Canadian nature photographer Jesse Vance brings the enchantment out of nature. His forest and marine scenes come alive through the expert eye of his camera. At any moment, we expect a gnome to peek out from the trunk of a tree or a siren to beckon us as she lounges on a rocky islet, in the midst of a hazy sea. The tones of his images are almost otherworldly. The color of the ocean is a technicolor aqua blue, the ferns in the forest a vivid kelly green. The bark of the trees appear to be made of cork or gray fur. Everything seems real, but not quite. We may have seen that forest or beach somewhere, but we can’t shake off the feeling that there is something more awaiting us at the end of the dirt path or behind the brightly painted lighthouse. A seasoned film technician, Vance uses the skills he learned on set to fashion soft, painterly compositions. The intention was to create a sense of relaxation, as if exhaling in a single breath—the embodiment of what Vance is as a person.

Vance studied Film Production at Capilano University in Vancouver. He won first place in the Fine Art Photography Awards and the Int’l Photo Awards in the Special/Night Photography category and received an ND Awards honorable mention. His photographs were published in One Eyeland's 2021 Best of the Best Photographers book, and were ranked second. Vance lives and works in Surrey, BC, Canada.