About jean heintz

I am an engineer with passions for mountaineering, photography, and mineralogy.

Engineering & Energy Transition

I have spent much of my professional career in the energy supply and energy transition business. Natural resources are scarce and finite : it is our duty to use them for sound purposes, to reduce our direct and indirect consumption, to reuse and recycle products, and to seek more sustainable ways of living.

LinkedIn profile : www.linkedin.com/in/jean-christian-heintz 

Mountaineering

Ski alpinism is, in my view, one of the finest combinations of outdoor, exploration and sport. It requires preparation, risk assessment, orientation skills, and rewards with stunning views and memorable ski descents.

I had the privilege to climb many exotic snowy mountains in Morocco, Lebanon, Iran, Nepal, USA... Today, environmental awareness is a new factor in deciding where and how to travel.

When there is no snow, I like trail running, climbing and trekking, but most of all mineralogical exploration.

To date I summited over 500 peaks in the Alps, as well as several 6000-meter peaks in the Andes and the Himalayas. 

Photography

I discovered photography at the same time as mountaineering : I felt the necessity to capture on film the beauty of the mountain light. 

In the 2000's I worked on assignment for the French trekking company www.huwans.com, hiking in Europe from Ireland to Croatia, climbing Kilimanjaro and crossing China from West to East : 

I then founded "Paris Photo Sessions" workshops, delivering photography courses in the streets of the French capital.

I have been contributing to Hemis stock agency : www.hemis.fr

More recently, I wrote several articles for "Les Alpes" / "Le Alpi" / "Die Alpen", the official magazine of the Swiss Alpine Club : https://www.sac-cas.ch/fr/les-alpes/

Mineralogy

I spent most of my teenage years collecting minerals, in the Black Forest and in the Mont Blanc massif. This passion for mineralogy led me to scientific studies and the Ecole des Mines de Saint Etienne, where I graduated in 1996.

My collection features more than 1000 specimens from all around the world.

Nowadays, I focus on minerals from France, Germany and Switzerland, with a few exceptions. I try to find them myself, and exchange some of them against specimens from other collectors.