Whether it’s an awe-inspiring rainbow over the Stawamus Chief, a majestic bald eagle or a newborn just a few hours old, Squamish is a mecca for some of Canada’s best photographers.
The district attracts both professional photogs who make a living from capturing moments we don’t want to leave behind and keen shutterbugs who are willing to hike into the most remote locations.
Surrounded by nature, Squamish is in the ideal spot for wilderness and alpine photographers, while the influx of young families gives the opportunity to capture some of the most precious times in life.
Here is a small sample of some of our best photographers from Squamish who have their own unique ways of documenting what we hold most dear.
Katia Grondin
Born and raised in Squamish, Katia Grondin received her first point-and-shoot camera for a Christmas present and has been taking photos ever since. She now specializes in newborn, family, maternity, birth and wedding photography.
“I am so privileged to be able to walk away from a photoshoot with this feeling of exhilaration. It doesn’t last forever, but the memories I capture do – and that just warms my heart and takes my breath away.”
While taking birth photos, Grondin works in partnership with her sister, a doula, such as when she captured a mom celebrating mere seconds after her daughter, Thistle, arrived earthside.
katiagphoto.com
Neil Brown
Photographer Neil Brown is inspired by all that the Sea to Sky Corridor has to offer. Wildlife, waterfalls and the mountains are among his favourite subjects, especially when the sun shines in just the right way.
“Everyday we are surrounded by such wonderful natural beauty. It’s like living in a postcard. I hike a lot of trails and ride my bicycle alone so taking photographs of where I have been is a way of me sharing with others the beautiful places out there,” says Brown, who moved to town 10 years ago. This is one of his photos.
Cheryl Voigt
Cheryl Voigt picked up her first camera at the young age of seven and eventually took a photography course, but it wasn’t until many years later that she had the courage to call herself a photographer.
“I’ve always been a bit of an observer. I love watching the subtle changes of expression and interaction between parents and children,” says Voigt, a mom of two boys who specialized in maternity, newborn and family photography. She captures some of life’s first photos, such as tiny Maya who is fast asleep in her soft blanket.
grinningweasel.com
Darryl Schwanke
Darryl Schwanke became more serious about photography six years ago while he was healing from a broken wrist and was looking for a hobby while recovering.
Today, he documents the stunning scenery in Squamish and other places in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
“I love the ‘sea to sky’ connection that we enjoy here, and I like to capture the way the town looks at certain periods of its inevitable evolution, from virtually unknown logging town to what is now, a global destination for many,” says Schwanke.
His photo of a boat, owned by a local resident, moored in the Blind Channel, shows how Squamish still has moments of serenity despite the town’s many changes lately.
Jimmy Abbott
A landscape and adventure photographer, Jimmy Abbott took this breathtaking shot of a double rainbow over Squamish’s landmark mountains earlier this year.
“It’s hard, sometimes impossible, to replicate nature’s true beauty so I love trying to express it’s beauty in creative ways such as through the use of panoramas and angles,” he says.
Many of Abbott’s favourite photos are taken while hiking into the fresh mountain air for a night or two, in peace without cellphone and Internet distraction.
“[It’s] an experience that many of us don’t get enough of in this modern digital age,” he says.
mostlymountains.com
