Between falls and galaxies, an unforgettable adventure to capture the Milky Way

In a quest to capture a celestial masterpiece, photographer Scott Aspinall embarked on a daring expedition to northern Saskatchewan. In collaboration with Tourism Saskatchewanhe braved the elements and went beyond the limits of possibility to capture a unique image, the shimmering heart of the Milky Way overlooking Nistowiak Falls.

This project aimed not only to produce spectacular photography, but also to inspire nature and astrophotography enthusiasts to explore the wild landscapes of northern Saskatchewan.

An extraordinary adventure

This three-day journey combined hiking, canoeing and determination in the face of extreme conditions.

The Saskatchewan photographer crossed fast, frigid waters under the veil of night, maneuvering his boat with precision to reach a rarely explored site, the east coast of Nistowiak Falls.

This isolated place, inaccessible by the usual paths, provided a unique perspective for his photography.

For me this is one of the places I wanted to discover, it is one of our tallest and most iconic waterfalls and it was very difficult to get theresaid Scott Aspinall, during an interview with CBC.

This may be the only photo ever taken of the falls from this side.

A technical and natural challenge

Scott Aspinall believes that perfect synchronization of the elements is necessary to be able to photograph the Milky Way. The latter had to wait for an auspicious night, when the heart of the Milky Way, a region densely populated with billions of stars, would be visible in all its splendor.

I’m not even sure it’s possible to get the core of the Milky Way outside of this windowhe stressed.

The geographic location of Nistowiak Falls complicated this task.

Located in a remote location in the north of the province where light pollution is virtually non-existent, these falls benefit from exceptional night skies. In summer, however, the nights remain too clear to fully reveal the stars. The spring and autumn months therefore offer the best conditions for astrophotography.

A passion born from a trip

Scott Aspinall’s passion for photography began far away from the northern landscapes of Saskatchewan.

While staying in the UK with his family, he discovered a love for the art of capturing unique moments.

This hobby quickly became a vocation. Today, he travels to the most remote corners of his native province and Western Canada to reveal often invisible treasures.

When I was in the UK, I took some photos with my cell phone. When we returned, I bought myself a camera […] and since then, my passion has grown on its ownhe emphasizes.

With information from Stefani Langenegger