- Paul Zizka’s long-exposure photographs place him in the context of Canada’s awe-inspiring wilderness
By
Damien Gayle
13:06, 14 January 2014
|
13:14, 14 January 2014
These beautiful long-exposure photographs offer a novel twist on the too-often shamelessly narcissistic trend for ‘selfie’ pictures which is sweeping the internet.
Paul Zizka, 34, has put his own slant on the celebrity-led photographic genre, made popular by photo-sharing website Instagram, by including his silhouette in these dramatic shots of the Canadian wilderness.
Rather that a vainglorious attempt to propel himself to 15 minutes of internet fame, his inclusion of himself in the shots is an attempt to show the relationship between a mere man and the awesome natural world surrounding him.
Communion: Canadian photographer Paul Zizka
stands waist-deep in Lake Minnewanka, in Alberta’s Banff National Park,
in this twist on the trend for ‘selfie’ photographs
Clinging To Blue: A long-exposure renders this
cascade of ice in an ethereal blue as Mr Zizka holds on, at Haffner
Creek in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia
Twilight Encounter: The awesome magnitude
of the wilderness surrounding Banff National Park’s Bow Lake is
emphasised by Mr Zizek’s profile in the centre of the frame
Heavens above: Mr Zizka is seen left at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, in a work titled Steward Of The Stars. In the right-hand image, he stands at the end of a jetty on Bow Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, the stars of the Milky Way arrayed before him, in a photograph he has dubbed Galactic Gateway
Pillars In The Sky: The stunning glow of the reflection of the Aurora Borealis in Lake
Minnewanka is emphasised in this long-exposure photo taken at
Banff National Park
At One: Mr Zizka is seen in meditative pose, again at Banff National Park’s Lake Minnewanka, as day breaks over the dramatic horizon
Starstruck: In this shot the photographer is
lying on the frozen waters of Lake Minnewanka, his flashlight pointing
towards the incredible night sky
Midnight At Moraine Lake: A long-exposure captures in detail the Rocky Mountains as they rise above and
are reflected in the titular lake in Banff National Park
Mr Zizka, from Alberta, one of Canada’s three so-called Prairie provinces, began experimenting with night photography just two years ago.
Captivated by the spectacular scenes of his home region, he nevertheless decided that to create photographs which were more unique he add the context of the human form into the shot.
Using long exposures, allowing the night’s sky illuminating the mountains around him, he has sought to create a relationship between the central figure in the image and the nature around him.
Mr Zizka’s photographs showcase breathtaking sights from the the Banff National Park and Kootenay National Park, both in the Canadian Rockies.
Usually venturing out into the wilderness alone, his project is on-going as he gets new ideas every day for how to record himself in remarkable locations.
Ice Dreams: An incredible photograph peers up at
the millions of stars visible over the lonely landscape of Haffner
Creek, in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia
Wizardry: His arms aloft like some kind of
celestial conductor, Mr Zizka appears to be directing the very movement
of the Aurora over Lake Minnewanka
Awe-inspiring: The ethereal blue-green light of the Aurora again features prominently in these two photographs, left titled Contentment and right dubbed Awaiting Abduction, both taken in an area called Cascade Meadows in Alberta’s Banff National Park
Witness: Another of Mr Zizka’s photos which captures the dramatic lighting of the Aurora Borealis, this time over Lake Peyto in Banff National Park
Mr Zizka said: ‘I was introduced to the magic of night photography somewhat accidentally on mountaineering trips that required very early starts.
‘I was amazed by the quiet and beauty of a night spent high in the mountains.
‘Eventually, I ended up shooting more at night than during the day and I still take great pleasure in trying to document the magic that the stars, the moon and the aurora bring to a scene.
‘I find that a photograph can sometimes convey so much more, or at least a very different feel if a person is included in the scene.
‘I like the relationship between man and mountain that it instantly creates. So I think including myself in the images helps people relate to a photograph, even though some have never been anywhere near the location.’
Blown Away; Mr Zizka lies along the road
markings of Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, as the heavens
are arrayed above him
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Comments (31)
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Steve in Texas,
Roscoe, United States,
1 hour ago
Banff is spectacular …. In no particular order ….. Yellowstone/Teton, Glacier, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Banff are my all time favorites
Brenda Vawter,
Edmonton, Canada,
4 hours ago
I don’t think Wordsworthbloke has been to Banff. While a couple of the pics may have been enhanced a little, most of them are exactly the way they look to the naked eye. Ive been to all those places multiple times and have seen those same images. The stars are that beautiful. The northern lights are that bright. The mountains and lakes are that amazing. And though you cant see in these pics, yes the water is that colour!
Deena,
London,
6 hours ago
Amazing views!
Grohldoll,
Basildon,
6 hours ago
Wow just WOW
Wordsworthbloke,
London, United Kingdom,
6 hours ago
Beautiful photos yes…. heavily color edited in post. Unfortunately these places simply don’t look like that to the naked eye.
Tabitha,
Nottingham,
7 hours ago
I am a huge fan of both the Canadian Rockies and Paul’s work. As an enthusiastic amateur I can only dream of producing images as beautiful as these.
Sandie Mahon-Weir,
Newtownards, United Kingdom,
9 hours ago
Banff is a truly magical place, and his photos bring to life what everyone should see one day, if you haven’t experience this place before.
I have traveled a lot over the years, and my heart will always be in Banff, lake Louise, it always feels like I am coming home, one I step foot in the Town.
Chloe,
London, United Kingdom,
9 hours ago
Amazing wish i knew where these were…
Wordsworthbloke,
London, United Kingdom,
7 hours ago
mjru,
realworld.com, United Kingdom,
9 hours ago
Fantastic, breathtaking.
mjru,
realworld.com, United Kingdom,
9 hours ago
Just beautiful, I would love to see northern lights.
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