𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 ✨
My photo of 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐮𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐤 (BCZ0339) is on the cover of 𝐁𝐁𝐂 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 🐋
Photographed near northeast Vancouver Island, in the traditional territories of the Kwak̕wala-speaking Peoples.
For me, this cover is about more than just the image — it reflects my 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲. Animals should be shown in their natural world, respected and undisturbed.
One of the most beautiful and meaningful covers of my career 🌊💙
🙏 With gratitude to the Kwak̕wala-speaking Peoples, to BBC Wildlife Magazine, to MERS, and to all my guiding friends who help protect and respect these incredible animals.
@rolfhickerphotography
@mersociety
@bbcwildlifemagazine
@vancouverislandnorth
#HumpbackWhale #VancouverIsland #BBCWildlife #EthicalWildlifePhotography #Conservation #whalewatchingbc
𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 ✨
My photo of 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐮𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐤 (BCZ0339) is on the cover of 𝐁𝐁𝐂 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 🐋
Photographed near northeast Vancouver Island, in the traditional territories of the Kwak̕wala-speaking Peoples.
For me, this cover is about more than just the image — it reflects my 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲. Animals should be shown in their natural world, respected and undisturbed.
One of the most beautiful and meaningful covers of my career 🌊💙
🙏 With gratitude to the Kwak̕wala-speaking Peoples, to BBC Wildlife Magazine, to MERS, and to all my guiding friends who help protect and respect these incredible animals.
@rolfhickerphotography
@mersociety
@bbcwildlifemagazine
@vancouverislandnorth
#HumpbackWhale #VancouverIsland #BBCWildlife #EthicalWildlifePhotography #Conservation #whalewatchingbc
A Giant Among Giants 🖤
A large male Bigg’s Killer Whale gliding through flat calm waters beneath the towering cliffs of Knight Inlet—a breathtaking moment of scale, solitude, and presence.
This is my favourite fjord in British Columbia, deep in the Traditional Territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, Canada. The raw drama of these cliffs makes everything feel wild and humbling—even a powerful apex predator like this orca.
Photographed ethically from a respectful distance of over 200 meters, using my Sony a7RV with a 200–600mm lens. No need to get close. No need to intrude. Nature gives us everything when we simply observe and be patient.
📸 For me, the best images are not “look at me” portraits but quiet scenes of wildlife in their natural rhythm—undisturbed, unbothered, in their natural habitat. That’s where the real beauty lies.
Let’s keep celebrating photography that respects its subject.
Let’s keep a distance to whales.
Let bears be bears.
Keep sea otters sleeping.
#KnightInlet #BiggsOrca #EthicalWildlifePhotography #VancouverIslandPhotoTours #RespectWildlife #DaNaxdaxwAwaetlalaTerritory #SonyAlpha #Orca #KillerWhale #BritishColumbia #WildlifePhotography #EcoTourism #SmallGroupTours #privateguide
A Giant Among Giants 🖤
A large male Bigg’s Killer Whale gliding through flat calm waters beneath the towering cliffs of Knight Inlet—a breathtaking moment of scale, solitude, and presence.
This is my favourite fjord in British Columbia, deep in the Traditional Territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, Canada. The raw drama of these cliffs makes everything feel wild and humbling—even a powerful apex predator like this orca.
Photographed ethically from a respectful distance of over 200 meters, using my Sony a7RV with a 200–600mm lens. No need to get close. No need to intrude. Nature gives us everything when we simply observe and be patient.
📸 For me, the best images are not “look at me” portraits but quiet scenes of wildlife in their natural rhythm—undisturbed, unbothered, in their natural habitat. That’s where the real beauty lies.
Let’s keep celebrating photography that respects its subject.
Let’s keep a distance to whales.
Let bears be bears.
Keep sea otters sleeping.
#KnightInlet #BiggsOrca #EthicalWildlifePhotography #VancouverIslandPhotoTours #RespectWildlife #DaNaxdaxwAwaetlalaTerritory #SonyAlpha #Orca #KillerWhale #BritishColumbia #WildlifePhotography #EcoTourism #SmallGroupTours #privateguide
Finally finding a minute to share… 🐾
We’re deep into the season and it’s been truly special—spectacular wildlife, kind-hearted guests, and a strong, respectful community of guides working together on the water.
What makes it all so rewarding is the way we move through these incredible landscapes: giving wildlife the space it deserves, being patient observers, not intruders. All of these photos were taken from a distance with my Sony a7RV and 200–600mm lens—and most are cropped.
Wildlife photography and watching should never be about getting close. It’s about quiet moments, natural behavior, and witnessing the animals on their terms. That’s why we carry “heavy gear”—so we can document beauty without disturbance.
All of these moments were captured with care in the Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
📸 Grizzly bear with cubs
📸 Black bear
📸 Bigg’s orcas
📸 Knight Inlet scenery with the tour boat Ambient Light
📸 Pacific white-sided dolphins
📸 Humpback whales bubble-net feeding
📸 Sea otter sleeping
📸 Bald eagles feasting on herring
Feeling grateful for each day out here. 🌊🐾🧡
#KnightInlet #VancouverIslandPhotoTours #WildlifeWatching #GrizzlyBears #HumpbackWhales #SeaOtters #BiggsOrcas #BaldEagles #DolphinsOfBC #SustainableTourism #EthicalWildlifePhotography #KwakwakawakwTerritory #ExploreBC #SonyA7RV #NaturePhotography #WildlifeInBC #EcoTourismCanada #NatureFirst #BearsOfInstagram #WhaleWatchingBC #CoastalBC #RespectNature #WildernessCulture #RemoteAdventures #bubblenetfeeding
Finally finding a minute to share… 🐾
We’re deep into the season and it’s been truly special—spectacular wildlife, kind-hearted guests, and a strong, respectful community of guides working together on the water.
What makes it all so rewarding is the way we move through these incredible landscapes: giving wildlife the space it deserves, being patient observers, not intruders. All of these photos were taken from a distance with my Sony a7RV and 200–600mm lens—and most are cropped.
Wildlife photography and watching should never be about getting close. It’s about quiet moments, natural behavior, and witnessing the animals on their terms. That’s why we carry “heavy gear”—so we can document beauty without disturbance.
All of these moments were captured with care in the Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
📸 Grizzly bear with cubs
📸 Black bear
📸 Bigg’s orcas
📸 Knight Inlet scenery with the tour boat Ambient Light
📸 Pacific white-sided dolphins
📸 Humpback whales bubble-net feeding
📸 Sea otter sleeping
📸 Bald eagles feasting on herring
Feeling grateful for each day out here. 🌊🐾🧡
#KnightInlet #VancouverIslandPhotoTours #WildlifeWatching #GrizzlyBears #HumpbackWhales #SeaOtters #BiggsOrcas #BaldEagles #DolphinsOfBC #SustainableTourism #EthicalWildlifePhotography #KwakwakawakwTerritory #ExploreBC #SonyA7RV #NaturePhotography #WildlifeInBC #EcoTourismCanada #NatureFirst #BearsOfInstagram #WhaleWatchingBC #CoastalBC #RespectNature #WildernessCulture #RemoteAdventures #bubblenetfeeding
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 & 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 🙏🌊🐻
I’m incredibly honoured to share that 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 has received the 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝—𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!
As a one-person operation, this recognition means so much to me. Every tour I lead is personal—from sharing wildlife encounters to creating once-in-a-lifetime memories with my guests.
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬.
That’s why this award feels extra special: 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting small, ethical, and conservation-minded tourism. Thank you for trusting me to show you the wild beauty of British Columbia’s coast.
Here’s to many more unforgettable days on the water 🐋🦅🐻
#TripadvisorTravellersChoice #Top10Experience #VancouverIslandPhotoTours #WildlifeToursBC #SupportLocal #SmallBusinessBigHeart #EthicalWildlifeTours #gratefulheart❤️
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 & 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 🙏🌊🐻
I’m incredibly honoured to share that 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 has received the 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝—𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!
As a one-person operation, this recognition means so much to me. Every tour I lead is personal—from sharing wildlife encounters to creating once-in-a-lifetime memories with my guests.
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬.
That’s why this award feels extra special: 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting small, ethical, and conservation-minded tourism. Thank you for trusting me to show you the wild beauty of British Columbia’s coast.
Here’s to many more unforgettable days on the water 🐋🦅🐻
#TripadvisorTravellersChoice #Top10Experience #VancouverIslandPhotoTours #WildlifeToursBC #SupportLocal #SmallBusinessBigHeart #EthicalWildlifeTours #gratefulheart❤️
Ocean Place Team 2025 🌊🌱🌍
Every year, I’m so lucky to have an incredible team of friends by my side to help keep this dream alive—living close to nature, sharing wildlife experiences, and growing clean, organic food.
Each season, my Ocean Place Team is a unique mix of people and cultures—and 2025 is no exception.
This year, Selda from Turkey, Alejandro from Mexico, and Joans from the Galápagos Islands have joined me and my boys to take on the big tasks around the place—from the garden to the kitchen, from supporting my wildlife tours to daily life.
Together, we’re not just planting vegetables—we’re building friendships, sharing stories, and learning from each other every single day. 🌿🤝✨
Most importantly, they help me create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for my guests—something I could never do without a strong team of friends behind me, keeping everything running back home while I’m out on the water. 🚤🐋
Thank you, team, for supporting my vision of living as sustainably as possible, growing healthy food, creating soil with our worm farm, and helping me continue this meaningful work.
Love you guys! 💚🌍🙌
These are the moments that matter. 🫶
Ocean Place Team 2025 🌊🌱🌍
Every year, I’m so lucky to have an incredible team of friends by my side to help keep this dream alive—living close to nature, sharing wildlife experiences, and growing clean, organic food.
Each season, my Ocean Place Team is a unique mix of people and cultures—and 2025 is no exception.
This year, Selda from Turkey, Alejandro from Mexico, and Joans from the Galápagos Islands have joined me and my boys to take on the big tasks around the place—from the garden to the kitchen, from supporting my wildlife tours to daily life.
Together, we’re not just planting vegetables—we’re building friendships, sharing stories, and learning from each other every single day. 🌿🤝✨
Most importantly, they help me create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for my guests—something I could never do without a strong team of friends behind me, keeping everything running back home while I’m out on the water. 🚤🐋
Thank you, team, for supporting my vision of living as sustainably as possible, growing healthy food, creating soil with our worm farm, and helping me continue this meaningful work.
Love you guys! 💚🌍🙌
These are the moments that matter. 🫶
Bald eagle taking off in Glendale Cove, Knight Inlet, Traditional territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, Canada #explorebc #knightinlet #baldeagles #wildlifewatching
Bald eagle taking off in Glendale Cove, Knight Inlet, Traditional territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, Canada #explorebc #knightinlet #baldeagles #wildlifewatching
🐾 Cougars - the ghosts of the forest 🌳
Vancouver Island is home to one of the highest concentrations of cougars in North America. These incredible big cats are built for speed and agility:
🔥 They can leap an astonishing 6 to 12 meters (20-40 ft) in a single bound!
⚡ With bursts of 70 km/hr (45 mi/hr), they’re lightning-fast sprinters.
Though rarely seen, their presence shapes the wild balance of the island. Have you ever spotted one in the wild? 👀
🐾 Cougars - the ghosts of the forest 🌳
Vancouver Island is home to one of the highest concentrations of cougars in North America. These incredible big cats are built for speed and agility:
🔥 They can leap an astonishing 6 to 12 meters (20-40 ft) in a single bound!
⚡ With bursts of 70 km/hr (45 mi/hr), they’re lightning-fast sprinters.
Though rarely seen, their presence shapes the wild balance of the island. Have you ever spotted one in the wild? 👀
🐟🦅 Catch it if you can! 🦅💨
Bald eagles are master hunters with razor-sharp vision... but why hunt when you can steal your neighbor’s lunch? 😎🍽️
🚤 Witness moments like this on tour!
👉 https://vancouverislandtours.info
🐟🦅 Catch it if you can! 🦅💨
Bald eagles are master hunters with razor-sharp vision... but why hunt when you can steal your neighbor’s lunch? 😎🍽️
🚤 Witness moments like this on tour!
👉 https://vancouverislandtours.info
