Tenzing Energy
Embarking on an adventure of a lifetime, I joined Tenzing Energy in Nepal for their inaugural Tenzing Treks initiative. Named after the legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, who, alongside Sir Edmund Hillary, was the first to summit Everest, I was tasked with capturing both photos and videos throughout the trip. Our journey took us from the bustling streets and ancient temples of Kathmandu to the awe-inspiring valleys of the Khumbu region, all the way to the base of the world’s tallest mountain. As a bonus experience, we also climbed nearby Lobuche East, reaching a staggering altitude of 6199m.
After a couple of days immersing ourselves in the vibrant culture of Nepal’s capital city, we embarked on a thrilling helicopter ride into the Himalayas, landing at our first tea lodge in Phakding. Over the course of the next week, we trekked along the trail, stopping at iconic locations such as Namche Bazaar, Tengboche Monastery, and the higher lodges at Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep, before finally reaching Everest Base Camp. After experiencing life at the world’s highest camp, we then made our way to Lobuche High Camp, where we prepared for our summit push.
With an alpine start at 0100, we began our ascent, donning crampons and clipping into fixed lines as we made our way up the imposing face. The sun rising alongside us, we soon found ourselves approaching 6000m and the final few pitches to the summit. Despite the thin air, my spirit soared as we finally stood on top of a Himalayan peak, one of the most satisfying and surreal experiences I’ve ever had. The following days, as we made our way back to Lukla, were filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment, as we chatted with the group and reminisced about the incredible journey we had just completed.
Shooting a full expedition trek was a challenge, but one that I relished. It required adaptive and fast-paced photography, finding compositions on the go while battling the effects of altitude. For this trip, I mainly relied on zoom lenses, as there was little time to stage elaborate photo opportunities. Instead, it was more of a documentary-style shoot, with impulsive shooting and filming to capture the raw and authentic moments of the trek.
