Until We Act, the Mountains Will Keep Changing
A three-year climate & culture archive capturing Nepal’s aerial truth in black-and-white fine art.
The Vision
Eternal echoes of glaciers, peaks, rivers, and water sources preserved forever.
For nearly twenty years, Gautam Dhimal has soared above Nepal’s highest mountains capturing aerial compositions. Now, under the Gehendra Dhimal Foundation in partnership with Location Nepal, we are launching a three-year mission to document every major Himalayan range and fragile water body in ultra-high resolution stills and cinematic film. This will be the most comprehensive visual and environmental archive of Nepal’s Himalayas ever created.
Why It’s Essential
Rapid glacier retreat threatens the Himalayan water towers on which millions depend.
Snowline migration and melting ice are altering ecosystems all across Nepal in real time.
If these landscapes are not recorded now, the chance to preserve these iconic mountain forms for future generations will be lost.
Mission in Action
Over the next three years, our fieldwork will encompass 300+ helicopter flight hours, remote alpine expeditions, and open-door aerial shoots across Everest, Annapurna, Kanchenjunga, Dolpo, and beyond. With medium format ultra-high resolution aerial systems and cinematic production, we will transform glacial lakes, water runoff, snow ridges, and weather-battered peaks into visual masterpiece. Our archive will inform climate science, artistic dialogue, and global storytelling.
Deliverables & Legacy
Flagship Exhibition in Kathmandu: Monumental prints, immersive design, curated press coverage
Premiere Fine Art Book: Global distribution, environmental essays, Alpine and Himalayan galleries
Cinematic Feature & Short Films: Documentary footage, BTS content, environmental platforms
Digital Archive Access: Permanent, open-access to educators, researchers, NGOs and policymakers
Scalable Template: A model that donors, foundations and conservation agencies can duplicate in world’s mountain regions
Impact and outcomes
Monumental prints for exhibition and scientific reference.
A cinematic highlight film and short documentary content for global platforms.
A large format book for international distribution.
A permanent digital archive for educators, scientists and policy makers.
A turnkey template that donors and partners can replicate in other mountain regions.
Why now
The Himalayas are transforming before our eyes. Glaciers are melting at record speed, glacial lakes are swelling, and ancient water systems are collapsing in ways that threaten millions of lives downstream. Every season brings irreversible change. This project is not just about art, it is climate evidence, cultural heritage, and environmental storytelling. If we do not act now to record the Himalayas in their truest form, the opportunity will vanish forever.
Who This Resonates With
Donor Foundations & Climate Trusts
Support critical infrastructure for conservation art, gain high visibility and long-term legacy.
Media Outlets & Documentary Producers
Documentary commissions, streaming content, exclusive aerial footage and narrative storytelling.
Imaging & Equipment Collaborators
Partner in providing or co-creating technologies like aerial camera systems, media rigs, and experimental workflow in exchange for exposure and brand case studies.
Flight Operators & Helicopter Companies
Helicopter flight support and logistics partnerships with recognition in films, exhibitions, and media.
Scientific & Environmental Researchers
Access to archive data, co-produce research publications and educational materials.
Corporate & Cultural Sponsors
Strategic visibility, brand storytelling, CSR alignment, exhibition hospitality, and cross-media recognition.
Leadership & Stewardship
Custodian
Gehendra Dhimal Foundation will manage all funding, stewardship of the archive, publishing rights, and donor reporting.
Creative Leadership
Gautam Dhimal leads artistic direction, aerial photography and project concept, ensuring fine-art and aerial precision.
Production & Logistics
Location Nepal handles clearances, permits, aerial operations, field support and full safety protocols.
FAQ: The Himalayan Climate Archive
Until We Act - Preserving What the World Is About to Lose
What is The Himalayan Climate Archive?
The Himalayan Climate Archive is part of Until We Act, a long-term visual and environmental documentation project by the Gehendra Dhimal Foundation. It combines art, science, and field documentation to create a permanent record of the Himalayas before climate change transforms them beyond recognition.
Who leads the project?
The initiative is led by Gautam Dhimal, an internationally recognized aerial photographer and producer, in collaboration with Location Nepal for production management and field logistics. Together, they are creating the most comprehensive photographic and cinematic record of the Himalayan range ever attempted.
Why focus on the Himalayas now?
The Himalayas are known as the Third Pole; the planet’s largest reservoir of frozen water outside the Arctic and Antarctic. Glaciers are retreating rapidly, lakes are expanding, and the lives of millions who depend on Himalayan rivers are being reshaped. Documenting this transformation is no longer optional; it is urgent.
How is the documentation carried out?
Using medium format ultra high-resolution camera systems, open-door helicopter flights, and ground expeditions across extreme altitudes, the team captures aerial and terrestrial imagery of glaciers, lakes, ridges, and valleys. Each photograph becomes a historical record of what we may soon lose.
What is the connection between The Vanishing Himalayas and Until We Act?
The Vanishing Himalayas is the first phase and emotional spark; a fine art black and white photo book and exhibition that began almost two decades ago. Its images inspired Until We Act, the larger, multi-year initiative that expands the effort into a global awareness and conservation movement.
What is the geographic scope of the project?
First phase focuses on Nepal’s Himalayan regions including Everest (Sagarmatha), Annapurna, Manaslu, Mustang, Langtang, Dolpo, and Kanchenjunga, with future expansions to Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet (China), and northern Pakistan. The ultimate goal is a complete visual record of the Hindu Kush–Himalayan Range.
How can organizations and individuals get involved?
Partnerships and collaborations are open for donors, sponsors, scientific institutions, broadcasters, and cultural foundations. Contributions support aerial documentation, conservation research, exhibitions, and global impact storytelling. For partnerships, contact mail@dhimal.org or visit www.dhimal.org.
Why is this project different from other climate initiatives?
Until We Act combines fine art photography, cinematic storytelling, and climate science into one message: awareness through beauty and truth. This is not only about documentation; it is about inspiring global empathy and action before the mountains change forever.
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Call to Engage
This is more than art. It is climate evidence, cultural identity and global awareness all in one archive.
Join us in leading with vision, in preserving with purpose, in acting before the mountains erase themselves.
Become a Partner
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