https://chrismullinphotography.com/

Chris Mullin Photography, Victoria, BC (2026)

06/01/2026

I’ve passed this waterfall numerous times on all my drives between the coast and the Rockies. I almost always stop nearby for a quick break, but I’ve never made the short hike up with my camera. I didn’t plan to this time either… but I figured I might as well stretch my legs, so I grabbed my gear and headed up with my girlfriend.

Once we reached the base of the falls, I noticed the massive, freshly fallen trees scattered everywhere… swept down by the sheer force of the water after the intense rain BC received this winter, likely made worse by the wildfire damage from the summer before. The area looked wild and chaotic.

There was a sign that read: “Danger Beyond This Point” or something along those lines.

With no kids around and after carefully assessing the surroundings, I decided bypass the sign and head up to the base of the falls. An older man on the trail asked me, “Do you think the sign is because of bears?” I smirked a little and pointed toward the piles of broken timber and rocks jammed all around us.

“I think it’s because of all this debris potentially coming down,” I replied.

He looked around, still a bit unsure, while I carefully continued climbing higher. Once at the base of the falls, I found a big boulder and asked my partner to climb up. I framed up the scene and captured a few images I was happy with.

Experiences like this are a reminder that nature is constantly changing. Places we think we know can look completely different season to season, year to year.

I felt confident where I stood, but being out in the wild always carries risk. It’s important to stay aware of your surroundings, understand potential hazards, and respect the environment when chasing photos like these.

05/26/2026

I had an amazing 5 weeks in Tofino and I still have so much more to share.

During my final week there, I woke up one morning to an unexpected and exciting opportunity… the chance to attend the Lightchasers Conference again. I attended the inaugural conference 5 years ago, but haven’t been back since relocating to the Island. Without hesitation, I said yes.

I’ve felt a bit secluded living on the island lately. Especially this past year, I’ve been working every single day trying to build my photography career, leaving very little time for much else. I started to feel lonely.

I needed Lightchasers more than I realized.

Shane, founder of Lightchasers has created something incredibly special. I got to reconnect with old friends, finally meet online friends in person, and connect with complete strangers who now genuinely feel like friends.

Attending Lightchasers is such a grounding experience. Being surrounded by some of the best photographers in the country is both humbling and inspiring. The amount of talent in one room is hard to describe.

The conference is about so much more than photography. It’s about growth, vulnerability, mental health, creativity, connection… and being human. There were so many laughs, hugs, and emotional moments throughout the weekend. Every speaker brought something meaningful to the table.

One thing that really stayed with me is realizing that every one of these incredible photographers started somewhere… just like me. They chased their dreams relentlessly and are now living them. As someone currently taking a huge leap into photography full-time, that was deeply inspiring.

Chris Gibbs’ live narration during the final talk completely got me. I could relate to it on every level. I don’t usually get emotional easily, but this weekend genuinely touched my heart.

And Shane… one of his final lines from the conference has been stuck in my head ever since: “We chase the light in photography… but really, we are chasing the light within ourselves.”

That truly resonated with me.

Thank you to Shane for creating such an amazing community, and congratulations to him on year 5. I already can’t wait to come back.

05/13/2026

This spot off the coast of Tofino has become incredibly special to me over the last month.

The first time I encountered this scene, I was completely unprepared for photography. No tripod, wrong lens, not nearly enough gear. I knew right away I had to come back the next evening fully prepared for sunset.

While setting up my tripod the following night, I happened to look up at the perfect moment.

A grey whale breached vertically headfirst, straight out of the water, just beyond the rock formations in this photo. Then, almost in slow motion, it disappeared straight back beneath the surface.

While I wasn’t able to capture a photo of this amazing wildlife sighting, I was thrilled for the incredible experience.

This photo was shot at 16mm (wide lens), the whale was far closer than this image makes it seem. I could make out the textures and tones on its skin.

I’ve seen plenty of whales before, but this one genuinely put me into slight shock. I just stood there gripping my baseball hat for absolutely no reason, repeating “holy sh*t” over and over to myself.

I ended up getting the sunset shot I came for, but the whale encounter became the real photograph in my memory. It never returned that night, but I came back most evenings after and witnessed similar moments again and again.

A true West Coast experience I won’t forget.

05/05/2026

These are a handful of scenes I’ve captured during my stay in Tofino.

I’ve been really drawn to the idea of perspective and scale. It’s humbling how difficult it can be to translate these massive landscapes into a single frame.

My girlfriend, Moselle (always prepared in her yellow rain jacket) was the perfect subject to help provide perspective. The yellow stood out beautifully against the earthy tones of the coast… noticeable, but not overpowering like bright red sometimes is.

I asked her to step into certain spaces to give a sense of just how big and wild these landscapes are.

05/01/2026

Every time I head out with my camera here in Tofino, I come back with something completely different than I expected.

I usually plan things out…find a scene and wait for the perfect light. But these past few weeks, I’ve been trying something else… letting go of expectations and capturing whatever catches my eye.

I’ve been enjoying taking my time to explore different angles and compositions.

This image came from a small island just off the coast. I originally had a clear vision of a hanging tree stump over the ocean with mountain views. But when I got there, it didn’t feel as strong… so I shifted.

I started playing with exposures, turning my focus out toward the open water instead. The sky was pretty minimal, so I leaned into a longer exposure to soften everything and bring balance between the ocean and the sky.

With the early sunrise light, I aimed for something soft and pastel, quiet and calm.

Not the shot I planned… but I love the way it turned out!

04/21/2026

During my time in Tofino, the tides have been extreme… stretching far out and rolling all the way back in. I’ve been getting up early to wander the shoreline at low tide, searching for whatever the ocean reveals.

When I first came to British Columbia from Ontario in 2005, I remember the rocky edges of the beach covered in sea stars, so many it felt surreal. Then in 2013, Sea Star Wasting Disease wiped out nearly 90% of them. One of the largest marine die-offs in history.

I still think about the giant sunflower stars I used to find washed ashore… massive, alien, unforgettable. I haven’t seen one in over 15 years and in many areas, extinct.

Recently, when the tide pulled back I could see clusters of sea stars again, holding on to the rocks, quietly returning. It brought back that feeling of seeing this coast for the first time when I was 18 years old… curious and completely in awe.

I enjoyed spending time photographing the intertidal zone, playing with compositions. I was drawn to the sea stars' bright colours against the dark volcanic rock, and other marine life around them. Simple moments of joy.

I love how the coast is always changing. There’s always something new to discover.

04/14/2026

My mantra recently has been ‘seize the moment’. I made a bold move… and decided to chase a dream. My amazing partner and I hitched-up our new camping trailer and headed to Tofino for 5 weeks of remote work and adventure!

There’s something about Tofino that keeps bringing me back year after year. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve visited, but the energy and light here feels different… wild, raw, and grounding. A true sense of peace.

While I’m here, I’ve been offering free portrait sessions to locals. I put up a few posters and reached out to some local businesses. Yesterday, I confirmed 3 new bookings… pretty exciting!

I’ve been getting out to shoot as much as possible. Chasing new landscape shots around the coast. I can’t wait to start sharing more of that work, so over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a mix of photos and stories from Tofino and Ucluelet.

This shot is my first sunset photo while being here. It’s steps away from my campsite on TinWis Beach… one of the most beautiful places in Tofino to watch the sunset. Can you spot the tiny figure on the rocks?

And… I’m hoping to share some exciting news next week. It’s something I’ve been quietly working on for a while now, and it’s almost ready to share.

Thanks so much for all the support, it truly means so much to me!

04/09/2026

Once a year, I escape to David Thompson Country for a week of camping and much needed R&R. Last autumn, I decided to venture off the beaten path and explore a lesser known trail to White Goat Falls.

After our morning coffee, my girlfriend and I packed up the truck with my camera gear and set out for the trailhead. According to our research, the route was well marked with signs and coloured ribbons, so we weren’t too worried about navigation.

An hour into the hike, though, we started wondering if we’d somehow missed the falls. Still hopeful they were just around the next bend, we pressed on, weaving through a tangle of horse trails and crossing the river more times than I can count. Two hours later, we finally admitted defeat and turned back, an unintentional, yet perfect, example of the sunk cost fallacy.

Once we found our way back to the main trail, we bushwhacked a little and eventually spotted a line of coloured ribbons tracing the edge of a deep canyon. Finally, signs of hope. As we followed the path, the distant sound of rushing water grew louder until it became a steady roar. Could this be White Goat Falls at last?

Fueled by excitement, I scrambled down a steep slope using a rope, probably a bit too eagerly, only to turn around and see my girlfriend emerge from the brush, smiling, after taking a much easier route down.

At the bottom, I unpacked my gear. We had finally found White Goat Falls. Success! The light was harsh and nearly midday, so I focused on tighter compositions of the two‑tiered waterfall cascading over smooth rock.

The adventure had been worth it, and I was glad we didn’t give up.

On the hike back, though, we noticed something frustrating: several trail markers had been deliberately removed, clearly an effort to make the route harder to follow. To top it off, we spotted a small arrow etched into a fist‑sized rock along the trail. A subtle clue we’d completely missed on our first pass.

04/07/2026

This is a ‘hilarious’ story about my solo camping trip to Lake O’Hara during Covid… Enjoy!

In 2020, I had secured a camping spot at Lake O’Hara through Parks Canada’s lotto. I was worried it would be cancelled because of Covid. Instead, Parks Canada cancelled the shuttle and required everyone to hike the 11km road.

Before my trip, I threw my back out. Instead of carrying my backpack and camera gear, I bought a wagon. I loaded my gear and dragged it the entire bumpy 11km road. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined.

When I arrived, I barely caught my breath before a Parks Canada staff member asked to see my reservation. While I dug through my pockets, she gave my wagon the stink eye. My name was on the reservation, but my address didn’t match my ID.

“We have a problem with the address,” she said.

“So… I can’t stay?” I asked.

She nodded.

I looked at the wagon and said, “So you’re telling me I need to haul this thing 11km back down the road? Things have been rough. I really need this nature therapy. My back is thrown out… that’s why I hauled this wagon up here.”

She paused, smiled, and said, “We’ll let it go this time.”

That night, around the communal fire, other campers admitted they had watched the interaction and worried they might be asked for ID too. None of them had. I guess she really didn’t like my wagon… but my lower back definitely did.

The next morning, I planned to visit Seven Veils Falls, come back for breakfast, and then head out for a hike. Instead, I kept following a trail higher above the lake until I reached Lake Oesa.

I photographed the stunning scene before continuing on to Opabin Plateau, where I stayed for golden hour.

When I finally got back, I stripped off my clothes and walked straight into the glacial lake. It was one of the best feelings imaginable and is still one of my favourite memories.

The image from the Plateau won second place in the Landscape category at the inaugural Light Chasers Conference!

Funny how some of the hardest journeys end up creating the most meaningful photos and memories. Here are some favourites from that day.

03/31/2026

It’s no secret that I’ve always been drawn to black and white photography… there’s something special about monochrome images.

I love the dark, moody, sometimes even eerie atmosphere of B&W images. It lets emotion take over.

Music plays a huge role in my editing process. My song choice often shapes the energy of my final images. Some days it’s classical, other days it’s hardcore... but when it’s metal, everything shifts.

There’s a certain intensity, a raw emotion in metal that pushes me to edit with more attitude and confidence. I find myself leaning deeper into contrast, shadows, and mood, almost like I’m translating sound into visual form.

These are a few images I worked on while listening to heavy metal… and you can probably feel that energy in them.

What music gets you into that creative zone? Do you have a favourite genre for editing?

Chris Mullin Photography

06/01/2026

05/26/2026

05/13/2026

05/05/2026

05/01/2026

04/21/2026

04/14/2026

04/09/2026

04/07/2026

03/31/2026

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