The colours of the sky are reflected on the surface of Cooney Bay in Kamloops.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
April 07, 2025 - 4:00 AM
Kamloops photographer Dennis Kitto is up at all hours of the night alone in the backcountry with his camera taking magical photos of the night sky and peaceful wilderness.
“I feel calm out there in the wilds, it’s my happy place where I have the whole world to myself,” he said.
Kitto has captured northern lights, snowy remote lakes and skies full of stars since he picked up his camera three years ago following the passing of his dad.
“My dad was my nature buddy, I grew up hiking and hunting with him,” Kitto said. “When I’m out there alone at night I can talk to him and remember the adventures we had.”
Kamloops photographer Dennis Kitto stands in front of Coyote Rock in Savona as dawn breaks in March.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
Kitto packs a rifle with him in case of animal encounters and while he’s had to scare curious bears off by firing it over his head a few times, he typically scares them away by making noise.
“I respect animals and I’m going into their homes wandering around at two in the morning,” he said. “I make noise and let them know I’m coming. Normally you can scare a bear or cougar away by yelling at it.”
Sometimes Kitto hikes through the night while other times he sits quietly and reflects on life. His favourite haunts are all around Kamloops and north to Blue River. The photos he takes are often vibrantly colourful.
“People ask me how I get such vibrant photos and it helps to have a really good camera,” he said. “My shutter stays open for 30 seconds and it brings in that much more light to a single photo. Finding places away from people and getting photographs of it is rewarding.”
Kamloops photographer Dennis Kitto is pictured in Bachelor Heights area of Kamloops at night.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
Kitto said the photographs he takes are just a bonus to his midnight adventures.
“It’s more about being out there, capturing the moments and reconnecting with my dad.”
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Kamloops photographer Dennis Kitto took this photo of barn at night in the Kamloops area.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
Northern lights dance over Isobel Lake in Kamloops on April 4.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
Balancing Rock in Savona is pictured at sunrise.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
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