours of hiking in thick fog and rain, this opening from the mists (which occurred from sunset onwards) has been definitely an unexpected pleasure (hopefully a bit deserved!).
While being above the clouds is something absolutely normal for people who usually go to the mountains, I must admit that every time it is a priceless privilege to admire these lovely, almost intangible, land(cloud)scapes.

Self-timer shot taken along the path that runs along the summit area of Mount Thabor (3.178 m), Hautes-Alpes (France).
A night of wonders admiring the countless valleys below, all shrouded in mystery by that lovely mist.

During this lovely and foggy blue hour you can see on the left the poisonous planet Venus, Mount Cristallo, then at center image the lights of the Auronzo Hut, while on the right are towering the impressive rocky ridges of the Cima Ovest (2,973 m) and Cima Grande (2,999 m), part of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
The fog was receding at this time allowing me to take this picture.
The term "cliff" is generally used to indicate a steep rock face at the edge of the sea... and indeed that evening there was a sea, made of clouds rather than water!
By the way, the term cliff sounds more suitable than we can imagine to describe the Dolomites, given that during the Triassic began the genesis of this type of carbonate rock, subsequently emerged from the waters during the Alpine orogeny in the Cenozoic. These are nothing but former coral reefs!
So I've really enjoyed this "maritime version" of the Lavaredo area, it seemed to go back in time... only fishes were missing ;-)