From exquisite beauty to unimaginable tragedy
The last day of the year opens its eyes.
Light touches a frozen world.
Every branch holds its breath.
Winter scatters silver across the land.
Beauty, fragile and ephemeral.
Ice melts into motion.
Reflections ripple and change.
Footsteps carry the year forward,
along quiet paths of water and ice.
The sky holds its deepest blue.
The world feels untouched.
The sun bows to the mountains.
The year exhales.
Warm lights bloom in the cold.
Journeys disappear into darkness.
A new morning arrives,
carrying unbearable news.
This year begins in loss.
We remember those who did not see this sunrise.
Their absence lives in every quiet frame.
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Despite a glorious sunrise on 1st January 2026, it was a dark start to the year.
We planned a shoot covering the transition from 2025 to 2026 in Valais central, and filmed on 31.12.2025 and dawn of 01.01.2026, only to then learn of the tragic bar fire in neighbouring Crans Montana. Exquisite beauty turned to trajedy.
This edit is in memory of all the souls who lost their lives in the fire, all the badly burned still fighting for their lives, with years of treatment and adaptation ahead of them, the families and friends impacted, and all the rescue services, including members of the pubic who pitched in, risking their lives when the manageress was beating a hasty retreat. Many of them are still in hospital recovering from burns and smoke inhalation. We pray that a rigourous enquiry and trial will lead to strong support for all families involved and changes that stop this type of tragedy ever happening again. This is far from the first time: lessons must be learned.
