Between Sky and Stone | Framed Print

A monochrome photograph captured at Campamento Federación during a New Year expedition to Cerro El Plomo. Small silhouettes gather along the ridge beneath an immense Andean skyline, creating a composition defined by scale, anticipation, and the quiet presence of people within the mountains.

Photographed by Santiago Canales during the summer of 2018–2019, this image documents an evening at Federación, the traditional high camp where mountaineers spend the night before attempting the summit of Cerro El Plomo. During the summer season, climbers from different expeditions converge here, sharing the landscape, the light, and the anticipation of summit day. Against the vast backdrop of the Andes, the figures become subtle markers of human presence within a landscape that feels immeasurably larger than itself.

Beyond the camp, the horizon opens across some of the most iconic mountains of central Chile. The skyline of the Cajón del Maipo stretches into the distance, including peaks such as Marmolejo, Volcán San José, El Morado, and Cerro El Plomo itself. For generations, these mountains have defined the experience of Santiago’s mountaineering culture. El Plomo, whose glaciers feed the valley below, has long held a special place in the region, serving as both a landmark above the city and a sacred high-altitude site for the pre-Columbian peoples who inhabited the central Andes.

Presented in black and white, the photograph emphasizes form, atmosphere, and contrast. The immense sky, layered mountain ranges, and small gathering of climbers create an image that reflects both the scale of the Andes and the timeless ritual of preparing for the ascent.

Photographer: Santiago Canales

Location: Campamento Federación, Cerro El Plomo, Chilean Andes

Date: New Year Expedition 2018–2019

Medium: Black and White Landscape Photography

Subject: Mountaineers, alpine camp, Andean skyline, high mountain landscape