29 - Matthieu RICARD (Born in 1946)

Matthieu RICARD (Born in 1946) The peak of Jitchou Draké reflected at dawn in Lake Tsophou, Bhutan, May 2007 Art print, UltraChrome HDX pigment inks, Epson Premium Glossy paper, mounted on 2mm Dibond 30 x 45 cm Label on the back of the mounting. This exhibition print may show slight marks or imperfections. Proceeds from the sale of this print will benefit the Karuna Shechen Association and its relief programs for victims of the August 26, 2026, floods in Nepal. The peak of Jitchou Draké (6,989 m) is reflected at dawn in Lake Tsophou (4,350 m) in Bhutan. I hiked for four days through the mountains with Bhutanese friends to reach Tshophou. We reached the two lakes one afternoon. It was windy, and the conditions weren’t ideal for photography. I told my friends that I was going to spend the night there. We had left our tents a two-hour hike down the mountain, at the Jomo Lhari base camp. They weren’t very enthusiastic, but hesitated to leave me to my own devices. We met a nomadic family who took us in under their tent for the night. I knew what would happen at daybreak: at six in the morning, the lake was like a mirror, and the majestic summit of Jitchou Draké, 6,900 meters high, was perfectly reflected on the lake’s surface. I delighted in capturing an image with my camera as a tribute to the great nature photographer Ansel Adams, whose very similar photograph—taken in an American national park—I had seen as a teenager and which had inspired me greatly. It was well worth the four-day hike. The peak of Jitchou Drake (6,989 m) is reflected at dawn in Lake Tsophou (4,350 m) in Bhutan. I walked for four days in the mountains with Bhutanese friends to reach Tshophou. We reached both lakes one afternoon. It was windy, and the conditions were not ideal for photography. I told my friends that I was going to sleep there. We had left our tents a two-hour walk down at the Jomo Lhari base camp. They weren’t very enthusiastic, but they were reluctant to leave me to my fate. We met a nomadic family who let us stay in their tent for the night. I knew what would happen at daybreak: at six o’clock in the morning, the lake was like a mirror, and the lofty 6,900-meter-high Jitchou Draké peak was perfectly reflected on the lake’s surface. I was delighted to capture with my camera an image paying homage to the great nature photographer Ansel Adams—an image very similar to one I had seen in my youth, taken in an American national park, an image that had inspired me greatly. It was well worth the four-day hike.