Driven to explore.
Fuelled by creativity.
From the peaks of the Canadian Rockies to iceberg-laden seas off the coast of Greenland, Paul’s journey to capture the “under-documented” is a testament to his passion for exploration, his creative vision and fierce sense of determination. These qualities, combined with his pursuit of fresh perspectives and a deep love for the landscape, have resulted in an ever-growing portfolio of cutting-edge images.
Whether it’s wading waist-deep into a glacier-fed lake or chasing auroras from dusk til dawn, Paul is known for an adventurous spirit that draws him to the extraordinary. Highlighting his collection are his signature self-portraits, epic mountaineering moments, dreamy astrophotography images, as well as a window into some of the most remote corners of the planet.
In June 2016, his passion for the craft and for teaching led him and Dave Brosha to launch OFFBEAT, a company that strives to help fellow photographers discover their creative side and develop a deep appreciation for the wilderness. He is also passionate about sharing the beauty and grandeur of his own home country and was named a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2017.
CHASING CURIOSITY
Whether it’s wading waist-deep into a glacier-fed lake or chasing auroras from dusk til dawn, Paul is known for an adventurous spirit that draws him to the extraordinary.
Photo: Graham McKerrell
Paul’s images have been featured on countless book covers and in a variety of highly regarded publications, including National Geographic, Outside Magazine, Globe and Mail, Wall Street Journal, Alpinist, Maclean’s, Canadian Geographic, Islands, and Outdoor Photographer. His client list includes leading national and global brands such as Canon, Apple, NHL, Dell, Arc’Teryx, Panasonic and MEC.
A prolific adventurer, Paul’s explorations have taken him to all seven continents, as well as to each of Canada’s provinces and territories. In the Canadian Rockies, Paul 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, which is believed to be the first of its kind, and a 1488-km solo crossing of the South Island of New Zealand. He has also explored such destinations as Antarctica, Norway, Svalbard, Nepal, Greenland, the Caribbean, Niue, French Polynesia, Namibia, the Faroe Islands, Baffin Island and the Torngat Mountains.
Paul has published eight books (published by Rocky Mountain Books) including four coffee table style books of photography: Summits & Starlight: the Canadian Rockies (2013), The Canadian Rockies: Rediscovered (2017), Aloft: Canadian Rockies Aerial Photography and Spirits in the Sky: Northern Lights Photography (2021).
Paul lives in Banff, Alberta, with his wife, writer Meghan J. Ward, and their two daughters.
Paul is a proud ambassador of:
Ball Watch, Canon, LowePro and Gitzo.
“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.”
Photo by Dave Brosha.
SELECT AWARDS
Winner, Mountain Image Award, Banff Mountain Book Competition for Canadian Rockies: Rediscovered (2018)
Gold – Photography: Landscape, Still and Architecture, Alberta Magazine Awards (2017, 2019)
Grand Prize Winner, Photo Life’s The World We Live In (2018)
Best New Magazine, Alberta Magazine Awards as Photo Editor, Canadian Rockies Annual (2017)
1st Place Action and Adventure Winner, Telluride Photo Festival for Cryophilia, Haffner Canyon, Canada (2015)
Finalist, Mountain Image Award, Banff Mountain Book Competition for Summits & Starlight: The Canadian Rockies (2014)
Best Photograph – Architectural, Landscape or Still Life, Impact Magazine (The Land That Does Not Melt), Western Magazine Awards (2013)
Select book covers.
CLIENTS & PUBLICATIONS
Brands/Companies
Apple · Global News · NHL · MEC · Alberta Primetime · Canadian Broadcasting Corporation · Travel Alberta · Space.com · Arc’Teryx · Panasonic · Canon · The ATCO Group · Live Out There · LIVE! with Kelly · lululemon athletica · Discovery Channel · Canadian International Development Agency · World Monuments Fund · Oxford University Press · American Alpine Club · Weather.com · NBC News · Canada Post
Publications
National Geographic · Wall Street Journal · Maclean’s · The Guardian · Outdoor Photographer · Globe and Mail · Daily Mail (UK) · Huffington Post (UK, USA) · Toronto Star · Calgary Herald · Avenue Calgary · Canadian Geographic · Alpinist · Canadian Geographic Travel · National Geographic Adventure · Snowshoe Magazine · Where Magazine · Digital Camera Magazine – Chinese · Photography Masterclass Magazine · 500px ISO · British Columbia Magazine · tuja wellness · Highline Magazine · PhotoLife Magazine · Canadian Rockies Annual · explore Magazine · Fodors.com · SkiingMag.com · The Joy Trip Project · ImageNation Magazine · Cahoots Magazine · Alive Magazine · The Sunday Times Travel Magazine · Our Canada Magazine · The Gazette: The Alpine Club of Canada Magazine · Rocky Mountain Books · Impact Magazine · Islands Magazine · ReadersDigest.ca · Israeli Lens Magazine · Crowfoot Media · PHOTOGRAPH · Cottage Life
Canadian Rockies
Mount Robson Provincial Park · Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative · Kootenay National Park · Yoho National Park · Lake O’Hara Lodge · Tourism Canmore Kananaskis · Parks Canada · Town of Banff · Arctos and Bird · Banff & Lake Louise Tourism · Canadian Alpine Guides · Skoki Lodge · Num-Ti-Jah Lodge · Banff DMC · Paradise Lodge and Bungalows · Mt. Engadine Lodge · Castle Mountain Chalets · Mt. Assiniboine Lodge
FILMS
In the Starlight (2018)
By Mathieu Le Lay, featuring Paul Zizka
In the Starlight is an intimate portrayal of Paul's quest to capture the night skies, and what his time spent under the stars has taught him about life, love, adventure, and our place in the universe. Rent/purchase the film here.
Mountains in Motion (2012)
By Doug Urquhart and Paul Zizka
In an effort to highlight the wildness of mountain places and how they have inspired explorers of the past, present and future, time-lapse sequences were patiently gathered from exposed summits, by glacial lakes, and under aurora-filled skies.