Acrophobics, beware. The work of 32-year-old photographer Stevin Tuchiwsky glorifies the highest mountain peaks, most awe-inspiring viewpoints, and the overall impressive scale and variety of Canada’s wilderness. As such, he’s become an informal tourism ambassador for Canada, with his 224,000 Instagram followers tagging their friends and frequently commenting “let’s go!”
The self-taught photographer hails from Lethbridge, British Columbia, but now calls Calgary, Alberta home. Adorama talked with Tuchiwsky to learn how he creates images that he says evoke “speechless moments” in the majesty of nature.
Adorama: First things first. What is your gear setup and your usual editing workflow?
Tuchiwsky: I shoot on the Sony a7 II and generally utilize three to four different lenses. My go-to’s right are are the Sony 16-35 f/4, Canon 24-70 2.8 II with metabones adapter, and the Sony 70-200 f/4. As for edits, I generally ingest my images through Adobe Camera Raw and make my selects. I will then edit starting with a base of a preset I have made, fine tune from there, then finish off in Adobe Photoshop for minor things such as clean up, final levels, and curves.
Adorama: What would you consider to be elements of your signature style (colors, composition, subjects, lights, etc)?
Tuchiwsky: I really love capturing one-off moments, moments that make you go “wow.” I think the key to that is utilizing light. While I obviously love golden hour, moody days are also happily taken and provide a whole different feel to an image. I like vivid colors but not over-the-top, matched with a well-balanced image and showing perspective. I think over time, combining these things and considering them while taking an image has certainly defined a style for me.
Adorama: Would you classify your work as “landscape photography?” If not, how do you see it differing from that genre?
Tuchiwsky: I don’t know if I would strictly define it as “landscape photography.” While I love an amazing backdrop, I also love combining that with a subject to provide extra depth to an image. I enjoy shooting a landscape just as much as I enjoy including someone in that landscape. I have always defined it as “outdoor lifestyle photography” because it really can include so many things outside.
Adorama: What are some simple tips you have for capturing sharp shots of mountainous terrain, when you’re fighting to balance highlights and shadows?
Tuchiwsky: While equipment isn’t everything, it sure has given me a ton of flexibility while shooting. There are lots of times when trying to balance light — whether it be highlights or shadows in the mountains — can be pretty tricky. Because of the dynamic range of the new cameras, I have noticed I can shoot for the shadows if need be, and get away for the most part bringing back the highlights, or vice versa. I think that has been the biggest advantage to me. Other than that, for capturing sharp moments, it’s always trying to keep your ISO as low as possible, while keeping a fast enough shutter and stop that provides a sharp image. Obviously, using a tripod where you can in certain situations helps a ton, too, but being out in the backcountry, it is not always possible.
Adorama: How do you make a living right now, and how big a role does your photography play?
Tuchiwsky: I am a weekend warrior when it comes to photography and a Civil Engineer Technologist by day. I think it plays a big role in my photography helping me space out the time that I dedicate to it. It is nice having breaks from things and not burning yourself out. It always makes looking forward to the weekends that much more enjoyable.
Adorama: Ice and snow frequently feature in your photos. Why do you find your eye is attracted to wintry scenes?
Tuchiwsky: I don’t know if I have a choice with living in Canada, but having all seasons here is truly a great experience and we’re super lucky to have them. Our winters can be long, though, especially for the snow to melt in higher elevations when spring comes along, so sort of by default it gets captured lots. Early winter is one of my fave times, while the lakes are still not frozen and have the contrast of the snow.
Adorama: What do you find to be the challenges of photographing in freezing temperatures?
Tuchiwsky: Battery power, and I think any photographer can attest to this struggle. The cold can be tough on batteries and making them last. Generally, I have a few along with me in the winter and always carry them inside my jacket to keep them warm and ready to go.
Adorama: What’s your single favorite photo you’ve captured and shared from your travels, and can you tell the story behind it?
Tuchiwsky: I have been in a few situations where conditions have been miserable for the most part, but then cleared to provide some stunning images. Enduring those conditions and coming away with something that is rewarding because of that is always a great feeling. A favorite image that sticks in my mind to this day is of a friend in an ice cave here in Alberta. I had an idea of shooting this location at night, lit up, and with the extra wind blowing snow, it really added that much more to the image. Sadly, the ice cave is gone now, which makes it even more special having the chance to capture that memory at the time.
Adorama: What’s on the short list of places you’d like to visit next, and why there?
Tuchiwsky: Patagonia, Argentina, and Italy are super high on my list. They each seem to have endless possibilities to enjoy mountain ranges!
Adorama: You’re seemingly often out exploring Canada’s parklands. Have you ever considered how your photography may advance Canada’s appeal to travelers? And how would it make you feel to find out that someone has traveled thousands of miles to see, in person, a place you’ve photographed…because of your photograph?
Tuchiwsky: I have always considered that for the most part, because I think it’s a responsibility while showcasing these areas that I am doing it in a manner that is considerate, so other people follow the same in respecting them. It is super humbling when someone reaches out and comments that a reason they wanted to or have visited a place is because of an image I have taken. That, to me, is obviously a never-ending feeling of joy, to have inspired someone in some way.
Check out Stevin’s full Through the Lens: Canada episode below:
For more inspiration, check out our Through the Lens: Canada-influenced Spotify playlist here:
