Biographie
French photographer based in Provence, Julien Fumard dedicates his work to the exploration of natural landscapes and the documentation of traditional ways of life confronted with hostile environments and challenges of modernity. Whether documentary photography or landscape, his projects take him to remote territories such as the Himalayas, the Alps or the Arctic.
Over the last ten years, he has lived several months in total immersion within various communities, thus developing a deep capacity for adaptation, often at the edge of the world and in situations of isolation.
The work of Julien Fumard has been mainly shown in the national and international specialized press. Photo answers - GEO - GEO PLEIN AIR - VOILES & VOILIERS - MONTAGNES MAGAZINE for France and NATURFOTO - SCHWARZWEISS in Germany. ON LANDSCAPE BLACK and WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY in England.
Présentation
In 2012, the village of Kulum (in the Ladakh region, India) was abandoned by its inhabitants due to drought. Ten years later, thanks to the ice stupa technology proposed by engineer Sonam Wangchuk, water became available again for the planting season, and farmers began returning to Kulum.
The operation of ice stupas is simple: during winter, when temperatures drop to -30°C, water—drawn from higher altitudes and redirected downward—freezes upon contact with the air, forming successive layers of ice. Over a few weeks, a small mountain of ice forms, growing throughout the winter to reach nearly 30 meters in height. As it melts in spring, it provides the necessary water for the fields during the critical months of April and May. However, implementing ice stupa technology remains complex.