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George Fischer
the top of the world
$29.95
northwest territories canada
The top of the world brings accounts of sprawling landscapes dotted with lakes and imposing mountains, and a surviving culture that transcends the whims of prevailing fashion. This untamed country will challenge your spirit and thrill your soul. George Fischer, one of Canada’s most celebrated and prolific landscape photographers has journeyed from the mosaic flatlands and roaring waterfalls to the jagged peaks, capturing images inspired by the joy of discovery. The Nahanni National Park Reserve and Wood Buffalo National Park – both UNESCO World Heritage sites – are just two of the spectacular regions depicted. Fischer will guide you on the northern routes and introduce you to the people and their culture. Witness a land steeped in natural riches and lore – a land for the bold and the adventurous. Spectacular!
Nimbus
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ac knowledgments First and foremost, I would like to thank my sponsors: Ted Grant of Simpson Air; Travis Wright and Sue Coyne of North Wright Airways; Valerie Vrisk of Canadian North; and Julie Warnock of NWT Tourism for so generously giving both their time and the funding necessary for the birth of this book. My appreciation for the writing of the preface goes to Senator Nick Sibbeston – lawyer, distinguished member of the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) Legislative Assembly, former Premier and a gentleman.
For modeling in various locations throughout the NWT I would like to thank my long time assistant Jean Lepage and my not so long time assistant Reginald Poirier, both of whom were very patient with my unusual and often risky demands. Thanks as well go to Ken and Dana Baerg for so graciously allowing me to interrupt their vacation and photograph them at Virginia Falls. My heartfelt appreciation to Don Payne, David Jumbo, Joe Punch, Tommy Kotchea, Aaron Jumbo and Deanna Jumbo, Dave and Nancy Madden and all the children of Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake. I had the most amazing time in your wonderful community.
copyright © 2012 George Fischer All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the photographer, George Fischer. Nimbus Publishing Limited PO Box 9166 Halifax, NS B3K 5MB 902-455-4286 Printed in China Design: Catharine Barker, National Graphics, Toronto, ON
I would also like to thank Eli and Joe Nasogaluak for the Great Northern Arts Festival sculptures, and Effie and Jemma Gruben for dipping their toes into the freezing Beaufort Sea.
Last but not least, to Catharine Barker – the best book designer ever! photo credit pages 90-91: Catharine Barker
To Dean Austin and Cory Burella – my pilots from Simpson Air – my hat goes off to you for all the aerial photography that I was able to do because of your amazing flying and great acrobatics. A special thanks to Bern Will Brown for allowing me to photograph and show a small sample of your inspiring work within these pages. To Julie Warnock of NWT Tourism. Thanks for the excellent last minute itinerary.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Fischer, George, 1954Spectacular Northwest Territories Canada / George Fischer.
Includes index. ISBN 978-1-55109-887-6
1. Northwest Territories--Pictorial works. I. Title.
FC4161.F57 2012
971.9'300222
C2011-908715-4
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if
a single picture is worth a thousand words, then the
hasn’t simply visited the NWT, he has experienced and
hundreds of incredible photos within the pages of
captured it. While the jagged mountains, shimmering
Spectacular Northwest Territories speak volumes about the
waterfalls, and crystal (and sometimes muddy) waters of
beauty and diversity of the North. From the majesty of
lakes and rivers captivate and inspire, it is the more intimate
Virginia Falls to the stark splendour of the high Arctic,
portraits of elders and children, of artists and their work that
George Fischer has caught, not only the natural wonders of
really sets this book apart from all the rest. Community life,
our land, but also the simple pleasures and joys of the
from the bustle of Yellowknife and its sometimes eccentric
people who live on it.
architecture to the iconic cabins and simple and simply beautiful churches of Nahanni Butte or Fort Good Hope, is
When you have lived and travelled in the NWT your entire
the heart of the North and the heart of this collection.
life, as I have, it’s easy to stop seeing the amazing vistas that open up around every bend in the river or every turn of a mountain trail. In the struggle of making a living, we sometimes forget the simple joys of a boat ride across a much-loved lake or of getting together with friends at a favourite café. Fischer’s portrayal of the land and people is a gentle reminder to keep our senses tuned to the everyday
“
and extraordinary beauty of the world.
Every Canadian should have the chance to experience the North as I have...
Lots of photographers have come to the North for a trip or
Every Canadian should have the chance to experience the North as I have, travelling by boat along the Mackenzie, by truck down our endless roads, or flying in big planes or small to the isolated communities and places scattered across the landscape. They should have the opportunity to canoe across the placid waters of Little Doctor Lake, to feel the spray of Lady Evelyn Falls in their face or to wade along the icy shore of the Beaufort Sea. They should see for themselves the majestic mountains and river valleys, the bush planes and the people that fly them, the Auroras and the rainbows and, most of all, the many different people who call this place home.
Now, thanks to George Fischer, they can.
two and lots of striking images have been taken, but it is clear, as you look at these pictures, that George Fischer
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Senator Nick Sibbeston
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virginia fa lls
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glacier lake
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aurora borealis
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louise fa lls
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tuktoya ktuk
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tuktoya ktuk
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ram plateau
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ye llowknife
nahanni national park expansion ceremony
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fire -feeding ceremony
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wood buffa lo national park of canada
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cirque of the unclimbables
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biography
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george fisc her is one of Canada’s most renowned and prolific landscape photographers. He has produced over 40 books and 50 art posters. His work has also appeared on the covers of numerous international magazines and newspapers, and in the promotional publications of tourism agencies around the world. His most recent publication Unforgettable Canada, was on The Globe and Mail’s bestseller list for eight weeks and sold over 50,000 copies. Other titles in the Unforgettable series include: Unforgettable Tuscany & Florence, Unforgettable Paris Inoubliable, Unforgettable Atlantic Canada, The 1000 Islands – Unforgettable, and Les Îles de la Madeleine Inoubliables. George Fischer resides in Toronto, Canada. See more of George Fischer’s work at www.georgefischerphotography.com
c harles tetc ho sc hool
Photo credit: Deanna Jumbo
Arctic Ocean
trout lake
Pingo Canadian Landmark
Beaufort Sea
Tuktoyaktuk
Inuvik
Fort McPherson
Tsiigehtchic Tuktut Nogait National Park
Fort Good Hope
Colville Lake
Norman Wells ie M kenz Ma c
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
ins ounta
YUKON TERRITORY
NUNAVUT
Nahanni National Park Reserve
BRITISH COLUMBIA
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN MANITOBA ONTARIO
QUEBEC
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND NEW BRUNSWICK NOVA SCOTIA
Great Bear Lake
Tulita
Wrigley Little Doctor Lake
Fort Simpson Behchokò Yellowknife (Rae-Edzo) Fort Nahanni Fort Liard Butte Providence Great Slave Lake Lady Evelyn Trout Lake Falls Hay River Fort Resolution Louise Falls Enterprise Alexandra Falls
Slave River
Fort Smith 216
Wood Buffalo National Park