The Vanishing Himalayas
A Reminder in Black and White
Every photograph in The Vanishing Himalayas is a fragment of time, preserved before it disappears.
In black and white, the story becomes pure: light against shadow, permanence against loss.
This fine-art coffee-table book and exhibition honor the mountains not as icons, but as living memories of a changing planet.
The Himalayas Are Changing Faster Than Ever
Glaciers are receding, water sources are shifting, and ancient ice is melting into memory. What once seemed eternal now vanishes in silence.
The Vanishing Himalayas is not nostalgia. It is an evidence to a visual reminder that what we fail to protect today will be gone tomorrow.
This work asks not for pity, but for remembrance.
For over twenty years, Gautam Dhimal has flown above the world’s highest peaks, documenting what words cannot contain. Shot from open-door helicopters and remote trails across Everest, Annapurna, and Mustang, these images began as an artistic pursuit and became an environmental record.
Each frame reflects a moment of awe, risk, and reverence, that create a dialogue between man and mountain.
A Collective Call to Preserve
This project stands as an invitation to embassies, cultural foundations, environmental organizations, and global partners to unite for awareness and preservation.
Through collaboration, exhibition, and conversation, this body of work can become more than art: it can spark a global dialogue on climate change, resilience, and shared responsibility.
FAQ - The Vanishing Himalayas and Until We Act
What are The Vanishing Himalayas and Until We Act?
The Vanishing Himalayas is a fine art photography and film initiative by Gautam Dhimal that captures the changing landscapes of the Himalayan range in black and white. It is the beginning of a larger multi-year campaign, Until We Act, dedicated to preserving the world’s highest mountains through photography, film, and storytelling.
Why are the Himalayas so important?
The Himalayas are the water source for almost two billion people. As glaciers melt and rivers change course, entire ecosystems and communities are at risk. These images document that transformation and invite people to act before these landscapes disappear forever.
Where is the project being photographed?
The documentation covers the entire Himalayan arc, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, the Tibetan Plateau, and Arunachal Pradesh. Each region adds a vital part to the story of climate, water, and human connection.
How is the work being created?
The images are captured using medium format ultra-high-resolution cameras from open door helicopters and ground expeditions. Each frame is crafted to show detail, scale, and emotion that words cannot hold.
Who are the teams behind the project?
The initiative is led by Gautam Dhimal. Production is managed by Location Nepal. Gehendra Dhimal Foundation provides stewardship and accountability, and MORPH Magazine contributes to editorial and global outreach.
How does this relate to climate and environment?
The work is both art and documentation. It reveals the visible evidence of melting glaciers, shifting snowlines, and changing alpine habitats. It connects viewers emotionally with the urgency of climate change through visual storytelling.
What will be produced through this project?
A fine art coffee table book titled The Vanishing Himalayas, a global-scale exhibition, a cinematic highlight film, and a digital archive for researchers, educators, and environmental organizations.
How can people and institutions participate?
Partnerships are open to donors, universities, production companies, and environmental organizations. Opportunities include sponsorship, educational collaborations, film partnerships, and exhibition support. Inquiries: mail@dhimal.org or mail@GautamDhimal.com
What comes next after the Nepal phase?
After Nepal, the initiative will expand to India and Bhutan, followed by documentation across the Western Himalayas, Pakistan, and Tibet, creating one of the most complete visual records of the mountain range ever made.
Until We Act project, Himalayan climate archive, Himalaya aerial photography, Himalaya film project, Nepal helicopter photography, high altitude aerial photography, climate change documentary Himalayas, glacial retreat Himalayas, Himalayan glaciers photography, fine art aerial photography Nepal, environmental art project Himalayas, global climate storytelling, mountain conservation visual project, climate resilience documentation, glacier melt photo archive, environmental awareness exhibition, global warming Himalayas, water crisis documentation Himalaya, aerial cinematography Nepal, documentary film Nepal Himalayas, open door helicopter film Nepal, environmental photographer Gautam Dhimal, Gehendra Dhimal Foundation climate project, Location Nepal aerial production, Fantastic Film & Photography Dubai production services, MORPH Magazine environment issue, Guided Photography Tours Himalayas, Nepal climate expedition, UN SDG 13 Climate Action project, sustainable mountain development Himalaya, scientific collaboration Nepal climate, climate impact storytelling, mountain heritage documentation, Himalayan environmental awareness, global donors environment project, environmental art installation Nepal, aerial fine art collector edition, global media environment project, helicopter expedition Himalaya, climate adaptation visual archive, Himalaya crisis awareness campaign, international environmental art project, aerial mapping Himalaya, high-altitude photography, global partnership environment, cultural heritage Himalaya, eco diplomacy Nepal Himalayas, sustainable expedition photography, climate art collaboration, glacial awareness movement, nature conservation through photography, global climate communication, mountain culture preservation, aerial photographer South Asia, environmental filmmaker Nepal, documentary producer Nepal, NGO environment Nepal, climate activism Himalaya, humanitarian environment project, UNESCO mountain heritage, World Bank climate initiative Nepal, ICIMOD collaboration Himalayas, National Geographic Nepal photographer, BBC Earth Himalayas, Netflix documentary Himalayas, Apple TV+ environment series, Discovery Channel Himalayas, photography exhibition Kathmandu, fine art photography exhibition Nepal, Himalayan documentary funding, helicopter charter Nepal photography, international donors Himalayas, climate photography grants, environmental art funding Himalayas
Coming Soon
Exhibition and Collectible Book
A premium fine-art book, printed on museum-grade paper and published by the Gehendra Dhimal Foundation, will accompany a grand exhibition in Kathmandu.
Each print, each page, becomes a timeless reminder of what we are about to lose and what we still have time to save.