Robert DOMPNIER

Fascinated by Tibetan civilisation and the traditions of the Roof of the World, Robert Dompnier has made more than 100 trips to the Himalayas, from Ladakh to the confines of Amdo, from Sikkim to Mount Kailash and from Mustang to the remotest corners of central Tibet and Kham. He published various articles before working on the book "Tibet, another world" in 1992 in collaboration with the journalist Pierre-Antoine Donnet.

A passion for Bhutan, the last Buddhist stronghold in the Himalayas, has led him to focus more especially on this country in the course of the past 15 years. In 1993, he was a member of the France 3 television crew during the filming of a documentary on Bhutan. From 1996 to 2001, he has been working as a reporter for Tashi Delek, the in-flight magazine published for the Bhutanese airline Druk Air.
In 1999, Robert Dompnier was given special authorisation by the Royal Government of Bhutan to conduct a study in Merak and Sakteng, two villages of Eastern Bhutan, on the border with the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The purpose of the study, carried out in cooperation with the National Commission for Cultural Affairs, was to gather all possible information on the history, culture and traditions of the Brokpa people.

Robert Dompnier's travels and photographic work throughout have appeared in several books including:
- "Bhutan, Kingdom of the Dragon" a collection of photographs illustrating the many aspects of this colourful and lively kingdom (Local Colour, Hong Kong, 1999, Timeless, Delhi, 2005),
- "Bhutan, a timeless kingdom", the account of a journey that takes the reader to the heart of a strange, fascinating land (Philippe Picquier, Arles, 2001)
- "Colours of Bhutan", a photographic book (Jomo Publications, Thimphu, 2006).

Robert Dompnier continues to work with various magazines on a wide range of subjects relating to the Himalayan world.