2026, Encounters, Nepal Selection

On the Way to School – A Slice of Life in Nepal

On the Way to School – A Slice of Life in Nepal

On the Way to School – A Slice of Life in Nepal

Every morning, thousands of children make their way to school, whether on foot or by bicycle. In Nepal, this young schoolboy wears a bright smile as he proudly shows a small paper crane. A simple yet universal everyday scene, reminding us that curiosity and the joy of childhood know no borders.

Like every morning, this young schoolboy is on his way to school, riding on the back of a relative’s bicycle. As he notices me, he flashes a broad smile and proudly holds up the small paper crane in his hand. A spontaneous gesture, a few seconds of shared connection, and then we each continue on our way.

It is often these everyday moments that give travel its greatest meaning. They appear in no guidebook and are not tied to any famous landmark, yet they reveal far more about a country’s character than pages of description ever could. A glance, a smile, or a simple gesture is sometimes all it takes to create a lasting memory.

In Nepal, education represents a real opportunity for many children. Depending on where they live, some travel several kilometres each day to reach school, on foot, by bicycle, or using whatever transport is available. Despite these challenges, the journey to school often remains a time of sharing, carefree laughter, and hope for the future.

2025, Birds, Ethiopia Selection

Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) taking off from an Ethiopian Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia foliosa), photographed in the highlands of Ethiopia

Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) taking off from an Ethiopian Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia foliosa), photographed in the highlands of Ethiopia

Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) taking off from a Kniphofia foliosa, photographed in the highlands of Ethiopia

After sipping nectar from the long blossoms of an Kniphofia foliosa, the Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) takes flight once more. A nearly silent departure, suspended between two wingbeats, where everything seems completely still despite the speed.

This scene was captured in the highlands of Ethiopia, where the striking flower spikes of the Kniphofia foliosa dot the high-altitude landscapes. Rich in nectar, they represent a precious resource for the Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa), a tiny passerine whose long, curved bill is perfectly adapted for exploring these flowers.

Photographing these birds requires as much patience as it does luck. Their takeoff is entirely unpredictable and lasts only a fraction of a second. When finally captured, this fleeting instant reveals all the grace and precision in the flight of these true winged jewels.

Yet, behind this incredible agility lies an equally fascinating adaptation. During the day, the Malachite Sunbird’s heart can beat between 500 and 1,000 times per minute to power its rapid metabolism and swift flight, sometimes hovering right before the flowers. However, as night falls over the Ethiopian mountains and temperatures plummet, it adopts a radically different strategy: it enters torpor, a state of deep rest during which its heart rate can drop to around 50 beats per minute. Its body temperature also decreases significantly, allowing it to conserve vital energy until the return of the first sunbeams.

This alternation between some of the most intense activity in the avian world and extreme energy conservation perfectly illustrates the Malachite Sunbird’s extraordinary capacity to adapt to its mountain environment.

2025, Birds, Oman Selection

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), wintering along the coast of Dhofar, Oman

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) at sunset on a beach in the Dhofar region, Oman

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), wintering along the coast of Dhofar, Oman

Born in the misty wetlands of the North and photographed beneath the blazing sun of Oman, the Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) links two worlds that could hardly seem more different.

The name nebularia derives from the Latin nebula, meaning “mist” or “fog.” A tribute to the vast wetlands of northern Eurasia where the Common Greenshank breeds beneath the endless light of the boreal summer. Yet the bird in this photograph is thousands of kilometres away from those misty lands. Along the coast of Oman, bathed in the fiery glow of a setting sun, it continues one of the oldest journeys in the living world, linking each year the fogs of the North with the desert shores of the Arabian Peninsula.

2026, Mammals, Nepal Selection, Tigre (panthera tigris)

The Bengal Tiger: The Lord of the Terai Plains

Bengal tiger on the lookout in the tall grass and dense vegetation of Bardia National Park in Nepal

The Bengal Tiger: The Lord of the Terai Plains

Emerging from the dense vegetation, the Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) embodies on its own the raw power and mystery of Asian wildlife.

While India is home to the majority of this sub-species’ population, it is in the heart of the Terai plains, within Nepal’s Bardia National Park, that this great feline was captured. This lord of jungles and plains is the largest wild cat in the world, instantly recognizable by its iconic coat whose black stripes, unique to each individual, act as fingerprints.

Yet, the majesty of this apex predator very nearly caused its downfall. Falling victim to intensive and relentless hunting during the 19th and 20th centuries—whether for colonial trophies or poaching—the tiger saw its numbers plummet dramatically, verging on extinction across South Asia. Compounding this hunting was the massive destruction of its natural habitat, fragmenting its historical territory.

Classified as “Endangered” (EN) on the IUCN Red List, the Bengal Tiger is now at the heart of major conservation programs. Nepal has distinguished itself on the global stage through its spectacular protection efforts, managing to nearly triple its tiger population within fifteen years. Bardia National Park stands as one of the finest symbols of this wild rebirth, even though the coexistence between humans and the great feline along the edges of protected areas remains a daily challenge.

2015, Encounters, Mongolia Selection

Kushi and her grandmother, Mongolia

Child looking out the window in the morning light inside a wooden house in Mongolia, with her grandmother, intergenerational life scene

Kushi and her grandmother, Mongolia

A suspended moment of connection between generations, at the heart of the Mongolian home.

Kushi stands beside her grandmother, her gaze drawn to the morning light streaming through the window of the wooden house. Her attention turns outward, as if captivated by the world beyond the walls, while her grandmother watches over her, present and attentive. In Mongolia, several generations often live under the same roof, and these simple moments shape everyday life.

In many nomadic or rural cultures, such as in Mongolia, the extended family plays a central role in education and daily life. Knowledge, traditions, and values are passed down over time through closeness, gestures, and the presence of elders.

2017, Mainland France Selection, Thunder

Lightning over the Puy de Dôme, Auvergne, France

Lightning striking near the Puy de Dôme at sunset, with dramatic purple and red sky over mountainous landscape in France

Lightning over the Puy de Dôme, Auvergne, France

A powerful lightning strike illuminates the sky near the Puy de Dôme at dusk.

Few natural phenomena capture both awe and unease quite like lightning. In this photograph, a bolt tears across the sky, striking the landscape near the iconic volcanic summit of the Puy de Dôme. The intense contrast between the electric discharge and the fading light of sunset highlights the raw power of the atmosphere.

Beyond its visual impact, this location carries deep historical significance. During the Gallo-Roman period, the summit of the Puy de Dôme was home to a major temple dedicated to Mercury, one of the most important deities in Roman religion. Elevated sites such as this were often chosen for worship, bringing humans closer to the heavens and, symbolically, to the gods themselves.

Lightning, in ancient belief systems, was frequently interpreted as a manifestation of divine will. While in Roman tradition thunder was more commonly associated with Jupiter, king of the gods, the presence of a sanctuary to Mercury atop this mountain reinforces the idea of a sacred landscape where sky and earth converge. Witnessing lightning in such a place today inevitably echoes those ancient interpretations, reminding us of a time when natural forces were seen as direct expressions of divine power.

Today, science explains lightning as a massive electrostatic discharge between cloud and ground. Yet, standing before such a spectacle near a site once devoted to the gods, it is easy to understand why our ancestors perceived something far greater at work.

2026, Mainland France Selection, Reptils and Amphibians

Asp viper in the heart of the moss

Close-up of an asp viper (Vipera aspis) in woodland, head raised, showing its scales and vertical pupil

Asp viper in the heart of the moss

An asp viper (Vipera aspis) moves discreetly between moss and twigs.

Discreet and often feared, the asp viper is nevertheless a fascinating animal that plays an essential role in ecosystem balance. Found across many regions of Europe, it particularly favors dry, sunny habitats, as well as woodland areas where it can blend into its surroundings.

In this image, one can observe the fineness of its scales and the subtlety of its coloration. Nearly motionless, it carefully monitors its surroundings, ready to flee at the slightest disturbance rather than attack.

Contrary to common belief, the asp viper is not aggressive toward humans. Bites are rare and usually occur when the animal is surprised or handled. Observing it from a distance, as shown here, allows one to appreciate the full beauty of this often misunderstood reptile.

2015, Encounters, Rajasthan Selection

Changing a light bulb on a street garland in India

Changing a light bulb on a street garland in India

Changing a light bulb on a street garland in India

At nightfall, one of the bulbs on the garland was no longer working.

A few minutes later, a table, some friends to hold the balance… and the street turns into an improvised workshop.
When travelling, it is often these small everyday scenes that tell the most about a country.

2025, Ethiopia Selection, Gelada (Theropithecus gelada)

Social interactions among geladas, Oromia region, Ethiopia

Social interactions among geladas, Oromia region, Ethiopia

Social Theater of the Highlands, Fiche.

On the plateaus of the Oromia region, near Fiche, this group scene reveals the intricate complexity of the bonds that unite geladas.

Geladas possess one of the most sophisticated social structures among primates. This image captures a moment of both tension and care: while one individual conscientiously engages in grooming—a vital gesture for strengthening alliances—another loudly expresses its displeasure or excitement. In gelada society, communication relies on a rich array of gestures and complex vocalizations that, in their rhythm and structure, closely mirror human speech. This dynamic interaction illustrates the bustling life of these high-altitude herbivores, where every posture is a message intended to maintain balance and cohesion within the clan.

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