I loved Nepal. I loved the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. And I loved Annapurna I. The colourful prayer-flags that adorn sacred sites in Nepal are an unforgettable feature of that country. Photographically, they are such a gorgeous contrast with the white and blue theme of the peaks themselves that few travellers with an eye for images will forget this feature of the country in a hurry. It is one of the most vivid and colourful memories, and a cliche for photographers such as myself. Cliche, maybe, but one that works so well.
I took this shot of Annapurna through the flags hanging from the shrine to fallen mountaineers above Annapurna Base Camp. The framing just worked, and I liked the contrast of scales. Annapurna I is gargantuan- 8,091m and the 10th highest peak in the world (albeit the first 8,000m peak to be climbed, by Maurice Herzog in 1951). The location is breaktaking, and with the strong fall sunlight, the colours just shone. I want to go back here. To take more photos. And to stand in this beautiful location and enjoy the magnificence of creation once again.
