This photo was taken during a 14-month photography trip I took from 2024-2025. For my photography projects, being able to travel with a small expedition truck is a great advantage. This allows me to stay on site as long as necessary and quietly get to know my surroundings, which I find essential for myself but also for taking interesting photos's.
For 14 days, I camped in the Vall d'Aran, a valley in the high mountains of the Catalan Pyrenees. In the early 20th century, zinc was mined on a large scale in the areas of Arres and Bossòst. Traces of mining are still visible in the landscape in some places but absolute tranquillity has returned.
I already knew the Vall d'Aran from previous trips and I describe the valley as magical because of its rich Romano-Gothic heritage combined with the natural beauty of the Pyrenees.
The most obvious thing would have been for me to capture that beauty with impressive landscape photography.
But because of the length of my trip and the diversity of locations I visited, I made connections.
Searching for the essence of my subject also gave me cohesion among the project's other photographic images.
For this photographic work, I distilled a still life from the landscape.
This process led to an image that highlights the atmosphere, strength and purity of the landscape.
SACKGASSE = DEAD END.. Read more…