Hi there, welcome to Vivid Aspect Photography. My name is Royce Howland, and I'm your host. I'm a photographer based in Calgary, Alberta. Originally I started out photographing birds and wildlife, but I've found my specialty in landscapes including panoramic outdoor scenes. I love to explore my home range, from the Canadian Rockies and southern Alberta badlands to the wide open prairies. I also enjoy travel in other parts of the world.

I was born in Oklahoma in the 1960's and have been growing up since that time -- slowly, I'm told. My family moved through a succession of places across three countries and two continents, arriving in the small town of Camrose, Alberta by the time I was 15 years old. I felt very much at home in the “big sky”, prairies and mountains, and so I've made Alberta my base ever since. Currently I live in Calgary with my supremely understanding and supportive wife, Deb.

After getting a B.Sc. at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, I began a career in the information technology industry that has spanned over 20 years so far. In the 1990's I moved mainly to consulting work, which opened new travel opportunities. I developed a liking for interesting places in western North America and also rediscovered the natural world, an interest I had largely sidelined since childhood days. For sure, it was the hummingbirds in southern California that sparked my interest in birding. Several years as a birder progressed in turn to photography, which became a passion that appeals both to my technical and creative sides.

While I still actively consult for clients in the IT industry, I now also dedicate time to photography. Since the beginning of 2006, I've specialized in landscape work with the occasional foray for birds, wildlife and other subjects at home and abroad. Aside from the fabulous country we have here in Alberta, favorite travel and photography destinations for my wife and I include the American southwest, England and Crete.

In addition to my direct photography work, I am currently a member of the editorial team of NatureScapes.Net. I write articles and contribute in the discussion and photo forums. I also contribute photographs and articles to other publications on the web and in print. Some of my publication credits include the Calgary Herald newspaper, and the magazines Photo Life, Audubon's American Birds, and Birder's World. My images have been used by several conservation organizations, and I have been interviewed by CBC television and other news organizations on various nature and photography stories. My photographs are available for digital licensing and as prints; details are available through this web site.

For my landscape photography, I have a development-oriented approach which often involves significant “digital darkroom” work. This includes panoramic image stitching and High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. I view photography as an end-to-end creative process involving deliberate control of both taking the initial exposure and making the final image.

While I enjoy and respect many other styles, whether overtly documentary or artistic, I do not view my work as primarily about “getting it right in the camera.” The camera is not right; it is just a tool, and I have many tools. The advent of digital image capture and processing has opened up a new realm of creative potential for photography -- an extension of the art rather than a replacement of it. The aim of my style is to creatively interpret the light, but also to remain true to the essence of the original scene.

Except where explicitly noted otherwise, all images, articles and other contents on this web site are copyright © Royce Howland / Vivid Aspect Photography. All rights reserved. Web site contents are provided for personal and non-commercial use only. Any unauthorized redistribution or reproduction, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

In other words, please don't rip off my stuff. Thanks!