Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval HDR

2026, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, France

After discovering this viewpoint while making my way to a hike in the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval a year earlier, I knew I had to return under the stars. With the Milky Way season approaching, I came back to photograph the galactic core rising above the distinctive silhouette of the Tête à l'Âne peak. Searching for a unique perspective, I explored the forest atop the northern cliffs overlooking the village and valley below.
To safely reach the cliff's edge, I anchored myself to a nearby tree with a rope. Upon reaching the viewpoint, I discovered that trees and overhanging vegetation obscured much of the valley below, making the panoramic composition I had envisioned impossible. Improvisation became necessary; to gain a clear enough view, I secured the tripod near the cliff edge with a safety tether, triggered a delayed exposure, and then hurried into position to hold back the branches while the camera captured the scene. The resulting image embraces a vertical composition, placing the Tête à l'Âne peak directly beneath the rising arc of the Milky Way.

© 2026 Mathias DELAHAYE - All right reserved