Black and White Landscape Fine Art Prints: “Natural Wonders of the Semien Mountains" 

For this collection of fine art prints in my theme « shades of blacks and whites », I wanted to showcase the beautiful Simien Mountains of northern Ethiopia.

My first trip to this region was devoted to photographing the Gelada monkeys, which are native to the region containing Ethiopia. Thus, I expected to find an area quite high in altitude but with very flat reliefs. However, I was surprised to encounter a very mountainous region with mountain peaks that often exceed 4000 meters (13.000 feet) above sea level. The valleys are steep, and the crevasses are dizzying.

A single road runs through the Simien Mountains. It winds through the mountains. At the end of each turn, I was delighted to discover a wonderful, totally unexpected new landscape. The Simien Mountains are dotted with small villages which speckle the fertile lands used to cultivate grain. As time passed, these villages ultimately shaped the erosion of the mountainous reliefs.

What fascinated me most was that I could see for miles from the steep peeks of these mountains. The view is never hindered by other mountains or pollution. It is very surprising to see all these green valleys, trailing after each other in succession. As pollution is completely absent from this region due to its agricultural focus, the clouds further accentuate the impression that the viewer is privileged in contemplating such a breathtaking and raw view of nature.

Black and white allows me to illuminate each detail of the valleys. Light allows me to play with the shapes and the structures of this extraordinary maze.