THE BIRTH OF LIGHT
by Luigi Dias
The Importance of a Photography Book on Ladakh in Our Times
In a world increasingly focused on individual truths and personal narratives, what impact can a book of photographs from Ladakh have? As we become more inward-looking, it is essential to approach art with a serene mind and an open heart. The role of the artist has long been debated, and as a photographer, my aim is not to persuade but to inspire. I don’t seek to indoctrinate anyone about the intricate paths of Tibetan Buddhism, its mythical beings, parallel worlds, or delve into the region’s unique culinary delights, which remain largely unknown to the global palate. My goal is to ignite wonder and kindle a spark of interest that may open eyes and stoke imaginations.
Ladakh stands as the last frontier of our planet, nestled within the eternal Himalayas. Its unique and unexplored universe transports us to a distant past, untouched by the advances of Western modernity.
In an era deprived of genuine experiences, I offer these images as an invitation. Here they are, for you to explore as you wish. These landscapes, these faces weathered by the harsh winds of the world’s rooftop, are not mere artistic inventions. They are as real as the stones you can touch, the clouds that can shelter you, and the roads awaiting your journey.
If destiny allows, let these images inspire you to experience what it means to hold the eternal in your hands. Ladakh awakened a light within me I never knew I had. That is the true relevance of this book.
Luigi Dias
"The universe is made of stories, not of atoms," writes the brilliant American poet Muriel Rukeyser in her poem “The Speed of Darkness.”
Legends abound across the globe that Jesus Christ, during the unrecorded years of his life, found refuge in the Hemis Monastery, nestled in the mountains of northern India. It is said he studied Buddhist teachings there before returning to Jerusalem, carrying these teachings with him in the twilight of his life.
Although the Hemis Monastery only dates back to the 11th century, this fascinating tale reminds us that there is always room for stories that elevate us beyond the mundane, transporting us to a fantastical reality and making us dream.
It was through these remote corners, among the majestic peaks of the enigmatic Ladakh region, navigating threatening gorges and eternal plateaus caressed by the wind, that I embarked on a quest for meaning and solitude. I hoped to connect with the grandeur of the universe around me and write yet another chapter of my own story.
In this enchanted refuge, where time is measured by sunlight and the tides of the spirit, I delved into the essence of a place where wild nature merges with the deep, ritualistic sensitivity of Vajrayana Buddhism. These images capture fleeting yet meaningful moments that illustrate the magnitude and serenity of this historical territory, imbued with predominantly Tibetan cultural and ethnic influences.
It is said that in Leh, the tiny capital of Ladakh with its 30,000 inhabitants, Tibetan culture is more preserved than in Tibet itself. This uniqueness is partly due to its remote and difficult-to-access location, isolated from the world for nearly eight months each year, shrouded in snow and extreme cold, accessible only by air.
Free from China’s ideological constraints, the people of Ladakh feel liberated to express and live their faith without fear.
Buddhism arrived in Ladakh during the Tibetan Empire between the 7th and 9th centuries, intertwining with Bon, an ancient local indigenous religion, to give rise to Vajrayana, or Tibetan Buddhism. Unlike Theravada, the oldest of the surviving Buddhist schools, the Vajrayana and Mahayana traditions speak of an eternal Buddha who attained enlightenment many lifetimes ago and whose consciousness continues to manifest in various realms and forms. This explains the profusion of fantastic images that adorn the more than a hundred monasteries scattered across the cliffs of Ladakh.
If everything in Ladakh is superlative, epic, and overwhelming, it is in the sacred monasteries that the quest for a deeper understanding of the region becomes tangible. In these true oases of the soul, I felt enveloped in profound silence, each chanted mantra penetrating my essence, constantly reminding me that the inner journey is as vital as the external exploration.
Among the 108 monasteries scattered across the slopes of Ladakh, Sumda Chun, built in the 11th century, may be the most precious relic of the early days of Tibetan Buddhism. More difficult to access and even more isolated than the Alchi monastery, but equally ancient, Sumda Chun is inhabited by only a handful of monks who find in their isolation the peace necessary for their prayers.
While Sumda Chun surprises with its mysterious and enigmatic aura, Thiksey Monastery captivates with the grandeur and beauty of its architecture, evoking the majesty of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
From the top of Thiksey, one can see the flooded plains of the spectacular Indus Valley, Matho Monastery to the east, the Royal Palace of Stok to the south, and the ancient royal palace in Shey to the west.
Among the many religious festivals that occur in Ladakh during the warmer months, from April to August, the Hemis Festival may be the most grandiose and emblematic.
The celebrations, which last for two days and are dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, the founder of the Tantric Tibetan Buddhist school, begin early in the morning in the rectangular courtyard of the ancient Hemis Monastery. Perched at almost 4,000 meters above sea level, amid colossal stone mountains dotted with small villages, the monastery is where Ladakhi tribes descend, seeking blessings and protection against malevolent forces.
The Hemis Festival captivates with the ancestral nature of its sounds and dances, instantly transporting us to another dimension. One must be there, under the relentless Himalayan sun and the powerful call of the Dungchen, the long Tibetan horns, to truly understand its strength.
Traveling through Ladakh is a constant exercise in letting go. To move forward, one must leave behind the certainties and comforts of the city, as an act of humility and perseverance. Though the rarefied air and long distances may seem insurmountable, it’s only by crossing the region on its often invisible, dusty roads that one begins to map the grandeur of Ladakh.
Spread among the majestic Himalayan mountains and their snowy peaks lies the Nubra Valley—without exaggeration, the most beautiful region in the world. To reach Nubra, we traverse the Khardung La, the highest motorable road on the planet, at about 6,000 meters above sea level, where we quite literally lose our breath. Advancing through eternal glaciers under a deep navy-blue sky that seems to collapse over our heads, we get the feeling that we have finally reached the top of the world.
Standing before Nubra’s delirious landscapes is a synesthetic experience in its purest essence—we hear its colors, see its sounds, and are sated by its beauties. The landscapes stretch like living paintings, revealing a palette of colors that transcends imagination. Snow-capped mountain ranges rise proudly, like eternal guardians of an ancient secret, interspersed with millennia-old monasteries where the soul finds its home and connects with the vastness of the universe.
In this transcendental setting, I meet the people of Ladakh, whose faces reflect the wisdom accumulated over centuries. Men and women who maintain an intimate connection with nature and embrace simplicity as a divine gift. Their worn clothes and sincere smiles reveal the joy that resides in the heart of a community united by compassion and the sharing of noble values.
It is said that Ladakh is the precise point of contact between Heaven and Earth—the divine paradise within reach. I do not doubt it. These are the stories we choose to believe that shape who we are.
After all, we are all made of stories.
Luigi Dias
LADAKH: A VOYAGE WITHIN
LUIGI DIAS
The Author
Luigi is one of Brazil's most innovative creative professionals, with a distinguished career spanning over 45 years. His extensive expertise covers roles such as film director, art director for both film and print, editor, motion graphics designer, color grading artist, DOP, and award-winning illustrator and photographer.
Luigi began his career in the 1980s as an illustrator for various Brazilian newspapers, music journals, and comic magazines. In the 1990s, he advanced to Art Director and Head of Cinema at DM9DDB Brazil, where he garnered prestigious awards including the Clio and Cannes Lions. He has since founded two production houses and contributed as a photographer to several Brazilian travel magazines. His directorial portfolio includes films for prominent clients such as PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Land Rover, Johnson & Johnson, Hyundai, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and Samsung. In 2017, Luigi released his first photographic book, I Didn't Mean to Hurt You, featuring images from Cuba, Russia, France, and Brazil.
From 2019 to late 2020, Luigi worked as a film director at SIRAP Production Company in Melbourne, Australia. Since 2020, he has served as Head of Film at HAVAS Advertising Agency and as a film director at MERCI, its in-house production company. In 2024, Luigi launched his Fine Art Prints project, LUME®.
Top Destinos & The Traveller Travel Photography
Head of Film, Photographer & Film Director at BETC HAVAS [Brazil] 2021 - Present day
Contacts