The Clouds Have Rocks in Them

From a different era, this capture is significant beyond the image itself. Shot on slide film, it's part of the genesis story of intrepidphotos. An image that sparked the realisation in me that my photography could transcend mere documentation to become a form of art. Way back in 2004, when I was a 24-year-old budding photographer and secretary of a university rock climbing club, I took my first major paid international photographic assignment. This involved a month long expedition into the high altitude Nepalese Himalayas. The expedition team consisted of just my future wife and two Sherpas. We spent a month over 3000m (9,842ft) altitude and a week sleeping over 5000m (16,404ft). At 5000m you have only half the oxygen compared to sea level, which makes even the simplest tasks exceedingly difficult. We had no power to charge appliances, no water for showering. Over the course of the expedition, I lost almost 20% of my body weight from the altitude and exertion. Even breathing while trying to sleep felt like exercise at these altitudes. This was also during the time of the Maoist Insurgency (also known as the Nepalese Civil War). So we occasionally saw groups of isolated soldiers crossing high mountain passes near us, adding an extra element of stress. The expedition was shot on slide film. Digital cameras at the time were low quality and resolution. Early battery technology had issues with severe cold; with no power, it was too heavy to carry extra batteries anyway. We had no ability to review any of my work in the field. The image was shot on Fuji Velvia and named after the old Nepalese pilot's adage, “we don't fly when there are clouds, because the clouds have rocks in them.” It was taken after climbing to an elevation of 5,559 metres (18,238 ft). The spire rises to 6,812m (22,349ft). Ama Dablam in the local language means "Mother's necklace"; the long ridges on each side are like the arms of a mother (ama) protecting her child, and the hanging glacier is thought of as the dablam, the traditional double-pendant containing pictures of the gods, worn by Sherpa women. The photos were featured at a physical exhibition called Himalayan Awakening. This kickstarted my career with "The Clouds Have Rocks in Them" becoming symbolic of the brand intrepidphotos.com that I had registered in 2001.