Pierre Thiaville – Photographer of the Alps

My name is Pierre Thiaville. I am a mountain photographer and the founder of AluArtMountains, an online gallery dedicated to Alp photo prints on Alu Dibond.

Pierre Thiaville, photographer of the Alps, holding a Nikon D850 in the mountains
Pierre Thiaville, photographer of the Alps and founder of AluArtMountains.

Since 2017, I have been photographing Alpine landscapes with a simple goal: to capture moments where the mountain becomes more than just a backdrop. Light hitting a ridge, a peak emerging from the clouds, a perfect reflection in a high-altitude lake, a track in the snow, a silent atmosphere at dawn.

AluArtMountains was born from this desire: to offer authentic mountain photographs, taken in the field, and then printed on a modern, durable, and ready-to-hang medium. Each photo print is designed to bring a strong Alpine presence into a living room, chalet, office, or second home.

An Alpine gallery run by a field photographer

My work primarily focuses on the French Alps: Mont Blanc, Chamonix, Aravis, Vanoise, Écrins, Chartreuse, Vercors, Belledonne, Beaufortain, and Haute-Savoie. These mountain ranges are at the heart of my photographic world because they concentrate everything I look for in the mountains: light, relief, seasons, contrasts, and the emotion of the place.

I also occasionally photograph other mountain ranges, such as the Swiss Alps, the Dolomites, or the Pyrenees, but the identity of AluArtMountains remains deeply Alpine. The goal is not to offer a generalist gallery, but a coherent selection of mountain landscapes capable of transforming an interior.

My photographic journey

I am self-taught. My vision has developed through countless outings, early mornings, approach walks, unpredictable weather conditions, and long waits for the right light.

My first photographs of Alpine landscapes quickly garnered interest around me. This is what prompted me to create AluArtMountains in 2017, with the idea of making these images accessible as mountain photo prints, without losing the emotion of the moment experienced in the field.

Since then, I have refined my approach around three elements: the authenticity of the place, the composition of the image, and the emotional power of the light. I look for photographs that remain legible, powerful, and elegant when printed in large format.

Photographing the Alps since 2017

Every photo outing begins long before the shutter release. I prepare my shots by studying the weather, the orientation of the light, the season, access points, sunrise or sunset times, and composition possibilities.

Some images are born quickly. Others require several attempts, sometimes several years, before the right conditions align. This is also what gives value to a mountain photograph: it depends on a real place, a precise moment, and light that never repeats itself in exactly the same way.

The Alpine massifs I photograph

My work is organized around the grand Alpine landscapes, with particular attention given to mountain ranges that convey a true visual identity.

  • Mont Blanc & Chamonix – mythical peaks, glaciers, needles, sea of clouds, and high-mountain atmospheres.
  • Aravis & Haute-Savoie – ridges, chalets, snow, alpine pastures, and soft light on the terrain.
  • Vanoise & Savoie – wide-open spaces, refuges, glaciers, high-altitude lakes, and wild landscapes.
  • Écrins – powerful peaks, mineral light, and high-mountain atmospheres.
  • Chartreuse – cliffs, forests, snow, mists, and striking sunsets.
  • Vercors – plateaus, cliffs, wild ambiance, and graphic landscapes.
  • Belledonne – alpine lakes, ridges, reflections, and late-day light.
  • Beaufortain – alpine pastures, dams, gentle peaks, and luminous alpine landscapes.

My camera equipment

I photograph with a Nikon D850, a full-frame camera with 45.7 megapixels renowned for its precision, dynamic range, and ability to reproduce details in both highlights and shadows. It is a tool particularly well-suited for mountain landscapes, where contrasts can be very strong.

I use a range of professional Nikkor lenses depending on the type of image I'm seeking:

  • Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 – for wide landscapes, panoramas, and immersive compositions in the mountains.
  • Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 – for balanced framing, field scenes, and more natural compositions.
  • Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 – for isolating a peak, compressing perspectives, photographing details, or distant wildlife.

This equipment allows me to produce high-resolution files suitable for large-format printing on Alu Dibond, with precise rendering of relief, textures, clouds, snow, and Alpine light.

My philosophy: authenticity, creativity, emotion

A mountain photograph isn't truly commissioned. It's prepared, earned, and then received when the conditions are right. It is this element of anticipation and uncertainty that makes landscape photography so powerful.

I reject computer-generated images and excessive retouching. The photographs offered on AluArtMountains are derived from real shots, taken in the field, under natural conditions.

My objective is not to produce a spectacular image at all costs, but a truthful photograph: an image that respects the place, maintains light coherence, and can live durably in an interior.

“The mountain does not lie. It offers its beauty to those who take the time to observe it.”

From photography to Alu Dibond photo prints

Once the photograph is selected, the image is prepared for printing: cropping, contrast, color balance, sharpness, and overall rendering are controlled to obtain a harmonious print.

Alu Dibond is AluArtMountains' primary medium. It offers a modern, rigid, and durable finish, without a visible frame. It is a particularly suitable choice for wall decoration: the print is lightweight, elegant, ready to hang, and capable of enhancing Alpine landscapes with a strong presence.

This medium is suitable for a contemporary living room as well as a mountain chalet, an office, a professional space, or a second home.

Discover my photo print collections

Each collection brings together a selection of photographs available for printing on Alu Dibond. You can explore images by massif, by ambiance, or by decorative use.

Need advice on choosing a photo or format?

The choice of a photo print depends on several elements: wall size, available viewing distance, room lighting, existing interior colors, and the desired ambiance.

For a large wall, a living room, a chalet, or a professional space, I can help you choose a suitable image, format, or orientation. You can also send a photo of your wall for more precise advice.

Request advice or a wall simulation

Articles and photo tips

In addition to the collections, I publish guides to share my field experience: places to photograph in the Alps, composition tips, light, sunrise, blue hour, Milky Way, reflections, or weather conditions.

Read mountain photo tips

Contact

For a question about a photograph, a format, an order, rights assignment, or a professional project, you can contact me directly via the website form.

Contact me

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