Vittorio Sella, a pioneering Italian photographer born in 1859 in the wool-trading town of Biella, Italy, significantly shaped the history of mountain photography and mountaineering at the turn of the 20th century. Known for his formidable skill and resilience, Sella embarked on numerous expeditions, capturing the majestic beauty of the Himalayas and other mountainous regions through his lens. His innovative use of photographic techniques, such as the collodion process, allowed him to produce large-format glass plates even under extreme conditions. Sella's work is currently celebrated in a new exhibition in Delhi, "Vittorio Sella: Photographer in the Himalaya," showcasing the grandeur he immortalized through his camera.
Sella made his initial ascents in the Alps during his twenties. His passion for photography and mountains led him to master complex photographic techniques. He experimented tirelessly, capturing telephoto images of Kanchenjunga and participating in a significant expedition to K2 in 1909. On this journey, he documented around 250 formal photographs using his Ross & Co camera over several months. Similarly, his expedition to Kanchenjunga resulted in approximately 200 photographs.
"Sella was one of the first to recognise how tracks in the snow are as much part of the composition as the mountaineers who made them." – Thomson
The equipment Sella carried was substantial by today's standards. His clothing added over 10 kilograms to his load, while his camera gear, including a Dallmeyer camera, tripod, and plates, weighed an additional 30 kilograms—exceeding modern airline baggage limits. Despite these challenges, Sella displayed extraordinary endurance, traversing the Alps with remarkable speed.
"By modern digital standards, this number is nothing extraordinary – and even in the last days of analogue film, it would equate to some eight rolls, what a 1970s photographer could have used in a single morning on a single mountain – but when Sella was photographing, this was a considerable number." – Thomson
Sella's makeshift camera harness and heavy boots are preserved at the Photographic Institute in Biella. These items serve as testament to the demanding nature of early high-altitude photography. The risks were significant; humid conditions often ruined his most ambitious shots by causing tissue dividers to stick to negatives.
His Himalayan journey commenced in 1899 when he joined British explorer Douglas Freshfield on an expedition around Kanchenjunga. Sella's images from this period are regarded as some of the most iconic ever captured. Despite technological limitations, each photograph required meticulous planning and execution.
"This meant enormous care and thought was given to each photograph, both because he had relatively few plates he could shoot." – Thomson
Sella's work has left an indelible mark on the world of mountain photography. Ansel Adams once remarked on the "purity of Sella's interpretations," noting how they move spectators to a "religious awe." Jim Curran praised him as "possibly the greatest mountain photographer," highlighting his technical perfection and aesthetic refinement.
"purity of Sella's interpretations move the spectator to a religious awe" – Ansel Adams
"possibly the greatest mountain photographer… his name [is] synonymous with technical perfection and aesthetic refinement" – Jim Curran
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