The Emergence of the Dragon
By Armand Sarlangue

Belief. Endurance. Hope for a better future.

Glaciers are ancient living and moving entities. They hold the memory of our planet. They hold the power to critically impact ecosystems.

Before the advent of glacial exploration, glaciers were often the sources of local myths and legends. Inaccessible strength of nature. People looked at glaciers with fear and respect, considering them sacred.
In the French Alps, they were compared to dragons because of their overall shape and scale-like Seracs. But the comparison is also about glaciers being dangerous, mysterious, and beyond mankind's understanding.
Like dragons.

As dragons were once feared by the inhabitants of the Alps, the myths and beliefs linked to glaciers are widespread throughout the world. In Peru, for example, hundreds of pilgrims visit the sacred glaciers in the region of Cuzco every year during the religious festival of Quyllurit'i.

Ironically, despite all the respect and fascination inspired by these giants, it is mankind's activity that is putting glaciers in danger of disappearing. This image was captured in the Parc National des Ecrins, in 2020.
I captured this scene on the last day before hiking down to the civilization. I left the refuge on a foggy night and passed through the cloud inversion level as I arrived at the glacier viewpoint.

After hiking down through a rock landslide to reach the glacier, I found myself in some sort of mystical world made of ice, fog, and light. I proceeded onto the glacier. The moody atmosphere created waves of fog that passed by as I captured this picture. It was a surreal experience, walking on the back of a « dragon ».
Somewhere between the wonderment to witness so much beauty. And the sadness to see the retreat of the sacred monster.

THE ARTIST
Armand Sarlangue is a full-time photographer for the past 15 years. Son of a pro photographer, visual arts have always been a passion since childhood and he always had a camera in hands since young age.
He started working as a reportage and studio photographer in collaboration with his father at the age of 20, and continued for more than 10 years to work together.
After his dad passed away from cancer, he decided to focus exclusively on his true passion, nature photography. He’s now a photography educator and workshop leader, as well as NFT artist. Photography is a way for him to tell his own stories about our world, as well as the last connection he has with his dad.
Being in the most remote places and capturing the artistic expression of the natural world is what motivates him.
He believes that photography can be one of the best ways to raise awareness of nature conservation, by helping others to connect with the secret beauty of nature.

His landscape images have been awarded dozens of times and exhibited internationally by institutions like the California Academy of Sciences, Exposure Photography Festival, Sienna Photography Festival, and others. His work can be seen in 5 photo books and has been featured by media such as Natgeo, Geo Magazine, Australian Photography Magazine, BBC News, and many others.

LICENSE
Extended Editorial: Can be used to display privately, or in commercial and non-commercial settings, or in groups with an unlimited number of participants. The license includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works. This image will only be minted once as a limited-edition artwork on the Ethereum blockchain and no other editions of this image will be made on this blockchain or any others. Except for the 1/1 Booklet that will be gifted to one of the collectors of the bundle.