The First Adventure Photographer: Vittorio Sella
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.
Hi Jake
I too am a great fan of Sella’s work. You may like to read my essay on Sella here:
http://www.sujoydas.com/SujoyDas/Vittorio-Sella-Mountain/10461175_voAge
cheers
Sujoy
Thanks for sharing, Sujoy. Great article on a great photographer!
This is just a stunning photograph