A collection of wildlife moments capturing the raw beauty, behaviour, and spirit of animals in their natural environments.

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Mountain landscapes, alpine lakes, and iconic views from throughout Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

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Scenes from Calgary and the surrounding area featuring city landscapes, local nature, changing weather, and everyday moments.

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• Landscape Tips

• WILDLIFE TIPS

• Storms/Lightning Tips

Respect Nature FirstNature and wildlife photography is about more than capturing beautiful images, it’s about experiencing wild places responsibly and respectfully. Every photograph should leave nature exactly as it was found.When photographing wildlife in Canada’s parks and natural areas, always prioritize the safety of the animals, yourself, and other visitors. Parks Canada recommends staying at least 30 metres away from large animals such as elk, deer, moose, and bighorn sheep, and 100 metres away from predators such as bears, wolves, coyotes, and cougars. If an animal changes its behaviour because of your presence, you are too close.Never feed, call, bait, or approach wildlife for a photograph. Ethical wildlife photography creates natural images without disturbing the subject. Good wildlife photography should never disturb the animal.Other Tips to Remember:* Never block an animal’s path
* Avoid nests and dens
* Do not use drones in national parks
* Stay quiet and calm in wildlife areasSometimes the best photograph is the one you choose not to take.

Recommended Field PracticesBefore heading into the field:* Check weather and trail conditions
* Carry extra batteries and memory cards
* Wear neutral-coloured clothing
* Pack binoculars for spotting wildlife at a distance
* Be patient: nature rarely works on a scheduleThe more time you spend observing wildlife and landscapes, the stronger your photography will become.Final ThoughtsNature photography is about storytelling, patience, and respect for the natural world. The goal is not simply to photograph wildlife and landscapes, but to create images that inspire people to appreciate and protect them.Slow down. Observe carefully. Let the experience shape the photograph.

Wildlife Photography Tips1. Use Fast Shutter SpeedsWildlife moves faster than most people expect. Even perched birds constantly twitch, turn, and adjust their posture. To keep your images sharp:* Perched birds: around 1/500s or faster
* Flying birds: 1/2000s or faster
* Running wildlife: 1/1000s or fasterA sharp image almost always starts with enough shutter speed.2. Focus on the EyeThe eye is the most important part of any wildlife photograph. Even if everything else is slightly soft, a sharp eye can make the image feel alive.Use:* Continuous autofocus (AI Servo / AF-C)
* Animal or bird eye-tracking autofocus if available
* Single point autofocus for more precise control3. Stability MattersLong telephoto lenses magnify every small movement. To improve sharpness:* Use a tripod or monopod whenever possible
* Keep elbows tucked into your body when shooting handheld
* Use image stabilization when handheld
* Turn stabilization off when mounted on a stable tripodEven experienced wildlife photographers rely heavily on stability for sharp images.4. Photograph During Golden HourThe best light for wildlife and landscapes usually happens:* Shortly after sunrise
* Shortly before sunsetGolden hour provides softer light, richer colours, and better contrast while avoiding harsh midday shadows.Wildlife is also most active during these times.5. Watch the BackgroundA clean background can completely transform a wildlife image.Try to:* Change your shooting angle
* Position yourself lower to the ground
* Use longer focal lengths to blur distractions
* Avoid branches or bright objects behind the subjectSimple backgrounds help wildlife stand out naturally.

Photographing Wild Places ResponsiblyNature photography is about more than creating beautiful images. It is an opportunity to slow down, observe, and develop a deeper connection with the landscapes and wildlife that make Western Canada such a remarkable place to explore.Whether you are photographing mountain sunrises in the Rocky Mountains, capturing prairie storms across southern Alberta, hiking through the rain forests of the British Columbia coastline, or admiring the wildlife in a quiet wetland of the interior, every outing should begin with respect for nature and a commitment to leaving no trace.Parks Canada, BC Parks, and Alberta Parks all encourage visitors to prioritize wildlife safety, habitat protection, and responsible outdoor recreation. As photographers, we have a unique opportunity to share the beauty of these places while helping preserve them for future generations.

Learn to Read the LightThe most important ingredient in landscape photography is not your camera, it is the light.Many of the most memorable photographs are created during brief moments when weather, atmosphere, and light come together.The best times to photograph landscapes are often, the hour after sunrise, and the hour before sunset
During changing weather conditions
Immediately after a storm, during fog, mist, snowfall, or dramatic cloud cover, midday light can still produce excellent images, particularly in forests, canyons, waterfalls, and overcast conditions, but softer light generally creates more depth, mood, and texture.Instead of asking, "Where should I photograph?" ask, "What is the light doing?"Use a Tripod Whenever Possible, A good tripod remains one of the most valuable tools for landscape photography.A stable tripod allows you to:- Use lower ISO settings- Maximize image quality- Capture longer exposures- Create sharper photographs- Work carefully and intentionallyMany photographers spend thousands of dollars on cameras and lenses while overlooking the simple benefit of a solid tripod.If your goal is maximum image quality, stability matters.

Understanding Aperture for Maximum Sharpness, many landscape photographers seek sharpness throughout the image.A good starting point for this is:- f/8
- f/11These apertures often provide excellent sharpness while maintaining sufficient depth of field.Very small apertures such as f/22 may actually reduce image quality due to diffraction.Rather than automatically selecting the smallest aperture available, focus on finding the sharpest aperture range for your lens.
Focus Carefully, even the most beautiful scene can be ruined by poor focus.For landscapes:Focus approximately one third into the sceneUse manual focus when necessary
Zoom into live view to verify critical focus, review images at high magnification before leaving the location, many photographers discover focus issues only after returning home, checking focus in the field can save an entire outing.

Focus on Composition Before Camera SettingsStrong landscape photographs begin with composition.Before setting up your camera, spend time exploring the scene.Look for:- Leading lines- Foreground interest- Reflections- Natural framing- Layers of depth- Patterns and textures- Contrast between light and shadowA beautiful location alone rarely creates a compelling image. The way elements are arranged within the frame often makes the difference.Take the time to walk around and view the scene from multiple perspectives before committing to a composition.Include Foreground Elements
One of the most common landscape photography mistakes is photographing only the distant scenery.Adding a foreground subject helps create depth and scale.Examples include:- Wildflowers
- Weathered logs
- Shoreline rocks
- Ice formations
- Mountain streams
- Interesting textures in snow or sandForeground elements help guide the viewer's eye into the photograph and create a stronger sense of place.

Embrace WeatherSome of the most dramatic photographs happen when conditions appear less than ideal.Look for:- Approaching storms
- Fresh snowfall
- Fog and mist
- Rain showers
- Breaking cloud cover
- Winter frost
- Chinook Arches
- Lenticular Clouds
- Dramatic prairie skiesChanging weather creates atmosphere, mood, and unique opportunities that cannot be replicated on clear blue sky days.Often, the best photographs happen just before or after difficult weather.

Storm photography can produce some of the most dramatic and powerful images in nature photography, but safety should always come first. No photograph is worth putting yourself at risk during severe weather.Safety FirstIf you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.Avoid:* Open fields and hilltops
* Standing near isolated trees
* Metal fences or railings
* Lakeshores and exposed viewpoints during active stormsThe safest place to photograph lightning is often:* Inside a vehicle
* From a sheltered building
* From a safe distance using a telephoto lensAlways monitor weather conditions and leave the area immediately if the storm moves overhead.

Storm PhotographyStorm photography is not only about lightning. Some of the best images happen:* Before the storm arrives
* During dramatic cloud development
* After the storm passesWatch for:* Shelf clouds
* Sun rays breaking through clouds
* Rain curtains
* Fog and mist
* Reflections after rainfall
* Colourful sunsets following stormsChanging weather often creates the most dynamic landscape conditions.Protecting Your GearStorm conditions can change quickly.Consider carrying:* Rain covers for camera and lens
* Microfiber cloths for moisture
* Extra batteries in cold conditions
* Waterproof bags or backpacksAvoid changing lenses during blowing dust, rain, or hail.Patience & TimingStorm photography often involves long periods of waiting followed by a few seconds of incredible light and atmosphere.Patience, preparation, and awareness of weather patterns will improve your chances far more than expensive gear alone.Sometimes the most memorable storm photographs happen just before everything comes together.

Lightning Photography Tips1. Use a TripodLightning photography requires stability and longer exposures.A sturdy tripod helps:* Keep the scene sharp
* Prevent camera shake
* Allow repeated exposures while waiting for strikes2. Use Manual SettingsA good starting point for nighttime lightning:* ISO 100–400
* f/5.6 to f/11
* 5–30 second exposuresDuring daylight storms:* Use a neutral density (ND) filter if needed
* Lower ISO to maintain slower shutter speedsAdjust settings depending on how bright and frequent the lightning is.3. Use a Remote or Interval TimerPressing the shutter manually can introduce camera shake.Helpful tools include:* Remote shutter releases
* Built-in interval timers
* Lightning triggers for advanced storm photographyContinuous shooting during active storms increases your chances of capturing a strike.4. Compose the Scene CarefullyLightning photographs become much stronger when paired with:* Mountains
* Prairie landscapes
* Trees
* City skylines
* Reflections
* Dramatic cloud structureThe storm itself should feel like part of the story, not just the lightning bolt.5. Focus ManuallyAutofocus often struggles in dark storm conditions.For sharper results:* Switch to manual focus
* Pre-focus on distant clouds, mountains, or lights
* Use live view zoom to fine-tune focus

Hello, I’m Scott, a Canadian nature and wildlife photographer.My path into photography has been shaped by a background in the travel and tourism industry, where a growing curiosity for places, cultures, and environments led me behind the camera.In 2017, I graduated from the SAIT Travel and Tourism program, a step that opened the door to exploring the world in a more intentional way. Working within the industry deepened my understanding of destinations, not just as places to visit, but as living environments shaped by nature, wildlife, and the people who experience them. That perspective continues to influence how I approach photography today.My work focuses on capturing landscapes, wildlife, and the quiet moments that define a place, revealing not only where we go, but what exists there and why it matters.Through my photography, I aim to create a sense of stillness and connection. I want people to slow down, step away from the pace of everyday life, and experience these places with curiosity and intention, reconnecting with meaningful memories while developing a deeper respect for the environments and wildlife that shape our destinations.Thank you for being here. I hope this work invites you to explore a little further and see these places in a different way.Wander.Explore.Inspire

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