Featured Photographer - Viktoria Haack

Viktoria finds the wild landscapes of Canada fascinating and is inspired by the weather, and especially, the Canadian winters. She finds snow and ice extremely interesting and loves exploring how winter changes the landscape: Lakes become frozen waterfalls, canyons full of water morph into cathedral like spaces: The ordinary becomes magical, as snow and ice transform the landscape.

Much of my work is inspired by the landscape and nature of Canada. As a native of the United Kingdom, I often wonder what direction my photography might have taken if I had not emigrated.

I should begin by telling you a little about myself: As I mentioned above, I am originally from the UK and moved to Canada in 2007. My photographic journey started when I picked up a camera whilst living on a small island called Brownsea Island in Dorset. The island is owned by the National Trust and is a nature reserve. At the time, I worked for the Trust and there were approximately 30 residents, including children, who lived on the 500-acre nature reserve. Boats to and from the island were limited after 4:30 in the afternoon and before 8:00 in the morning. I would spend many hours walking the island pathways and enjoying how the seasons and weather changed my surroundings. My initial pleasure with photography was recording the changing beauty of the environment around me.

In 2007, after 10 years of living on Brownsea, my husband, daughter and I decided to make the move to Canada. I had family members living in British Columbia and we had visited on several occasions and loved how wild and expansive the landscape was, as well as the lower population density. On arrival in Canada, I felt a little bit like a kid in a candy store: The ability to leave home at a whim, jump in my car or hike a good distance at any time of day without thinking about boat times was extremely freeing. I felt inspired and overjoyed at the possibilities after 10 years of photographing a very limited geographical area. Coming to terms with the wildness of Canada took a little bit of time: It felt strange to be considering whether there might be bears, cougars or other wildlife on the trails as I headed out at pre-dawn or after dusk. As I have settled into Canadian life, this notion of stepping into a landscape that still contains ‘the wild’ has added to my love of Canada.

© Viktoria Haack

I think it is this very notion of ‘the wild’, that inspires me the most. Whilst living in the UK, life on a small island nature reserve brought me pretty close to nature. Life in Canada, however, takes that to a whole other level. My home province of British Columbia gives me access to rainforest and wild beaches, as well as high mountains and alpine meadows, with the Canadian Rockies just over 4 hours away. My first experience of a backcountry trip was incredible and I was bitten by the bug of wilderness experiences. The lack of access to cell and wi-fi and the feeling of being fully immersed into the environment was something I had never experienced before and brings me the most joy when I am photographing. Along with the wild landscapes of Canada, I am equally inspired by the weather and, most particularly, by the Canadian winter. I find snow and ice extremely interesting and love exploring how winter changes the landscape: Lakes become frozen dreamscapes of ice bubbles; waterfalls freeze into spaces that remind me of fairy-tale ballrooms; canyons full of water morph into cathedral-like spaces that you can walk through. The ordinary becomes magical as snow and ice transform the landscape. Being prepared to photograph in these harsh temperatures and conditions adds another level of enjoyment to the process for me; I guess I can’t stop feeling like I’ve moved from Enid Blyton’s Dorset to Jack London’s ‘Call of the Wild’. It’s not just the grand landscape in Canada that captures my attention. I’m equally drawn to intimate natural scenes such as ferns unfurling or rock textures, for example. The lower population density in this area means my journeys into nature are often solitary and I am able to have an almost meditative experience.

Would my photography have taken the same path if I’d stayed in the UK? I can’t say, but being surrounded by the wild beauty of Canada has impacted my photographic journey for sure!

© Viktoria Haack

© Viktoria Haack

© Viktoria Haack

© Viktoria Haack

© Viktoria Haack

© Viktoria Haack