Behind The Scenes - Paul Bride Photography

How did you get into photography and how long have you been shooting professionally?

“I never set out to be a photographer, it just made sense” Leaving for a 6- month trip through Asia alone after completing college in the mid 90’s my girlfriend (now wife) loaned me a small point and shoot camera. Upon returning home and developing my film it was as if a light turned on. I upgraded cameras, bartended nights so I could shoot during the day and never looked back. It’s been over a decade now that I’ve worked full time as a professional photographer and love everyday behind the lens.

Lava entering the ocean on the big island of Hawaii. Photo by Paul Bride

One of the heaviest waves on the planet known as Teahupoo, French Polynesian island of Tahiti. Photo by Paul Bride

We understand that you have done a lot of travelling with your line of work, is there any place or trips that sticks out more than the rest? If so, why?

Hard to say I love each trip for different reasons, but spending two weeks alone in Greenland above the Arctic photographing icebergs was a pretty special trip. I’ve always had a fascination with icebergs and traveled to eastern Canada on more than one occasion to witness the floating giants as they arrived in Newfoundland after making the two-year journey across the north Atlantic. Watching the ice calving off the glaciers from their birthplace in Greenland was a very memorable experience.

A pending storm brews over one of the largest icebergs in the northern hemisphere off the coast of Greenland above the Arctic Circle. Photo by Paul Bride

Can you tell us about your experiences shooting in the Sea to Sky corridor and what lead you to reside here as a photographer?

I started visiting the Sea to Sky corridor on a regular basis in 1996. I was living in Vancouver at the time and after my first visit to Squamish all I wanted to do was climb and move here. Photography offered a lifestyle more than a job but I knew I wanted to stay. Climbing was and still is a big part of my photography and years later the lifestyle and people that live here still amaze me. I can’t think of any other place I’d want to live.

Moving fast and light in the Bugaboos. Photo by Paul Bride

Local Jasmin Caton stemming her way up The Shadow, one of the most famous routes in the history of Squamish climbing. Photo by Paul Bride

You are very well known in the climbing community for your work, how is shooting climbing different than shooting other extreme sports?

I guess one of the main differences would be that you rely heavily on gear and the knowledge to use it. You have to be there to get the shot always-defying gravity so there can be a lot going on at one time. You don’t have a lot of freedom to move around in climbing photography so you need to figure out where you want to be before the shoot ever takes place and then get there.

Local John Furneaux slowly inching his way up Public Image located on the North Walls of the Chief

Finally, what are you most excited for with the opening of the Sea To Sky Gondola?

I look forward to the access of new terrain within minutes from home and hope to enjoy dinner and drinks with beautiful views of the Howe Sound.

Coastal views of the famous Howe Sound from the air above the summit of the Sea to Sky Gondola.  Photo by Paul Bride

To see more of Paul’s work, please check out it his website www.paulbride.com, or stop by his gallery at 37868 3rd Avenue, Squamish, BC, Canada, V8B 0R2.