A pick-up placement of one of my Cape Town images. Still one of my favorites from my travel assignment days, and a reminder that travel doesn’t just change your scenery, it changes your lens.

For a travel, portrait, and architectural photographer, landing an AA cover is the World Cup moment. I was genuinely overwhelmed and deeply grateful to see one of my favourite images on the cover of such an esteemed publication.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Every kilo of gear hauled through Europe was worth it; the day, the team, the shot, flawless and unforgettable. One of my favorite cover shoots ever.

The EnRoute editor called Thursday. Could I fly to Japan and shoot a cover? No Japanese, no model, no scouted locations, just me, a camera, and a specialty I’d perfected: making it all work under pressure.

Near the Great Wall of China. After the cover shots, we found a neglected stretch of the wall; just me and my guide, wandering in silence; a magical, private glimpse of history.

Sweet, sweet Cape Town; my first trip to Africa. How exotic can it get? I was on assignment for EnRoute, covering South Africa ten years after apartheid. That trip left a mark on me, a quiet shift I didn’t fully understand at the time. We found the location, the model, all shotgun-style. One of the biggest thrills of my career to that point.

This cover assignment found me island-hopping in the Bahamas. I’d never met The Moose, though I’d been a huge fan growing up in west Edmonton. Well, we met, did the cover shoot, then played poker. I learned Texas Hold ’Em from the man himself. A day I’ll never forget.

A stunning Calgary house by architect Jeremy Sturgess. We collaborated often over the years, and I’m deeply grateful for all the incredible spaces I had the chance to experience.

During this cover try, the owner’s little girl insisted on an “action tub” shot as she called it. We wondered if it might sabotage my career, but the magazine loved it, and so did everyone else.

Cover shoot nearly derailed by rain. Shot saved when skies cleared, on a random patch of grass near the parking lot, trees behind. Creative thinking wins again.

I almost fell down the mountain getting this cover image. It seemed natural to scramble down to this spot. In those days, I wasn’t a mountaineer; just a crazed photographer, hell-bent on getting the best image I could.

First cover on 4×5 transparency. Looks warm, feels frozen. Motion shots in the cold were tricky. Polaroids in hand. Pre-digital photography had its charms.

This was a pick-up cover. I sent a few scouting shots to the magazine’s art director, and somehow, they ran this one. Not my first pick, but hey, you never argue with another cover appearance.

A gem of a loft in downtown Regina. The kids shadowed me all day, glued to the laptop, watching the images appear like magic.

This cover was stitched together from four pieces: the hotel desk attendant, the background, the model Jade, and the handbag. Digital makes it easy, giving you tons of flexibility; especially with the art director on set, watching the magic happen live. I miss the days when we nailed a cover in one shot. Nothing keeps your skills sharper.

My first trip to the south of France. Lunch drinks, afternoon naps, long shooting days. Harvest season filled the village with tractors, grapes, and waving drivers. Life slowed down and felt like a movie.

Shaka Lake, B.C. I arrived at 9 a.m. to photograph the house for Western Living. People were still sleeping on the couch, leftovers from the party the night before. I rang the bell, and an attractive woman answered, wearing only a sheet. Sounds like a story from a ’70s Penthouse, right? Her name was Roberta, and she made me coffee while everyone else cleaned and vacuumed. The shoot dragged into the evening because of the late start, but the light just kept getting better. We ended up sipping wine while reviewing the Polaroids I shot. Pre-digital days, haha.

There was a blizzard the day of this shoot. With a tight print deadline and rescheduling nearly impossible, we went ahead anyway. We were shooting in a downtown Calgary condo with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, which turned out to be a blessing. The light quality from the all-day blizzard was unlike anything I’ve seen since. It felt as though a giant softbox had been lifted outside the building by crane. Sometimes, you don’t plan it. The weather does.

This is an oldie, but a goodie. I loved the inside-outside flow of the space. My early work with Avenue magazine was so formative: a key part of my development as a photographer. They let me explore and experiment, and I learned so much. I focused on capturing the mood, so readers would feel compelled to step into the scene.

This was a fashion assignment with the working title “Power Fashion.” I photographed models outside at various Calgary power stations, and we had a ton of laughs. This is where I really learned to work with models; long before my Africa shoots. Thanks to Avenue for believing in me back then.

25 years later, I still remember this cover shoot. Beautiful couple, Scandinavian vibes, shot at 1/4th second to get that blown-out glow. They stayed perfectly still, I got the image I’d envisioned.