Karakoram Range, Pakistan

A recurring phenomenon I have experienced in Himalayan photography is that very special shots will arrive in bunches, depending upon some fleeting, magical moment in the mountains. The sunrise of August 15th was one of those moments. In 20 seconds I recorded three photographs of the sun kissing Nameless Tower and Uli Biaho as the swirling mist prepared to close in again. And just like that, it was gone.

I remember feeling a little smug as I came back down to camp for breakfast, with everyone else waking up to cloudy skies. The effect was like a champagne cork - finally I could relax, I'd gotten something I'd come for.