News
Paul Zizka
A New Approach to Social Media

As we’ve all discovered, especially in recent years, social media has transformed into something that goes well beyond simply sharing. The algorithms have hard-wired us to repackage wilderness experiences for consumption. Video became the best tool in our kit. We have been taught that to survive as a photographer, we must be “content creators,” not only capturing the scene but also what’s happening behind the scenes. I have enjoyed many parts of that process, but I don’t like the motivations behind it — reducing the creative journey to online metrics and marketability taints the process and the wilderness experience, both for the artist and the audience.

A New Approach to Social Media
Travel, Landscapes
Paul Zizka
Historic Cities and Stunning Landscapes of ...

A photo portrait from a family trip through Romania and Bulgaria. Each country was distinctly different from the other due to different influences in their histories and modern-day trajectories. In Romania, we largely spent our time in the gorgeous Transylvania region with its Saxon-influenced architecture, folklore (you might be familiar with Dracula), and the mountainous countryside that linked our journey from town to town. In Bulgaria, we journeyed cross-country to visit more diverse parts of the country, including the mind-boggling rock formations of Belogradchick, the Medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo, the seaside resort town of Sozopol and the Madara national historical-archeological reserve.

Historic Cities and Stunning Landscapes of Romania and Bulgaria
Canadian Rockies, Portrait
Paul Zizka
People of Passion

Here in our mountain landscapes, there exist individuals whose passion is as big as the peaks that cradle them. These intrepid souls are artisans of altitude; their canvas is the very terrain that challenges them. Here are just a few of my favourite images from over the years.

People of Passion
Canadian Rockies, Cryophilia, Landscapes, News, Travel
Paul Zizka
Documenting Vanishing Ice: Q+A with Paul Zizka

I’ve been photographing ice since the very early stages of my career. Whether glaciers, ice caves, frozen lakes, or mountaintops, I would continuously find myself drawn to cold landscapes in search of ice in its many forms, textures, and hues. Icescapes are among the most dynamic, visually exciting, and rewarding places a photographer can document. But as I spent more time shooting ice, it became apparent that I was capturing something that is vanishing.

Documenting Vanishing Ice: Q+A with Paul Zizka
Travel
Paul Zizka
A Road Trip through the Western Balkans and ...

Rust-red roofs and sand-coloured buildings set again the azure blue of the Adriatic Seas. Quaint and historic towns that feel like a storybook in real life. Wild skies and crashing waves that keep a photographer on his toes. This, in a nutshell, was our family trip through the Western Balkans.

A Road Trip through the Western Balkans and Croatia
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Moraine Lake Between Seasons: A Multi-Sport Photography Adventure

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Moraine Lake Between Seasons: A Multi-Sport Photography Adventure

Most people know Moraine Lake for its turquoise waters, mountainous skyline, and bustling shoreline but the passing seasons paint entirely different scenes. Come winter, snow blankets the frozen lake and its lonely shores but it is rarely seen or photographed this way because of winter road closures.

Equipped with AquaTech underwater housing for the Canon R5 and aware that Moraine Lake would soon be teeming with visitors, I set out to capture a tranquil moment between seasons.

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Resources for Photographing the Canadian Rockies

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Resources for Photographing the Canadian Rockies

Each week I get emails or messages from fellow photographers asking where they should photograph in Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies. Others ask me where to go hiking or scrambling so that they can get off the beaten track. I love getting these questions and seeing people’s enthusiasm for shooting these beautiful mountain landscapes.

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NEOWISE in the Skies over Banff, Canada

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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.

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Canadian Pond Hockey at Its Best

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Canadian Pond Hockey at Its Best

I’ve heard it said that we aren’t truly Canadian unless we’ve strapped on some skates, grabbed a stick, and puck-handled our way across a frozen lake or pond. During any given winter day in this country, people of all ages are lacing up and stepping out onto frozen ponds and lakes to enjoy our nation’s greatest backyard pastime.