In Search of the Snow Leopard
I joined an expedition to Kibbar in the Spity Valley one of the highest inhabited regions on Earth during the depths of winter, with a single goal, photograph the elusive snow leopard.
At over 4,000 meters altitude, temperatures drop far below freezing, the air thins, and silence becomes constant. Days were spent scanning vast mountain slopes, following faint tracks in the snow, and waiting for hours for the slightest movement in an endless landscape of rock and ice.
Known as the “ghost of the mountains,” the snow leopard is rarely seen. Capturing it requires patience, endurance, and deep respect for its fragile habitat. Yet this journey was about more than the encounter itself. It became a study of life at the edge of survival, the stark beauty of the Himalayan winter, the scale of the mountains, subtle traces of wildlife, and the human presence that endures in this extreme environment. Cold mornings, long ascents, shared meals, and long hours of waiting shaped each day.
This body of work represents 15 days in the high Himalayas, a journey defined by resilience, uncertainty, and rare moments of connection with one of the wildest places on Earth.
Kibbar, Spiti Valley — Indian Himalayas
Fine Art Prints & Pricing
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60 × 34 cm — €195 (+ 3 cm white border) - 80 × 45 cm — €245 (+ 3 cm white border)
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HIMA001 - The immense grandeur of the Himalaya, it makes you realize how small you are.
HIMA002 - Seemingly Endless but always impressive and never ending.
HIMA003 - Clouds adding a mystical touch to the mountains.
HIMA004 - Lingering roads high in the mountains before reaching destination.
HIMA005 - The sheer mass of snow determines wether traffic continues.
HIMA006 - This is part of our journey before reaching destination.
HIMA007 - Avalanches blocked the road long before we reached our destination, leaving us stranded in a cozy homestay where everyone was incredibly helpful. They set up a petrol stove in our room to keep us warm, but the smell was so strong we had to crack the windows to be able to breathe normally.
HIMA008 - As we where stuck, people from the near bye village came spontaneously to help us carrying our luggage to a waiting bus.
HIMA009 - It gave us already a first taste of what was waiting for us in the coming period.
HIMA010 - The day after. Finally the destination and gate, the adventure could start.
HIMA011 - View on a double bridge not entirely covered by snow while walking to our homestay.
HIMA012 -While wading through snow, the landscape begins to reveal quieter perspectives, delicate stems emerging through white silence, their subtle color standing in quiet contrast. It is not always about wildlife. Sometimes the story lies in what endures.
HIMA013 - Structures of frozen ice.
HIMA014 - Black and Yellow Grosbeak.
HIMA015 - Himalayan Jungle crow.
HIMA016 - Himalayan Quail.
HIMA018 - Winged Redstart (Phoenicurus erythrogastrus).
HIMA018 - Bleu sheep in their favorite habitat.
HIMA019 - Bleu sheep watching us from behind the rocks.
HIMA020 - juvenile Blue sheep.
HIMA021 - Bleu sheep , digging in the snow hoping to find food.
HIMA022 - Himalayan yak, a extremely useful animal for the locals.
HIMA023 - The climb, up to a place higher where snow leopards were seen.
HIMA024 - Himalayan Fox in his descend deep in the snow .
HIMA025 - Quite a good pose.
HIMA026 - Watching me as I stopped to photograph from a safe distance.
HIMA027 - This image shows once more how difficult snow leopards are to find.
HIMA028 - Where do you see them
HIMA029 - Have another close look.
HIMA030 - 2 youngsters playing at a distance of about 300m. Photographed with 600mm lens and 2x converter. Camera on tripod.
HIMA031 - Blending in in this amazing landscape.
HIMA032 - The mother leopard with 2 of her cubs.
HIMA033 - From a distance at the edge of the mountain.
HIMA034 - Search the tree snow leopards.
HIMA035 -Snow leopard, nature and me , what else more could i ask for?
HIMA036 - Mature female sent marking on the rocks.
HIMA037 - Mother with two 18 month old cubs.
HIMA038 - On vadrouille.
HIMA039 - No words.
HIMA040 - Adult male approaching his kill.
HIMA041 - Here I had to use once more the converter 2x and the prime lens 600mm in combination with a tripod.
HIMA042 - Feeding on his prey.
HIMA043 - Mother with her 2 nearly adult cubs, hidden and safe for the upcoming snow storm.
HIMA044 - At evening on the way back to their sleeping grounds.
HIMA045 - Very early in the morning, this male snow leopard appeared. I was completely overwhelmed, never expecting him to show up! My camera settings were far from ideal, but I was too excited to even think about this.
HIMA046 - i was so impressed to find this male in my proximity about 100 m.
HIMA047 - This is the result of an over exposed photograph, but I am still happy with it.
HIMA048 - Blending in while posing.
HIMA049 - On the other side of the canyon , they stayed there t'ill late afternoon.
HIMA050 - Another image of these elusive animals , they blend in so well and mostly you do not even are aware that they are in your proximity.
HIMA051 - Even if it is hard to move forward, finding yourself in a extended and majestic area like this is a dream, every effort word of it.