This man’s love of the North is evident in his photography | CBC News

You just keep coming.

One after the other.

Stunning images of the north captured by Inuvik photographer Kristian Binder.

“You don’t have to drive too far out of town, or out of town at all, to enjoy how beautiful the Arctic can be,” he said.

And how beautiful it is.

Binder knows he is in a special place and his ability to capture his beauty through photos is truly inspirational.

“I love framing beautiful sunsets with the city or stunning fall colors with the rocky hills of Gwich’in Territorial Park,” he said.

Binder’s passion began over a decade ago when he started attending many concerts and music festivals.

He just wanted pictures; a record of every band and artist he had seen over the years.

“This was in the early days of digital photography, so the quality wasn’t the best, but I loved having the memorabilia,” he said.

A few years later, in 2012, he started to get serious about photography.

“I had moved back to Inuvik from Ottawa and didn’t know what to do next. [That’s] when I got a freelance job doing some photography and writing for a local publication.”

Binder invested in better camera gear, started taking photos every day, and watched “a lot” of YouTube tutorials.

Then came a big moment when he snapped some personal photos of his grandparents.

“My grandmother was especially looking forward to posing for the photos,” he said.

“They both died the following year, so that became even more meaningful to me,” he added.

After that, he knew he had the skills, confidence, and passion to really get into photography, even if it’s just a hobby.

From landscapes to the Northern Lights, Binder has pretty much perfected his craft and mastered the challenges of life in the north.

“You have to put up with the cold if you want to shoot outdoors in winter,” he said.

He says preparation is key.

“Besides the obvious – packing in proper clothing – you need to keep an eye on your gear, especially the batteries.”

And gear is everything these days when Binder pulls on his parka and heads outside.

He used to only work with a DSLR to take pictures of Inuvik and the surrounding communities.

Now a licensed drone operator, he can’t get enough pictures from the heights.

“I can capture so many different perspectives in one minute that would have been impossible for me a few years ago,” he said.

The result is a stack of images that are simply amazing.

Binder often shares his photos with CBC North, and when we post them to Facebook or Instagram, they always explode.

And that means a lot to him.

“So much of what I do is motivated by my own excitement or appreciation for a beautiful sunset…or an amazing night with the Aurora Borealis, so it’s incredibly satisfying to see other people connect with it, too.”

You can find more photos by Kristian Binder on Instagram @eighty_one_images.