Spirit of the West Adventures

2024 Photo Contest Highlights

Mark Feldman - Whales and Wilderness Glamping

Our 2024 Photo Contest Winners

Each year our team looks forward to reflecting on the past season through the eyes of our guests. All of these images and videos have a story behind them and we are so glad our guests chose to share those with us!

The winning entries are listed below and will be announced on our social media channels in the coming weeks.
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FIRST PLACE WINNER

Theo Tzelepoglou

Johnstone Strait Ultimate

Wins a credit of $1000 towards a future tour with us

We were on our way back from a bioluminescence night paddling with our guide, when I felt like taking a photo of the stars before bedtime. I went a little further away from the camp and made several attempts. One of our group lit up his tent just then, and I was able to capture this shot! As the camera paused, I could hear the cetaceans coming up to breathe in the darkness – it was magical!”


SECOND PLACE WINNER

Calum Maclean

Johnstone Strait Ultimate

Wins a credit of $500 towards a future tour with us

“Whale!” The cry echoed around camp. Guests all rushed to the rocks, hopping out of the hot tub, and carrying cameras. The fins got closer. As they surfaced, we heard the unmistakable blows of air. At first distant, they gilded closer to the camp, first heading east before reversing direction. The calm, quiet waters of the Johnstone Strait carried the sound to our ears. One fin looked smaller than the rest. Was it? Could it be? Yes! A pod of Orcas. Some of the group, now giddy with happiness, shouted: “There’s three of them, or maybe four!”

The guides all rushed over, dinner prep paused, for at least a few minutes. Gazing as a group, we were now all invested in this one moment. Cait threw up her hands. “Yes!” The shared experience, to see these creatures, at home, on their own terms was a joy. A joy to live long in the memory.”


THIRD PLACE WINNER

Hendrik Schulze Kalthoff

Nuchatlitz Expedition

Wins a credit of $250 towards a future tour with us

“The light was magical out there at Nuchatlitz!”


Our Video Winner

Carolyn Rohaly

Johnstone Strait Ultimate

Wins a credit of $500 towards a future tour with us


Our Runners Up

Chris Bayley

Johnstone Strait Ultimate

“A quiet paddle by the island off of base camp, this eagle just simply stared as our boats as we slipped by in the morning fog.”

Dan Sengenberger

Desolation Sound Expedition

“Curme Islands at sunset, our little tent out on the promontory overlooking the mermaid lagoon. A few kayaks in the background. My happy place.”

Richard Turley

Whales and Wilderness Expedition

“It’s one of my best memories from the entire week, taken as we headed out into the warm evening sun. We saw a humpback whilst we were out, we watched the sun set and the moon rise, but the best part was as the light faded and we paddled back to camp, hearing other whales pass by in the distant dark waters around us. It was properly magical!”

Nadine Müller

Nuchatlitz Expedition

“Nuchatlitz – The main capital of the Sea Otters ;)”

Cait Robbins

Whales and Wilderness Glamping

“I really loved this picture because it captures the scarcity of true isolation. Although I kayaked with a fantastic group of people, I felt a rare sense of serenity and peace out on the water. I was alive and living each moment as it came, simply breathing and paddling and staring. Now that I am home, I yearn for that same sense of tranquility. It is a beautiful thing to just be. Just be present. Just be breathing. Just be here.”


Honourable Mentions


Thank you for your submissions!

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