Mountaintops and high peaks hold a unique allure, drawing people in with the promise of a profound human connection. While hiking the Dolomites over the weekend, I could feel a sense of pure bliss and serenity. Even in the quaint, little towns nestled beneath these towering giants, I felt safe in their protective embrace. Even the thought of the long trek towards the summit didn’t frighten me; in fact, I felt quite comfortable in the natural splendor of it all.

The photographs I took on this trip are inspired by the master of black-and-white landscape photography and environmental activist, Ansel Adams. His photographs are known for capturing the pure beauty of the natural world, evoking deep emotions. His use of black-and-white in his photography better captures the intricate shapes and textures of the landscapes he immortalized through his photos. Throughout my own photographs, I wanted to convey the same emotional and environmental impact Ansel Adams’ photos did. 

My photos follow the journey to the summit of the Dolomites. I wanted to capture what it was like seeing these tall, looming mountains from the distance, which depicted through photo 1. When I started my ascent to the top, I wanted to show how the mountains become more tangible. These ginormous creations of nature look so near but are still so far: vastness and proximity coexisting. This was the feeling I wanted to create with photo 2. 

Of course, no expedition comes without its challenges. I was wildly unprepared for the freezing temperatures of the mountains and the slippery paths that came with it; I slipped one too many times. Photo 3 features a person slipping on the slopes reaching the summit. The foreboding clouds and dark ridges in the backdrop encapsulate the perilous reality of these breathtaking natural creations. When I finally reached the top of Seceda Ridge, a prominent peak in the Dolomites mountain range, I felt like I had ascended to the top of world. The jagged slopes were right at my fingertips, and I was looking at everything below me that I had traversed over to reach the top. Those were the feelings I wanted to represent with photos 4 and 5—the satisfaction of reaching your goal and looking back on all that you had overcome to get there.

 At the summit, I saw something striking: a huge shrine of Jesus on a cross. Its solitary presence atop the mountain radiated a sense of power and strength. I understood why this was put here, and I could feel its resonance within me as well. Despite not growing up in a religious environment, there are moments when, regardless of one's upbringing, a spiritual connection to the Earth and a higher power is felt. Many have scaled high terrains in pursuit of this connection. Sometimes this journey is what one might need to find solace in whatever hardships they are facing in their lives. No matter the reason, a journey like this one is taken for purpose. The journey is hard and not without its hardships, but when you finally reach the top, you find exactly what you are looking for.