NEOWISE in the Skies over Banff, Canada
It has been a once in a lifetime – more like millennia – event. The comet NEOWISE has been visible in the dark skies over my home town of Banff, Alberta, and it’s been a highlight of my career to photograph it. Knowing it’s such a rare event has added an exhilarating element to the creative task of capturing it, and to see it converge with such celestial wonders as the aurora borealis has been an unforgettable experience.
It has been a once in a lifetime – more like millennia – event. The comet NEOWISE has been visible in the dark skies over my home town of Banff, Alberta, and it’s been a highlight of my career to photograph it. Knowing it’s such a rare event has added an exhilarating element to the creative task of capturing it, and to see it converge with such celestial wonders as the aurora borealis has been an unforgettable experience. You can find my favourite images below!
According to NASA: “Discovered on March 27, 2020, by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission, Comet NEOWISE is putting on a dazzling display for skywatchers before it disappears, not to be seen again for another 6,800 years.”
→ All of these images are available as limited edition prints in our online print shop.
Comet NEOWISE over Banff, Canada. Photo: Paul Zizka.
Comet NEOWISE, noctilucent clouds, northern lights and mountains all join forces to create the most amazing celestial display over Banff, Canada. Photo: Paul Zizka.
Comet NEOWISE above Bow Falls, Banff National Park. Photo: Paul Zizka.
NEOWISE cruises over Cascade Mountain and the Town of Banff, Canada. Photo: Paul Zizka.
A climber descends by headlamp with NEOWISE looking on in Banff National Park. Photo: Paul Zizka.
Comet NEOWISE travelling over the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and the Spray River, Banff, Canada.
→ All of these images are available as limited edition prints in our online print shop.
11 Larch Images to Ring in the Fall
Larch trees are one of the only conifers that do not lay claim to the ‘evergreen’ title. These unique trees are well known for lighting up fall in the Canadian Rockies by turning their regularly green, soft needles vibrant yellow before shedding them completely to tuck in for winter. Igniting the landscape for a short season each year, they are a stunning subject for photography, and one of my personal favourites.
Larch trees are one of the only conifers that do not lay claim to the ‘evergreen’ title. These unique trees are well known for lighting up fall in the Canadian Rockies by turning their regularly green, soft needles vibrant yellow before shedding them completely to tuck in for winter. Igniting the landscape for a short season each year, they are a stunning subject for photography, and one of my personal favourites.
What’s your favourite larch image? Let me know in the comments!
All images in this gallery are available as stock or limited-edition prints. Please contact us with any inquiries.
Sun bursting at Floe Lake, Kootenay National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Autumn Hues." From Panorama Ridge, looking down towards the Lower Consolation Lake. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Sunshine Meadows/Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Aerial of Mount Temple, Banff National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Shoreline larches at Sunburst Peak, Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Cathedral Peak, Lake O'Hara, Yoho National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Aerial view of (L-R) Lake Louise, Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes, Banff National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Check out eBook: Paul Zizka’s Guide to Photography in the Canadian Rockies for the inside scoop on the best spots to choose autumn colours between Banff and Lake Louise. Use code FALL20PZP to get 20% off!
Clouds rising over golden larches, Mount Assinboine Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
The Lone Larch, Kootenay National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Zigadenus and Myosotis Lakes, Banff National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Autumn Gold." This shot was taken by Eiffel Lake, on the way to Wenkchemna Pass. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
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All images in this gallery are available as stock or limited-edition prints. Please contact us with any inquiries.
The Canadian Rockies: Rediscovered (Book Trailer)
For nearly a decade, Paul Zizka has dedicated himself to exploring the seldom-visited corners of the Canadian Rockies and producing the most original and innovative photographs he can muster. As a photographer and adventurer, he is drawn to the extraordinary. His body of work is the result of both countless nights spent outdoors and demanding ascents of the Rockies’ highest peaks.
For nearly a decade, Paul Zizka has dedicated himself to exploring the seldom-visited corners of the Canadian Rockies and producing the most original and innovative photographs he can muster. As a photographer and adventurer, he is drawn to the extraordinary. His body of work is the result of both countless nights spent outdoors and demanding ascents of the Rockies’ highest peaks.
The Canadian Rockies: Rediscovered provides a freshly curated selection featuring 200 of Zizka’s best mountain photography and elevates the Canadian Rockies to new, unimaginable heights.
Find a copy in our online store.
DETAILS:
Photographs by Paul Zizka
ISBN 9781771602310
10 x 10 inches
240 pages
hardcover
$50.00 (CAD)
Published by Rocky Mountain Books
10 Favourite Places to Shoot the Northern Lights
I’ll admit it: the northern lights are intoxicating. For many years I’ve been drawn to cold, northerly destinations, both as a photographer and an adventurer. And beyond the desolate beauty and landscapes of these locations, whether it’s Greenland or Canada’s northern territories, it’s icing on the cake that they also provide us with the best opportunities to shoot the aurora borealis.
I’ll admit it: the northern lights are intoxicating. For many years I’ve been drawn to cold, northerly destinations, both as a photographer and an adventurer. And beyond the desolate beauty and landscapes of these locations, whether it’s Greenland or Canada’s northern territories, it’s icing on the cake that they also provide us with the best opportunities to shoot the aurora borealis.
Here are my top 10 favourite locations around the globe to shoot the northern lights, in no particular order of preference:
1. Alaska
In a nutshell: Perfect latitude, fantastic scenery to pair up with lights. Cloud cover can be an issue.
When to go: October to March.
Denali National Park, Alaska, USA. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
2. Canadian Prairies
In a nutshell: Nice low horizon, easy access. You need a decent show.
When to go: Year-round.
Canadian Prairies. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
3. Canadian Rockies
In a nutshell: Some of the most incredible skylines to pair with lights. Great displays are rare. High horizons make it more challenging to shoot.
When to go: Year-round.
Banff National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
→ Check out these Resources for Shooting the Canadian Rockies.
4. Greenland
In a nutshell: Zero light pollution, mind-blowing scenery. More difficult/expensive to access. Strong displays frequent.
When to go: September to April.
Greenland. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
→ You’ll also find my Aurora Watching Web Resources here.
5. Iceland
In a nutshell: Easier, cheaper access. Weather can be an issue. Good latitude, great landscapes. More people.
When to go: September to April.
Iceland. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
6. Labrador
In a nutshell: Super dark skies, very wild. Access can be difficult. Some incredible skylines.
When to go: September to April.
Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
7. Norway
In a nutshell: Good latitude. Stunning landscapes. Weather can be an issue.
When to go: September to April.
Norway. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
8. Nunavut
In a nutshell: Very little light pollution, incredible scenery. Lower temperatures to deal with. More difficult/expensive to access. Strong displays frequent.
When to go: September to April.
Nunavut. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
9. Northwest Territories
In a nutshell: Very little light pollution, low horizons, surprisingly great access. Strong displays very frequent.
When to go: September to April.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
10. Yukon
In a nutshell: Very little light pollution, fairly easy/inexpensive access. Great latitude for aurora.
When to go: September to April.
→ Check out my Aurora Watching Web Resources
Trailer Release: In the Starlight
During the darkest hours of the night, while the rest of the world is sleeping, outdoor photographer Paul Zizka ventures out into the wilderness in search of the world’s starriest skies. His journey to photograph the celestial wonders takes him from his home amongst the peaks of the Canadian Rockies to the wild, desert dunes of Namibia and remote ice caps of Greenland. Ever the adventurer, he must balance his work and passion for photography with his equal devotion as a family man. In the Starlight is an intimate portrayal of Paul’s quest to capture the night skies, and what his time spent under the stars has taught him about life, love, adventure, and our place in the universe.
A few years ago, French filmmaker Mathieu Le Lay reached out to me with the idea for a film. Little did we know that the journey to capture footage would take us to the top of Mt. Whitehorn here in the Canadian Rockies, twice to the remote glaciers and fjords of Greenland and to the desert dunes of Namibia. I'm thrilled to finally be able to share the trailer of the film, which premieres on Ushuaïa TV this month. Follow In the Starlight on Facebook for updates on more screenings!
From In the Starlight:
During the darkest hours of the night, while the rest of the world is sleeping, outdoor photographer Paul Zizka ventures out into the wilderness in search of the world’s starriest skies. His journey to photograph the celestial wonders takes him from his home amongst the peaks of the Canadian Rockies to the wild, desert dunes of Namibia and remote ice caps of Greenland. Ever the adventurer, he must balance his work and passion for photography with his equal devotion as a family man. In the Starlight is an intimate portrayal of Paul’s quest to capture the night skies, and what his time spent under the stars has taught him about life, love, adventure, and our place in the universe.
Written, Directed and Edited by
Mathieu Le Lay
Featuring
Paul Zizka
Meghan Ward
Mistaya Zizka
Jesse Milner
Emma Freeman
Takeshi Tani
Cinematography
Mathieu Le Lay
Additional Cinematography
Benjamin Dowie
Photographies
Paul Zizka
Original Soundtrack
Franck Zaragoza
Sound Design
Laurent Mollard
Assistant Designer
Larisa Oltean
Technical Means
L'Atelier Plani
The Beach Audio Productions
Studio Gaïné
Partners
Aquatech
Ball Watch
Canon France
Mountain Hardwear
Syrp
Tasermiut South Greenland Expeditions
Visit Greenland
Wilson Mountain Sports
A Coproduction
Camera Lucida
Mathieu Le Lay Productions
Ushuaïa TV
Camera Lucida
Executive Producer
François Bertrand
Producer
Valérie Grenon
Production Manager
Alison Genet
Associate Producer
Silvia Alba
Coordinating Producers
Céline Delaunay
Aymeric Isnard
Anthony Donato
Stéphanie Garcia
Editorial Assistant & Communication
Lio Guidoni
Ushuaïa TV
Executive Manager
Christophe Sommet
In charge of Acquisitions and Documentary Productions
Annabel Gain
Distribution
CPB International
With the participation of
Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée
FODACIM
Le Fonds d’Aide au Cinéma de Montagne est une association qui soutient la création de films, grâce à ses partenaires.
© Camera Lucida Productions | Mathieu Le Lay Productions | Ushuaïa TV - 2018
Journey Through the Torngat Mountains
The Torngats. The name alone evokes a sense of mystery. Tucked into one of the most remote parts of Canada lies one of the last frontiers for landscape photographers and explorers alike: the Torngat Mountains
The Torngats.
The name alone evokes a sense of mystery. Tucked into one of the most remote parts of Canada lies one of the last frontiers for landscape photographers and explorers alike: the Torngat Mountains. The area is an incredibly wild mix that fires up the imagination: Norway-like fjords, glacier remnants (and the associated turquoise lakes), a healthy polar bear population, jagged icebergs freshly arrived from Greenland, aurora-filled skies, cultural treasures, archeological gems, rich marine life, and some of the highest, most rugged peaks in all of Eastern Canada.
Best of all, all that incredible wilderness is now protected through the national parks system, and it is accessible to the adventurous-minded via the recently-established Torngats Base Camp.
It is a deeply sacred home to Inuit people and, back in August 2016, I had the incredible opportunity to spend a week in the area. It is truly amazing to be able to be among the first to document all that beauty with the camera. Not only that, but being able to do so in great comfort (especially given the remoteness). The facilities were top-notch, the local staff were most helpful and access to the landscape via zodiacs was as exciting as convenient.
The Torngats are truly a place you have to see for yourself. No words can do the place justice. It's like a modern-day Shangri-la, an overwhelming paradise for landscape and wildlife photographers. Even images don't get close to depicting what the Torngats are like, here's my attempt through my favourite images from the week!
→ All of these images are available as custom limited edition prints.
The Goose Bay area has great photos ops on the way up to the Torngats! Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
The Goose Bay area. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Unnamed Waterfall, Torngat Mountains, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Unnamed lake, Torngat Mountains, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Unnamed Waterfall, Torngat Mountains, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Aurora Harbour" 3 AM in the Torngats. The aurora borealis paints an incredible scene in the Labrador sky. Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
The aurora borealis paints an incredible scene in the Labrador sky. Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Aurora Borealis, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Moody day at Saglek Fjord, Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
North Arm, Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Even the local Parks staff never tire of the magic of the Torngats! Unnamed waterfall near North Arm, Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
A moment of bliss in the Torngats, sitting at the front of the boat, gazing out at the symmetry and the deep blue waters around us, and wondering what will lie around the next corner. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
North Arm, Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Sitting at the front of the boat, gazing out at the symmetry and the deep blue waters around us, and wondering what will lie around the next corner. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Torngats Glory" Just another beautiful, unnamed tumble of the Torngats. That morning it looked like Mother Nature has applied the "mosaic" filter to the reflections. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Big iceberg, bigger cliffs. Saglek Fjord, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"The Face" of SW Arm. Saglek Fjord, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
The Goose Bay area has great photos ops on the way up to the Torngats! Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Drying fish at Base Camp. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Northern Ramparts" The placid waters of the iconic Southwest Arm reflect an oil painting-like rendition of the cliffs towering above. The colourful wall rises nearly 1,000 metres above the fjord. It looks so much more impressive in person. :-) Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Welcome to the Torngats! Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
View over St. John's Harbour and Base Camp from "the inukshuk". Torngat Mountains, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Iceberg off shore, Torngat Mountains. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Northern Ramparts" The placid waters of the iconic Southwest Arm reflect an oil painting-like rendition of the cliffs towering above. The colourful wall rises nearly 1,000 metres above the fjord. It looks so much more impressive in person. :-) Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Morning at St. John's Harbour, right next to Base Camp. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Windex Lake as seen from the air. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Ramah Bay as seen from the air. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Rugged coastline of the Torngats as seen from the air. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Rugged coastline of the Torngats as seen from the air. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Nachvak Fjord from the air, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Labrador Magic." The incredible, raging Nakvak Falls, deep in Torngat Mountains National Park. This gem is reached either by flying or walking a looong way. I cheated for this one. There was only enough time for a few quick, safe shots, and off we went again! Thanks to pilot Steve for an incredible morning up high!
"Forgotten World." Of all the images I have posted from the Torngat Mountains National Park so far, this aerial view of the Southwest Arm is probably the one that is most representative of what the place is like. Part Norway, part Canadian Rockies, part Nunavut, yet unlike anywhere else I have gone before. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Aurora, noctilucent clouds and the first light of dawn paint an incredible scene in the Labrador sky. Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Self-portrait in Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Crayola Point." That is how we started referring to that 15-foot high lichen-covered spire. A bluebird day at that location really brings out the entire array of colours one finds in the Torngat Mountains. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Drifter... An underwater look at the fjords of Torngat Mountains National Park, complete with jellyfish. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Iceberg off the coast of the Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Warp Zone." Aurora over the abandoned, twisted Hudson Bay buildings of Hebron. The second I saw images of that remote, nearly deserted Moravian mission (only one family remains), I knew I wanted to photograph it at night. Big thanks to The Torngats Base Camp for getting me out there, and to bear guard Joe for working after hours and wandering around the site with me! Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Wild teetering iceberg, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
"Framed In Ice". Last light on the behemoths of the Labrador coast. These towers were approximately 30 metres high. I took a flurry of shots, trying to frame that little island as the light was fading and the boat was bobbing. Thankfully one of the frames worked out! Torngat Mountains, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Unnamed turquoise lake near North Arm, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Black Bear Tracks, Unnamed lake near North Arm, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Ramparts of the Southwest Arm, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Marine life, Torngat Mountains National Park. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
King of the hills. Large, healthy polar bear roaming among some of the world's oldest rocks. Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Large, healthy polar bear roaming among some of the world's oldest rocks. Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Abandoned, twisted Hudson Bay buildings of Hebron, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Rooftop sunrise, Hebron Moravian mission, Labrador. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.
Watching the nearly-nightly aurora borealis display from my tent, Torngat Mountains Base Camp. Photo by Paul Zizka Photography.