Yes, I agree, this first image isn't really of the season ;-) but I simply couldn't resist the temptation of sharing it with you, just as a nostalgic reminder of the great winter that has past, relatively generous in snow, with its fantastic arctic temperatures for a few consecutive weeks, and as you can see, also with its share of extraordinary lights... in other words, a pure delight!!

It is therefore from the very end of Löchental valley (above picture) that this little journey starts, under a very thick coat of fresh snow. I spent all that day under a grey sky and pretty dull light conditions, but the magic of nature would once again change everything that evening. While being posted knee deep in fresh powder snow, waiting a bit desperately for the evening lights, I had just lost all hopes of anything happening and was about to start packing everything up as the cold was really starting to penetrate deep into my bones! But out of nowhere, and in just a few seconds, some sun rays managed to somehow pierce through the horizon clouds and offer me this amazing light! Click, click, it's in the box... whooaaa, what a spectacle again that evening. Thanks, and thanks again Mother Nature. A few weeks before, autumn and its enchanting colours was at its best in the Matterhorn massif (picture below). So how could I resist the call of the lord of the Alps, Sir Matterhorn. My good friend Raymond and I decide to go and meet him. So here we are, right in front of one of the most typical Swiss panorama that we can find, some pretty larch trees with their yellow coat, leading our eyes to the snowy cap of the Matterhorn. I find it simply impossible to get board of such a beautiful "cliché". We feed our eyes of this marvel, as well as are memory cards before climbing to the Gorner glacier nearby where we will spend a couple of yet other memorable photographing days. But let's just come back for a few minutes to the winter where one morning after a fresh layer of snow had fallen, I decide to strap on my skis and climb the Niremont. On its gentle slopes, I come across this old and lonely larch, plastered by a thick layer of snow (bottom left picture). What a great subject which naturally deserves a short stop. The light is already a bit harsh and the colours a little flat for my test. However the intense bleu of the sky above and the graphical look of the subject provide me here with ideal conditions for a black and white image. That's it, it's in the box. Thanks Mr Larch. See you next winter ;-) !

"Green Under" (Lake Geneva, Vaud, Switzerland)

More recently, an assignment work brings me to Ticino where I have to include H²O element in my images. I decide to climb up Monte Boglia from where I knew that I would benefit from a fantastic view over lake Lugano - thanks GoogleEarth :-)) !! A nice walk through the forest effectively ends at the top with a breath taking panoramic view! Add to this a warm and subtle evening light and once again I only have to press the shutter ! (bottom right picture). Once thing for sure, this location will see me again soon!

Just a few weeks ago, it was in the company of some of you that great conditions have presented themselves, during the Dents du Midi workshop. Indeed we benefit that day of a lake Geneva with waters at a level lower then usual, therefore presenting us with many interesting foreground rocks, perfect to fill up the foregrounds of our images. Furthermore, a carpet of green algae floats right under the surface and is just begging to be photographed.

"Magic Switzerland" (Matterhorn, Valais, Switzerland)

So just as the sunrays start caressing the Dents du Midi and Grammont summits in the background, a vertical framing allows to combine all these elements together and offers us a rather unusual but colourful view of lake Geneva (above image). And this is one of the reasons why I love this work so much. Indeed, whatever the amount of times that you can return to photograph the same location, nature will always find a way to amaze you by offering spectacles as unexpected as beautiful.

Anyway, that's about it regarding the brief summary of my photographic adventures during those last few months.

But what about the new images on my websites, promised since a while ago now? Well let's just say... "good things come to those who wait!" to quote the advert of a famous Irish beer!! ;-)

For now, I am pleased to invite you at my upcoming exhibition at Mont-Blanc Photo Festival in Saint-Gervais Les-Bains (France) from 19 to 30 July. I present very large format panoramic prints on the theme "Matterhorn", together with a selection of mountain images captured along my travels around the world.

Four of my images have been awarded in the famous Memorial Maria Luisa one of which has received 1st price in category "Man in the mountain".

Four other panoramic images have received awards in another world famous photo contest, the Epson Pano Awards.

My 2013 "Swiss Alps" wall calendar is already in sales around the book shops, stationery and souvenir shops all around Switzerland, as well as on my website by clicking here. Once again, a series of 12 recent panoramic images are waiting to accompany you all along next year.

Exhibition - Mont Blanc Photo Festival From 19 to 30 July at Saint-Gervais Les-Bains (Haute-Savoie, France). Further details available on my website by clicking here. Winner of Memorial Maria Luisa Contest - 1st Price of "man in the mountain" category. - three other images are finalist of the "Mountain landscapes", "Mountaineering" and "Natural Landscapes" categories. Further information on my website's Awards page. Winner in the Epson Pano Awards Four pictures awarded bronze medals. Further information on my website's Awards page. Calendar 2013 My 2013 wall calendar on the Swiss Alps is already available. All the information about its content, technical details, as well as how you can order it, are available on the Calendars page of my website. Exhibition at the Smithsonian, Washington (USA)) From 30 March 2012 to 06 January 2013, my 1st price winning image in the Nature's Best photo contest (landscape category) is exhibited in the world famous Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington (USA). More information by clicking here.

As for my future projects, my god there are too many to mention them all so let's just talk here about the most important ones!

The first talks of an author's book have started. The actual plan is to launch it sometimes during the end of 2013. As for the name of the editor, the content and other information, I'm afraid it is still too early to be able to tell you more about it. However, suffice to say that the main goal will be to offer you a pleasant journey feeding your eyes with the most delightful images possible. And something tells me that there will be quite a few mountains too ;-).

I am still very keen on updating my website with plenty of new images as well as new framing facilities. Prints on canvas paper will be available which provides a very nice artistic finish. This type of prints will already be visible at my upcoming exhibition in the Mont-Blanc Photo Festival (see above for details).

I am also planning to be present on Facebook and Tweeter. My busy schedule has prevented me doing so up until now, but I know many of you are very fond of these social networks.

And in a closer future, I will be soon embarking on a 7 week trip to Bolivia to photograph some very remote places and absolutely amazing landscapes, with the goal of contributing to the humanitarian project of a good friend of mine. I will send you more details about this very exciting project in my next Newsletter, just before leaving in mid-September.

"White Coat" (Petit Niremont, Fribourg, Switzerland)		"Ticino Atmosphere" (Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland)

So here we are then, see you in a few months for even more fresh news and more images.

I wish you a beautiful summer, rich in great lights!

Warm regards to you all.