Highest peak of the Rouies as seen from the Chardon Glacier, August 3, 1888

When I was a kid, I remember seeing some of Vittoria Sella's dramatic, mysterious, intriguing images of the mountains. They captivated me…mists swirling around steep precipices, climbers venturing into unknown terrain.

Those images never left my mind's eye, and were a big reason why I began not only climbing mountains, but also photographing them.

Today, many of Sella's images sit in my office, in books of his expeditions with the Duke of Abruzzi. They inspire me to this day.

Those of you who live in Boston can see an exhibition of Sella's works – aptly titled Heights of Observation – at the Panopticon Gallery starting in September.

See some more of Vittorio Sella's images on the Panopticon website here, or read the PDF press release about the exhibition here. And, of course, if you're in Boston, don't miss the exhibit, which runs from September 9 – November 8, 2010.

Jake Norton is an Everest climber, guide, photographer, writer, and motivational speaker from Colorado.