Article by Andy Zeltkalns

Imagine working in a profession where you have to pinch yourself occasionally to be reminded that what you do for a living is actually real. That is how Rob Stimpson describes the feeling he gets about his “dream job” as a Muskoka-based professional photographer.

Although Stimpson enjoyed photography in his 20s, spurred on by an urge to create, it wasn’t until later in life that his career as a photographer materialized. Working first in the pharmaceutical industry, Stimpson was offered an exit package when his company was downsizing. It was at this point in his life he decided to pursue photography as a profession. Many adventures and 24 years later, Stimpson is still doing what he loves and getting paid for it.

Early in his photography career, Stimpson had the opportunity to work all over Switzerland for six months as a photographer’s assistant where he gained valuable experience for his portfolio. Back in Canada, Stimpson began knocking on doors in pursuit of assignments and had a breakthrough commercially when the National Film Board of Canada purchased his images.

He also made a positive impression on the tourist industry and found himself working throughout Canada for tourism agencies. Stimpson’s landscape and wilderness images have been used by Ontario Parks, Parks Canada and many other tourism organizations. 

Aside from his photography, Stimpson is also an eloquent writer who has produced many articles about special areas to visit in Canada and worldwide. Writing about Algoma Country in Northern Ontario, Stimpson has penned articles about the Group of Seven Discovery Route, Beaches of Algoma and Capturing the Algoma Landscape, just to name a few.

As co-author to An Artist’s and Photographer’s Guide to Wild Ontario, published in 2007, Stimpson travelled thousands of kilometres across the province to help create a guide of the “best places in Ontario to sketch, paint, sculpt, carve and photograph wilderness and wildlife images.”

Stimpson has also been published in in-flight magazines for Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines and has worked with Qantas Airlines to help promote destinations to visit in Canada. Stimpson’s work in tourism has earned him numerous awards, which include a Northern Lights Award from the Canadian Tourism Commission and Best Travel Photography Award from the Ontario Tourism Summit.

One of the hallmarks of Stimpson’s career has been the opportunity to travel all over the globe to the more remote regions of the planet. Visits to Antarctica, Greenland, the Arctic and Labrador, among other extraordinary places, have given Stimpson the chance to capture images in very unique landscapes.

For eight years he worked as an expedition photographer and photographer in residence for One Ocean Expeditions. During his tenure, he spent time exploring the island of South Georgia. This magical place, sometimes referred to as an “Antarctic oasis” or “Galapagos of the Poles” is home to a vast population of penguins and seals and its marine ecosystem is one of the world’s richest in biodiversity. Located in the Southern Ocean between the southeast coast of Argentina and the Antarctic continent, it is truly off the beaten path. Nevertheless, it is a photographer’s mecca for those who can visit.

The opening lines of an article Stimpson wrote for Canadian Geographic in 2014 gives readers an inkling of what an experience in South Georgia might be like.

“I jump out of the Zodiac and look left. A hanging glacier perches on a wall of rock and snow-capped peaks soar over the beach, where hundreds of elephant seals mingle with 100,000 king penguins and nine-month-old chicks. This is Gold Harbour on South Georgia Island, a remote bay in the Southern Ocean, 2000 km from the South American coast.”

In addition to conducting photography lectures for clients and capturing marketing images for the company, Stimpson describes himself as a “Jack of all trades” when working on these expeditions. He had to learn many new skills, one of which was driving a Zodiac, and was responsible for many other important tasks required on a ship.

Stimpson enjoys sharing his wealth of knowledge and adventures with others and his animated and engaging lectures have received rave reviews from many audiences. Consequently, Stimpson is a highly sought after speaker with camera clubs and other organizations. 

One of his presentations, “Chasing Ernie,” recounts Stimpson’s 2014 experience as an expedition photographer on the ship Akademik Sergey Vavilov. The odyssey was a centenary voyage which retraced Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated 1914 trans-Antarctic journey. Using his own images and accounts from descendants of people on the original voyage, Stimpson presents a captivating story of “human spirit and endurance.”

As an avid instructor, Stimpson conducts photography workshops all over Ontario and has an international following for his Moose Photo Safari in Algonquin Park. For many years Stimpson taught photography at the Haliburton School of Arts and Design and has recently been invited to teach the summer program at Loyalist College in Port Hope.

When not travelling, Stimpson enjoys spending time close to home in Muskoka, where he has lived for the last 22 years and runs his own photography studio. Being asked what inspires him, Stimpson explains simply being active in nature either hiking or paddling brings him pleasure and an urge to “see what’s out there.” An area in Muskoka Stimpson enjoys photographing is the Oxtongue Rapids. Although he’s been there many times, Stimpson always finds something new at this location to feed his creativity.

When striving to create a high-quality image, Stimpson states “the composition of the photo needs to have a good narrative and should bring the viewers eye into the image.”

Trying to pinpoint a favourite place he has visited in all his travels is a challenge for Stimpson but a top choice must be South Georgia.

“Beaches with thousands of penguins and elephant seals leave one gobsmacked to what they are seeing,” shares Stimpson. 

Although Stimpson has been working as a professional photographer for many years now, he shows no hint of slowing down. In recent years he has become a licensed drone operator and continues to offer his photography services on a regular basis. Stimpson’s most recent adventure finds him exploring the UNESCO World Heritage section of the South Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories during a 350 km canoe trip.

Other than in his studio, Stimpson’s awe-inspiring images can be viewed in person at the Algonquin Art Centre, the Canadian Canoe Museum, Ontario Parks French River Visitor Centre and Arrowhead Visitor Centre.

Stimpson’s career in photography highlights that adventures and incredible imagery to document travels can be abroad or close to home. Whether you are travelling to an exotic destination or simply exploring your own backyard, there is always beauty to be discovered.