Home Country: Canada
Specializing in photographing in difficult conditions and hard-to-reach places, Paul Zizka has a passion for shooting alpine sports and backcountry experiences, capturing the spirit of adventurers and finding unusual angles of common mountain subjects. As a landscape photographer, he particularly enjoys the challenge of capturing nature’s beauty at night and the unique features that come with a dark sky – stars, Northern Lights and dramatic silhouettes.
“I believe there is in all human beings a deep connection with the natural environment. In these times, however, that link is often obscured by the capitalistic, hectic, materialistic and anthropocentric nature of our societies. My hope is that through my photography people will rediscover the precious connection they can have with the wonders of our planet.”
“Follow your passion and experiment! Get out of your comfort zone, have fun with it, and don't do it for the "likes" in this era of social media!”
Career Highlights:
* In the Canadian Rockies, Paul Zizka has hiked extensively in the backcountry and photographed from the summits of countless peaks.
* His adventures abroad include a 1400-km unsupported double-crossing of Iceland on foot (2004), which is believed to be the first of its kind, and a 1488-km solo crossing of the South Island of New Zealand (2007).
* Recent travels have taken Zizka backpacking in the Caribbean, exploring tiny insular nations of the Pacific, trekking in remote corners of Scandinavia and Nepal, and ski touring on Baffin Island.
* Paul now lives in Banff, Alberta, with his wife, writer Meghan J. Ward, and their 1-year-old, Mistaya.
* Zizka’s award-winning photos have been featured in a variety of publications, including Maclean’s, IMPACT, Alpinist, Huffington Post, The Guardian, Canadian Geographic, Islands, PhotoLife, Fodors.com and explore magazine.
* Awards received:
2014
Audubon Society of Greater Denver’s Share the View contest, Grand Prize 2014 – Cryophilia, Haffner Canyon, Canada
Audubon Society of Greater Denver’s Share the View contest, Second Prize 2014 – Midnight Bubbles, Vermilion Lakes, Canada
British Columbia Magazine 2014 Photo Contest, Grand Prize
Mountain Image, Finalist, the 2014 Banff Mountain Book Competition (for Summits & Starlight: The Canadian Rockies)
2013
Global Arctic Awards, Jury Choice.
Western Magazine Awards, Best Photograph – Architectural, Landscape or Still Life, Impact Magazine, The Land That Does Not Melt
2012
For Mountains in Motion: The Canadian Rockies (2012/2013):
WINNER – Best Documentary – Atlanta Shortsfest – Atlanta, GA, USA
WINNER – Best Cinematography – Dixie Film Festival – Athens, GA, USA
WINNER – Best Documentary Short – Asheville Cinema Festival – Asheville, NC, USA
FINALIST – Banff Mountain Film Festival – Banff, Alberta, Canada
FINALIST – Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival – Vancouver, BC, Canada
OFFICIAL SELECTION – Banff Mountain Film Festival – WORLD TOUR 2012 / 2013
WINNER – Best Cinematography – ColdSmoke Awards Film Festival – Bozeman, MT
WINNER – The People’s Choice Awards – ColdSmoke Awards Film Festival – Bozeman, MT
WINNER – Best Experimental Film – Honolulu Film Awards – Honolulu, Hawaii
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival Photography Competition, Landscapes Category, First place (February)
2011
Alpinist Magazine, ice climbing photography contest – First place (April)
Exposure Photography Festival, Where We Are: A Sense of Place Mural Exhibit in Canmore, One of three images selected (January)
2010
Michael the Maven Photo Contest, Landscapes category – Second prize (January)
Michael the Maven Photo Contest, Sports Category – Third prize (January)
CanadaWilderness.com Photo Contest – Second prize (December)
World Energy Council Energy Photo of the Year Competition – Winning image (November)
Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival Photo Competition, Climbing Category – Winning image (November)
Digital Camera Photographer of the Year 2010 Photo Competition – 2 shortlisted images (October)
CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year 2010 Photo Competition (4500 entries) – Shortlisted image (September)
United Nations World Tourism Organization 2010 Photo Competition (500 entries) – Runner-up at the (September)
International Vaccine Institute international photography contest – Bronze award (August)
2010 WiebeTech Photography Contest – Runner-up (August)
Canadian Tourism Commission, Local’s Know Contest – 2nd, 3rd and 7th places (March)
