From Pacific Wilderness to the Rocky Mountains
Canada has given me two very different photographic experiences. My first journey took me deep into British Columbia, travelling with a Scottish friend on a 17-day expedition in search of bears, marine wildlife and extraordinary coastal landscapes.
Part 1 — British Columbia
17 Days in the Wild
Our days often began early, with a small boat journey of around 30 kilometres to a remote lake where salmon gathered. From there, we sometimes continued on foot, encountering grizzlies, occasionally at a distance, sometimes surprisingly close.
After many years travelling through remote nature, often spending around six months of the year on the road, I have learned that patience and observation are as important as the camera itself. With a grizzly, I watch carefully: is it feeding, searching for food, relaxed or becoming aware of our presence? Understanding behaviour helps me decide not only when to photograph, but how to remain respectful and safe.
Our local guides were invaluable. Their knowledge of the terrain, salmon runs and wildlife behaviour allowed us to move through this wilderness with confidence and respect.
The coastline brought another challenge. Several boat trips gave us encounters with orcas and humpback whales, but seeing them and making a good photograph are two very different things. A moving boat, changing light and a whale surfacing for only seconds leave little room for error. Some evenings rewarded us with spectacular sunsets over the sea and mountains.
British Columbia reminded me that the final photograph is often only the visible part of a much longer experience, early starts, long journeys, waiting, observation and finally being ready when nature offers the moment.
Part 2 — Banff & Jasper
Eight Days with My Son
My second Canadian journey was much more personal. I travelled with my son Neal, arriving from Yellowstone and continuing through the Rockies towards Banff and Jasper.
Along the way we came to a glass-floored bridge high above the landscape. Both of us have vertigo, so stepping onto it was well outside our comfort zone. Yet we did it together, faced the fear and stayed there.
It became one of the most memorable moments of the journey, not because of the photograph, but because father and son had confronted the same fear and overcome it together. A moment to cherish.
The journey was also affected by enormous wildfires. Smoke transformed parts of the landscape, hiding or altering many of the mountain views I had hoped to photograph. Disappointing for a photographer, certainly, but another reminder that nature does not follow our plans.
Despite this, travelling with Neal through such an immense landscape remained deeply worthwhile. I was able to share with him something that has shaped so much of my own life: the outdoors, exploration and the freedom of travelling through wild places.
Some journeys leave you with photographs. Others leave you with memories that no photograph can hold.
CAN001 - In the early morning light, a female moose moves quietly through the river, her long legs cutting gentle ripples into the glassy surface.
CAN002 - Group of Canadian goose rises into the quiet, wings carrying it toward still water and solitude.
CAN003 - Endless plains of grass stand silhouetted against a dark, cloud-filled sky, vast and untamed.
CAN004 - Early morning on the road to Jasper, fog drifts slowly from the forest, shrouding the trees in a soft, mysterious veil.
CAN005 - Black bear standing in front of leftovers from salmon.
CAN006 - Black bear shaking water from its fur, droplets scattering like diamonds in the sunlight.
CAN007 - Photographed from the riverbank, American fish eagles perch atop a tall tree, patiently watching the water below, ready to swoop on salmon breaking the surface.
CAN008 - Cormorants arrive at the edge of a rocky outcrop in British Columbia, their dark silhouettes bathed in the warm glow of sunset.
CAN009 - Red salmon at the river’s surface, exhausted from their journey, becoming prey for waiting bears and eagles.
CAN010 - Fish eagle soars, eyes sharp, scanning the water below for its next prey.
CAN011 - Seals and cormorants rest together on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by the calm waters of British Columbia.
CAN012 - The rock formation emerges from the fog, mysterious and ethereal against the soft gray haze.
CAN013 - Ground squirrel stands on its hind legs, alert and curious, seemingly posing for the camera.
CAN014 - Early morning unfolds along the river on our way to photograph grizzlies, the soft light adding depth and dimension to the scene making it kind of mysterious.
CAN015 - Peyto Lake in Banff National Park sparkles with its characteristic turquoise water, framed by rugged mountains. At early morning, a soft mist hangs over the lake, giving the landscape a serene and almost magical aura.
CAN016 - Lake Louisa at morning before the crowd was massively present. The surroundings are pristine and wild, ideal for photography or simply enjoying nature.