THE BATTLEFORDS — Gilbert Katerynych got his first digital camera in 2005, and from that day forward, he couldn’t put it down.
“The ability to take unlimited photos and see them almost instantly on a computer screen flipped a switch inside me. I’ve been at it ever since,” says Katerynych.
The photographer grew up in the Battlefords. When he is not taking pictures, he works full-time as an RN on the third floor of the Battlefords Union Hospital.
While photography is more of a side gig for Katerynych, he does earn some money from it. He says his main goal is to generate enough funds to support his passion.
His scenery photos are eyecatching and have been shared numerous times online and on social media.
Katerynych tells the News-Optimist about his photography inspiration, saying, “I can’t pin it down to anything specific—I’m drawn to various places for different reasons. I love photographing derelict subjects, celestial objects, sunrises and sunsets, all phases of the moon, summer storms and the northern lights whenever they appear. I enjoy capturing the Battlefords against these events as well. It’s rewarding to give the community a view of their home they might not otherwise see.”
Katerynych says all his photos can be ordered from his Facebook page at Gilbert Katerynych Photography and Instagram account @gilbertkaterynych.
These photos are available in various sizes and formats, including prints, canvas, metal and more. Katerynych also has many prints framed and on display at Artrageous Framing and Gallery in the Battlefords.
Asked what may have been his favourite pictures, the photographer responds, “One of my favourite images is a composite I made last year during the Geminid meteor shower. The northern lights put on a good show that night too, and I used the twin grain elevators of Lepine as my subject. I set up all my camera gear, relaxed in my gravity chair, and watched the sky for hours.”
Katerynych is also proud of a special capture of the solar eclipse that occurred last April. He travelled to Prince Edward Island and says, with a bit of luck, the weather conditions allowed him to photograph this once-in-a-lifetime event.
The lensman looks for the magic in every moment. After spotting a moose calf to the right of the position he was in above the river valley, he saw a mother moose approach from his left. Katerynych said she crossed over from an island in the river and her calf went down to meet her midstream, below the position he was in.
“A moment I photographed recently was a mother moose and its calf reuniting in the North Saskatchewan River, nose to nose. It was a nice moment.”
Katerynych’s work has been used for merchandise and community promotion. The Battlefords photographer says his work has been featured on numerous business websites, realtor profiles, stationery and more.
As well, his work is displayed in many businesses as well as he has released a calendar called Battlefords and Beyond, showcasing his view of the community and surrounding areas. The 2025 calendar is available now.
For Katerynych, life is like a camera as his work showcases his focus on capturing moments while discovering the beauty of the world through his lens.
