Col des Aravis by Ola Cedell

Captured in late May, this evocative image of the Col des Aravis showcases the dramatic transition between spring and winter in the French Alps. With snow still clinging to the jagged mountain peaks, the photographer expertly framed the passβ€”a historic route famously traversed by the Tour de France. The composition highlights the rugged, high-altitude terrain at 1,486 meters, emphasizing the scale and serenity of the landscape. This photograph is award-worthy for its crisp technical execution and its ability to convey the quiet, majestic atmosphere of one of France’s most iconic mountain crossings.

Col des Aravis by Ola Cedell
Nikon D800 with 24-70mm | Exposure 1/400sec @ f/11 | ISO 400 | Focal Length 45mm
Copyright Β© Ola Cedell
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ola Cedell

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in southern Sweden in 1969, Ola Cedell has cultivated a diverse international perspective, having lived in Australia and Germany before returning to his home country. Balancing a professional career in engineering with a passion for photography since 1996, Cedell specializes in landscape and food photography. His work is deeply influenced by his global travels and a particular affinity for the landscapes of southern Sweden and the French Alps, where he captures the intersection of natural beauty and culinary culture.

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12.3/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
207/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
13,466 views | 3 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date June 2, 2017
63.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 17.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
La Clusaz, Haute-Savoie, France

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Landscape Photography
Ola Cedell Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.1/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,296/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
13,466/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
2.1/5 points
207/500 Submission
Jury Score: 63.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.3/20
Total Award Score: 75.3/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 3

James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/400sec at f/11, ISO 400, 45mm. It’s a safe, clinical choice. Stopping down to f/11 ensures the D800’s sensor captures every jagged edge of the Aravis peaks, but the ISO 400 is an unnecessary compromise. There’s no noise, yet it’s a wasted stop of dynamic range. I’d have preferred base ISO for the shadows. Still, the sharpness is undeniable. It’s technically sound, even if it doesn’t push the sensor’s limits. It’s cold, precise, and frankly, it works.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/11, the D800’s sensor sits right at the diffraction limit, yet Cedell’s 45mm focal length maintains remarkable micro-contrast across the jagged limestone. I’m genuinely moved by how the light resolves the transition from residual snow to the scree slopes; it’s a crisp, clinical rendering of high-altitude physics. The focal plane is perfectly anchored, capturing the mountain’s texture with a precision that makes my own eyes feel inadequate. It’s a rare, cold clarity I’ve rarely seen captured so honestly.
Mei-Ling Chen Pattern, Geometry, Abstract Form & Visual Mathematics Expert Review
The mountain ridge creates a sharp diagonal, bisecting the frame at a precise 35-degree angle. It’s a masterclass in balancing mass; the heavy, snow-laden peaks in the upper quadrant are perfectly countered by the rhythmic, dark striations of the valley floor. I’m genuinely struck by how the vertical axis of the distant spire anchors the entire composition. It’s a rigid, elegant equation of light and shadow that makes the vastness of the Alps feel mathematically inevitable.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Yuki Sato

The Weight of Stillness

There is a particular kind of patience found in the high places, where the earth meets the sky in a long, unbroken line. Up there, the seasons do not rush; they linger, holding onto the remnants of winter even as the warmth of spring begins to stir beneath the soil.

Read the reflection →
By Isabelle Park

The Weight of Stillness

I spent this morning trying to organize my bookshelf, pulling out old paperbacks I haven't touched in years. I found a dried flower pressed between the pages of a journal from a trip I took a long time ago.

Read the reflection →

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