“I do not want my photographs to be mere memories of the beautiful planet that I have been fortunate enough to experience, I want those who view them in future generations to be able to venture forth and see the same beautiful landscapes for themselves, preserved and still vibrant.”

A talk with Steven North

Tell us about your upbringing.  How did it shape you to get into photography?  Do you come from an artistic family/background. Do you do photography full-time?

I come from a small town next to a large city in Ontario, Canada. From a young age expressing myself creatively was always something I enjoyed doing but I never considered myself to be artistically gifted. Photography caught my interest when I studied it in college during my late teens and early twenties. Although it was not until a few years later when I decided to accompany a friend on a cross-country road trip that I started to use a camera more consistently. As of now I am a full-time University student and photography gives me an excuse to venture forth into the great unknown and get away from the library. If the opportunity were to arise where I was able to shoot designer brands in nature settings I would certainly consider pursuing photography as a career, but that day has not come yet ( cough* cough* Prada ). What I love about the outdoors and capturing nature within the frame is that I have very little control over what I am shooting. Sure I can manoeuvre myself in the setting to frame a shot but for the most part the landscape controls me more then I control it and I find this experience very sobering. When I incorporate people into the frame I attempt to capture them in natural moments involving motion, that way the photograph conveys a sense of breath and gives of the sensual aesthetic of life to the viewer.

How did you meet Haley Teresa?
I was visiting my friend in Calgary, Canada and we were planning on making our way into the mountains near Jasper National Park during my visit. Haley Teresa had been speaking to my friend via a dating app which I will refrain to name and he decided to invite her along on our trip. We spent the day in the mountains and I used my friend and Haley as models for a clothing brand I was shooting for. Haley and I got along very well and a few days later we decided to go and shoot a few more locations together in the mountains. That day ended with a canoe ride on Moraine Lake which is still one of my most memorable outings to date.

“Often I hear the blame directed towards governments and corporations but it is we the consumers who continue demanding the lifestyles we are accustomed to. Lifestyles of consumption.”

What do you love about capturing nature and outdoors? Where is one place in the world you would love to explore and take pictures?
I just got back from a trip to Oahu island in Hawaii where I spent my time hiking the mountain range. That is a place that I has always wanted to visit and I am so thankful I was able to! I have recently added Florianopolis, Brazil and Fiji to my travel list and hopefully Fiji will happen in the next six months when I visit my sister who is currently living in New Zealand.

Where is one place in the world you would love to explore and take pictures?
I just got back from a trip to Oahu island in Hawaii where I spent my time hiking the mountain range. That is a place that I has always wanted to visit and I am so thankful I was able to! I have recently added Florianopolis, Brazil and Fiji to my travel list and hopefully Fiji will happen in the next six months when I visit my sister who is currently living in New Zealand.

What is your perception of the world?
I think the world is beautiful in form but that the inherent nature of humanity is destructive and toxic to the preservation of its beauty. Admittedly I do not believe that there is a viable solution to this problem in that I also believe the damage we have caused is irreversible. That being said I still advocate for social responsibleness to be demonstrated by individuals, corporations and governments. Often I hear the blame directed towards governments and corporations but it is we the consumers who continue demanding the lifestyles we are accustomed to. Lifestyles of consumption. Until we address this choice way of living within ourselves, holding ourselves accountable to our role in the mentioned toxicity we may never find a solution to the problems we will certainly face in the future. Problems that will stem directly from our choices. I do not want my photographs to be mere memories of the beautiful planet that I have been fortunate enough to experience, I want those who view them in future generations to be able to venture forth and see the same beautiful landscapes for themselves, preserved and still vibrant.