Michael Bednar

Greetings! I’m Michael Bednar, a travel and social documentary photographer. My work explores the intricate interplay between culture and the environment and focuses on their affect on one another. 

I am a passionate storyteller who authentically cares for the people and world around us. My deep curiosity for the diversity of cultures and lands worldwide drives my life. With over twenty-five years as a professional photographer, my work has assisted in telling stories for clients ranging from editorial to corporate, as well as, government, non-profits, medical and post secondary institutions. 

I am an explorer by nature which revealed itself at a very young age, much to mother’s chagrin. That adventurous spirit has stayed with me and has shaped my life. I shunned my original chosen career path in finance after hearing the call of the wild. As a result, I pursued an education in forestry, outdoor recreation, and natural resource management, and my early adulthood was spent working in the remote regions of Northern British Columbia, Canada.

This was accompanied by bouts of hitchhiking through Africa, living on a kibbutz in Israel,  being a deckhand on a sailboat in the Mediterranean, working in the Australian outback, treks through the Himalayas, and many other adventures before finally picking up a camera seriously, returning to school, and becoming a visual storyteller.

My photography career began with a practicum at The Calgary Herald and was followed by three years at The Medicine Hat News. Those first few years helpled me to hone my technical skills and taught me a lot. I will always miss the camaraderie and energy of a newsroom. I transitioned to freelancing from there and apart from the occasional  tangent, I’ve remained.

Throughout my career, I have been recognized with several awards such as Asian Geographic Magazine’s ‘Photojournalism of the Decade’ and the Northern Lights Award for ‘Best Canadian Travel Photography’ as well as the Lucie Award from the International Photography Awards as ‘People Photographer of the Year’ which included being nominated for ‘International Photographer of the Year’ along with multiple other honours.

When I'm not capturing moments with my camera or at my computer editing and writing, you might catch me with my face in a map, dreaming of future explorations. Alternatively, I could be hiking or canoeing in a wild, remote area. If I do find myself settled for a short while and savoring the delights of urban life, I'm likely to be preparing a feast for friends or just for myself, as I have a passion for cooking, especially for those I care about. There will undoubtedly be music playing while I cook, and I can neither confirm nor deny that I might be singing and dancing solo in the kitchen.

Currently, you will find me based in Cusco, Peru where I have immersed myself in a project documenting the culture of the indigenous Quechua people of the Andes. This project has garnered attention with multiple awards from the International Photography Awards and the Tokyo International Foto Awards. I have also been selected by Review Santa Fe to present the project to industry leading book publishers, editors, gallerists, and curators. Upon completion, the project will produce a photo book and print exhibitions in select locations.

If you are interested in following along with this project or hearing about other photo adventures, I encourage you sign up for my newsletter for occasional updates from the field. Feel free to send a message if you have any questions.

With gratitude,

MB