Flying High Over the Kootenays

Written By Ashley Voykin

One of my favourite things about photography has been how many different perspectives you can capture of familiar locations. Whether that is by visiting locations in different seasons, times of day, shooting low, or shooting from up high. I’ve been lucky enough over the years to have gotten up into the air, by helicopter or more commonly small planes in order to explore a higher vantage point for my photos. It’s incredibly exciting as a photographer to get the chance to capture my favourite locations from an aerial perspective.

Person walking towards a small aircraft in a hangar, with mountains in the background. Black and white image.

Pilot Kole Harle and a Cessna 172. Photo: Ashley Voykin

During 2024 while my partner Kole worked on hours for his commercial pilots license, I was able to tag along for a few flights above the West Kootenays. The following images wouldn’t be possible without Kole, and a number of other pilots that I’ve flown with over the years.

Purcell Mountains, British Columbia. Photo: Ashley Voykin

Aerial view of Kaslo Bay on Kootenay Lake with numerous boats docked, surrounded by lush green trees and a few buildings.

Kaslo bay from the Air. West Kootenay, British Columbia. Photo: Ashley Voykin

Aerial view of cracked, textured ice surface with deep crevices and a light dusting of snow in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia

Glacier in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Photo: Ashley Voykin

When flying, my go-to lens is usually my 24-70mm in order to capture a wide range of the landscape in frame. I’ve also been experimenting with bringing my 70-200mm along to compress certain scenes and get a tighter shot. The image below of Idaho Peak is one such image, captured with my 70-200 to provide a closer look at the waters of Slocan Lake beyond the fire lookout tower.

Aerial view of the historic fire lookout tower Idaho Peak, perched on a mountain high above Slocan Lake below.

Idaho Peak and Slocan Lake, in the Spring. Photo: Ashley Voykin

Looking West above Robson and the Columbia River, towards the Hugh Keenleyside Dam. Castlegar, BC. Photo: Ashley Voykin

Lake of the Hanging Glacier, in the Purcell Mountains of BC. Photo: Ashley Voykin

Aerial view of Duncan Lake Reservoir surrounded by the Purcell mountains, with patches of snow on the peaks, under a partly cloudy sky.

Duncan Lake in the Fall. Photo: Ashley Voykin

Aerial view of Nakusp BC with patchwork fields, a winding road, and a Upper Arrow Lake surrounded by the Monashee mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

Nakusp, British Columbia. Photo: Ashley Voykin

An aerial image of the mountain peaks of Valhalla Provincial Park in the Winter Time.

Gimli Peak and Mulvey Basin, in the Springtime. Valhalla Provincial Park, British Columbia. Photo: Ashley Voykin

It’s great to be back blogging! After a number of years away from writing longer form pieces about my work, it’s nice to give some of my images a home outside of Instagram and Facebook posts. It’s sometimes a struggle to keep up with posting to social media in between capturing client work and personal projects, and I find that sharing my images in longer form has always been more creatively fulfilling. There will be more to come!

Ashley Voykin
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Capturing the Kootenays: Castlegar