Summers in my late teenage years and early twenties were not exactly chalk-full of easy-going days. I spent many hours working for my mom’s cousin, Paul, most often hauling hundreds of hay bales through the heat and humidity.

It’s been many years since I’ve been to Western Canada. I have a faded memory of the Canadian Rockies and the country’s west coast, so I’m grateful to have brought my camera gear with me for this trip

Three days in the Swiss Alps gave me just enough time to enjoy some absolute peace and quiet. The mountains were calm and the sun kept me warm as I photographed the serenity surrounding me.

I love the mountains, but Toronto is severely lacking in that department. Whenever I get the chance to travel somewhere with these geological giants you can bet I’m going to spend a lot of time taking photos and pushing my lungs and legs a little more than they’re used to. The results - breathtaking.

In 2016 I had the opportunity to visit Iceland for a university credit. My classmates and I travelled across the west coast and into the west fjords. We witnessed the midnight sun, relaxed in hot springs, got a tour of an old herring factory in Djúpavík, and took many photos.

The trip made such a huge impact on me that I returned with my dad in 2018. The two of us drove around the country together, following the Ring Road (a.k.a. Route 1). We captured some fantastic photos and grew closer as we experienced rapidly changing weather and absolutely breathtaking light. Here are some of my favourite photos from both of those trips.