Photographer Yan Zhang doesn’t do things by halves. Not only does he
climb some of our highest mountains, but, in the pursuit of true beauty,
he also photographs them against the limitless sky, reshaping the way
we see our alpine regionsALPINE GLOW
WORDS | KELLY LYNCHMOUNT SEFTON, AORAKI / MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK, NIKON D800E, 14MM, 1/125S, F/11, ISO 100
Breathtaking images of the world’s
highest peaks have always been an
impressive photography feat, but, as
the years pass, it is increasingly difficult
to discover new ways of representing
these earthen giants. However, it has
taken photographer Yan Zhang just a
short span to learn both the craft of
photography and the perilous ways
of mountaineering to offer a unique
perspective on our craggy land.Based in Sydney, Yan taught himself
photography 12 years ago, trying a
variety of genres until he settled into
landscape, which aligned nicely with his
periodic hikes in the Blue Mountains.
Inspired by Australian photographer
Kah Kit Yoong, Yan attended Yoong’s
photography workshop in Aoraki /
Mount Cook National Park in 2011. This
was the first time that he had been to the
region and he was truly captivated.He returned two years later with his
family, but their adventure plans were
disrupted by a tempestuous storm
that kept them indoors for days. Finally
resigning himself to relaxation, Yan
picked up a book titled Tr u e S o u t h by
New Zealand outdoor explorer and
photographer Pat Barrett. Yan was
so inspired that he bought the book,
which cemented his drive to become
a mountaineer, despite having no
previous experience.In between his day job as a professor
at Western Sydney University, where
he leads a research group in artificial
intelligence, Yan turned his inspiration
into action. He and his mountain
climbing partner, Mark Watson,
traversed Aoraki / Mount Cook three
times, as well as the Darran Mountains
in Fiordland National Park, in a two-
year period.