286 mm | f/11 | .8 seconds | ISO 200

This shot certainly doesn't scream Himalayas, perhaps it even evokes thoughts of warmer tropical climates. That said, it is sunset from the hills above Namche Bazar, which is the last large village you walk through on your way to Gokyo or Everest Base Camp (or both, as was our case).

For me, this image reminds me of the calm before the storm, the mystery of what was ahead, the mystery of the unknown. We knew that after leaving here it would get progressively harder, colder, longer, steeper, and fewer (oxygen!). I had that fear of 'What if I can't make it? What if I get sick?' in the back of my mind, hyper aware, anxious and looking for any 'not normal' signs I may have felt that could signal trouble ahead (and I'm pretty confident I wasn't alone in that). After all the research, training and preparation, the reality was that we just didn't know what truly lay ahead. There was no way we could. . So, to me, this image is that last look back over the shoulder to the comforts of the known, before putting my head back down and marching forward on the adventure of a lifetime into a new and alien world…one step at a time.

EDITION LIMITS PER SIZE:

• 17” x 21”: 12

• 30” x 37”: 8

• 40” x 49”: 4

Note: sizes may vary by up to 1/4 inch on each dimension.

PRINT AND MOUNT DETAILS:

• PRINT ONLY: Personally printed on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Metallic 340gsm, 100% cotton, natural white with high gloss metallic finish paper. Print is additionally protected by an invisible, matte film, guarding against UV damage and making it safe for gentle wipe-down cleaning.

• DIBOND MOUNT: Printed on Arches smooth fine art paper, mounted onto a 1/4 inch aluminum plate, which in turn is mounted to a hidden Nielsen frame (provides the illusion the print is floating ~1 inch off the wall). Print is additionally protected by an invisible, matte film, guarding against UV damage and making it safe for gentle wipe-down cleaning.