The Himalayas

The Himalayas: The very words evoke majesty and grandeur, but the nearly impenetrable terrain has daunted even the most intrepid of photographers. Until now, the beauty of these mountains and the hardy people who inhabit them have lain beneath a veil of mystery. Nepal itself has, until recent years, been subject to a state of self-isolation, changes coming only with the present, enlightened government.

Combining the talents of author, cameraman, and skilled mountain climber, Takehide Kazami has ventured into the most remote areas of this region, spending months in his quest to capture on film the rugged, breathtaking beauty of "the roof of the world." Many photographs in this book are the reward of patience and courage, the result of waiting out, on inhospitable and dangerous vantage points, the blizzards that intermittently rage through the snow-covered peaks.

Mr. Kazami's journal, as well as his photographs, offer a penetrating insight into the peoples of Nepal. Based on several treks through the High Himalayas during the course of the two visits, it recounts both the rewards and the hardships of high-mountain travel and photography.