Photographing Jasper in Fall: Wildlife, Spirit Island & More With Alex Briere

On a 2026 autumn photography trip to Jasper, Alex Briere set out to capture some of the region's most iconic landscapes and wildlife. Over several days, he and a fellow photographer Chris McQuarrie witnessed bugling elk, spotted bears, encountered numerous moose and made an early-morning journey across Maligne Lake to photograph Spirit Island at sunrise.

We caught up with Alex to hear about the experience, the stories behind his favourite images (many of which are displayed here) and why Jasper continues to inspire him. Note: this interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What keeps drawing you back to Jasper as a photographer?

I don't know if there are many places in the world quite like Jasper, at least from my perspective as a wildlife and landscape photographer.

You can find yourself in this beautiful town where you're well taken care of, with great accommodations and places to eat, and then within 20 minutes you can find wildlife just everywhere. And not just any wildlife. We're talking about what I would call the big three of Canada: grizzly bears, moose and bull elk.

On top of that, you're surrounded by some of the most scenic landscapes Canada, and quite frankly the world, has to offer. That combination makes Jasper such a special place to revisit.

What makes fall such an exciting time for wildlife photography in Jasper?

Fall brings moose and elk into their rutting season, which means there's a lot more activity happening. That creates opportunities to capture unique photographs you might not get during the spring or summer months.

Being able to photograph these animals against the fall colours also gives your images a really distinctive look. It's such a fleeting moment in time. You have a few weeks when the animals are especially active and the leaves are changing, and then everything shifts again.

There's a huge appeal in trying to capture both the timing of the animals and the timing of nature. It's what draws me, and a lot of other wildlife photographers, to Jasper in the fall.

How do you respect the animals and their space while trying to get a good photograph?

I think that's one of the most important parts of being a responsible wildlife photographer. As professionals, we need to set an example by keeping a safe distance and giving animals the space to behave naturally.

What I've found is that when you give wildlife enough room to relax and almost forget you're there, that's actually when you get the best results. You might see a bull moose chasing a cow, for example, and capture this incredible moment that wouldn't have happened if you'd gotten too close and scared the animals away.

It really comes down to patience. You have to be willing to spend almost an entire day looking for an animal, and then, once you've found it, wait and let things unfold. Sometimes you spend all that time hoping to come away with just one or two photographs you're really excited about.

Wildlife viewing reminder: Parks Canada requires visitors to stay at least 30 metres from elk, moose and other large ungulates, and at least 100 metres from bears. During the fall rut, elk are particularly unpredictable and can be dangerous. Always give wildlife plenty of space and never approach or disturb an animal for a photograph (instead, use zoom lenses).

You also saw Spirit Island on Maligne Lake at dawn. What was that experience like?

There's something truly special about Spirit Island. We got up before the light had even cracked the horizon and hit the water thanks to Jasper Park Fishing. The nature, the sounds... the word mystical might be a bit over the top but also not? It definitely feels like you're stepping into a fantasy environment.

I was chatting with Ryan [lead guide and owner of Jasper Park Fishing] and even just hearing his stories of all the famous people from around the world that have come to fish this lake because it's just so incredibly beautiful. Then the sky gains this pink hue and slowly started to reveal the mountains. It's absolutely breathtaking.

I've travelled quite extensively, and I don't know if there's anywhere else in the world quite like Spirit Island. It honestly looks like a painting. It's one of those places that makes you almost start to raise questions about life because it's so beautiful. Like how does this even exist?

This was my third time visiting, and every experience has been different. The way the light hits a cloud, the reflections on the mountains, the weather and the atmosphere all change the scene.

Was there a particular photograph or moment that stood out from the trip?

One of my favourite images is of a bull elk sitting in the grass with Pyramid Mountain illuminated in the background.

We were staying at Pyramid Lake, and on our very first morning, Chris and I were able to spend some time observing this elk from a safe distance. He was completely content just sitting there while everything around us slowly came to life. The morning sunlight began illuminating Pyramid Mountain, and we even heard a few bugle calls from the elk.

It was one of those moments where everything just unfolded in front of us and it really set the tone for the trip. Starting the trip with a moment like that took the pressure off. We knew we were going to have a great time, no matter what happened next.

If you can let go of expectations, be present and embrace whatever happens, you're going to have a much better experience.

Wildlife photography takes a lot of patience. Was there a photograph you really had to work for?

Absolutely. One day we'd spent a lot of time driving along Maligne Lake Road looking for wildlife. That's often how it works: you drive down toward the lake, turn around, head back up and keep looking. There's always this uncertainty. You might find an animal, but the light isn't quite right, and you start wondering whether something even better is happening a few kilometres down the road.

On this particular evening, I was getting tired. I asked Chris whether we should just call it a night because the moose weren't giving us much to work with. Then a raven flew past us, and Chris took it as a sign that we should keep going in that direction. Thankfully we did.

We started driving again, and suddenly we came across a cow moose and her calf crossing the river. There were already people gathered near the bridge, so we safely pulled over and hurried to get our cameras ready. The moose were already in the water, but they hadn't reached the middle of the scene yet. We were scrambling to get our camera settings right, capture the photographs and maybe even squeeze in a little video.

It all happened so quickly. That was one of those dream wildlife photography moments and a huge trip highlight. You always hope to see something like that, but it rarely happens.

What advice would you give someone planning their own fall photography trip to Jasper?

Come with a lot of memory cards, because you're going to fill them up! From a photography standpoint, you're in really good hands in Jasper. Even on this trip, we only photographed a small slice of what Jasper has to offer. I'd love to come back and spend more time hiking and exploring different areas.

To me, Jasper really embodies that iconic image of the Canadian Rocky Mountains that people around the world imagine when they think of Canada. My advice is to come prepared to be inspired. Be patient, stay open to whatever experiences come your way, and enjoy being in such an incredible place.

Experience Jasper Through Your Own Lens

Whether you're hoping to photograph wildlife in the golden light of autumn, witness sunrise over an iconic mountain landscape or simply experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, Jasper offers endless opportunities for discovery.

Plan your own fall adventure and see what moments are waiting to be captured.

Explore things to do in Jasper in the fall