About Paul
PAUL ZIZKA IS AN AWARD-WINNING MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE
AND ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHER BASED IN BANFF, CANADA.
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 keen eye for unique compositions, have resulted in an exhaustive 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, a wide range of mountain adventure images and compelling landscapes from around the globe.
A sought-after educator, Paul leads photography workshops, which range from shorter landscape workshops to more immersive creative retreats. He was named a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2017. Paul also leads his own photography workshops.
Paul’s images have been featured in a variety of publications, including Maclean’s, National Geographic Adventure, Alpinist, Huffington Post, The Guardian, Canadian Geographic, Islands, PhotoLife, Fodors.com and explore magazine. His client list includes leading national and global brands such as Apple, Dell, Arc’Teryx, lululemon athletica, Panasonic, MEC and Canon.
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 (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). 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.
To learn more, visit his website at zizka.ca.
Artist’s Statement
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.
Bio photo by Trixie Pacis.