Hauntingly Beautiful Photography: 20 Shots That Showcase Canada’s Spooky Side
We asked our contributors to share their most frightening Canadian photography, and they rose to the challenge! From fog shrouded forests to creepy abandoned cottages, these striking shots celebrate the spooky side of the Great White North.
In the Dead of Night
Photographer Bob Wall of Terrace, British Columbia, writes: “St. Paul’s Church under a starry night. This church originated in 1882 and is located at a small native community at Kitwanga, B.C. It has a separate bell tower in front of the church.” Thanks for sharing this hauntingly beautiful image, Bob!
Lightning Crashes
This menacing electrical storm conjures up the perfect Halloween mood! Thanks to Sheri Sanders of Elkford, British Columbia, for sharing this hauntingly beautiful photo.
Here are 14 things you should never do when severe weather strikes.
Caution, Indeed!
This nocturnal prowler was the last thing photographer Norman Dyrvik of Sherwood Park, Alberta, set out to capture on camera. “When you’re trying to take photos of the start of the Aurora, hear a noise and switch on your flashlight and see this guy less than ten feet away.” This would startle us too, Norman!
Last Outpost
Kim MacDonald Cameron of Bow Island, Alberta, captured this hauntingly beautiful shot of an abandoned farmhouse near Highway 879. The spooky silhouette is enhanced in eerie black-and-white.
Don’t miss these atmospheric shots of Saskatchewan’s ghost towns.
A Quiet Place
This shot by John Pelechosky of Edmonton is the perfect showcase of how cemeteries can be both beautiful and spooky.
Discover Canada’s most beautiful cemeteries.
Bad Omen?
Photographer Kim Goslin of Burns Lake, B.C., stumbled upon this lone bird on a gnarled old poplar tree during one of her autumn walks. Spooky, indeed!
Don’t miss these expert tips on mastering silhouette photography in the wild.
State of Decay
Mel Diotte of LaSalle, Ontario, writes: “Old home long abandoned. This home is a bit scary as the wild flowers growing around the home brings thoughts of the long lost souls that use to live here many years ago—or are they still there?” We hope not, Mel!
Here’s what you’ll find in Balaclava, Ontario’s most famous ghost town.
Itsy Bitsy Spider
There are millions of people around the world who suffer from arachnophobia—the fear of spiders. The prolific Mel Diotte captures one of 40,000 known species of creepy-crawlies. We’ll try not to have nightmares tonight…
House of Dark Shadows
In this beautifully composed photo, Mel used a time exposure to capture both the abandoned old farmhouse and the stars in the night sky above.
Check out the best places in Canada for stargazing.
The Fog
Joyce Stolte of Edmonton captured these low-flying clouds near the North Saskatchewan River. They may look beautiful from afar, but we wouldn’t want to drive through them!
You can see more of Joyce’s gorgeous snaps in this showcase of fall pictures.
Haunted Castle
Toronto’s Casa Loma takes a terrifying turn at Halloween with the arrival of the Legends of Horror experience, which combines creepy lighting with live performances. (Definitely not for the faint of heart!)
If you love getting goosebumps, you’ll want to add the best scary movies on Netflix to your watch list.
The Watcher
This dilapidated farmhouse captured by Deb Sandau of Red Deer, Alberta, seems abandoned. But look a bit closer and you’ll find it’s anything but. Brrrr!
In the mood for a scary story or two? Check out the best ghost tours across Canada.
Vision in Greyscale
Here’s another submission by Deb Sandau, who proves with this photo that even the most harmless-looking trees can take a sinister turn in black and white.
Check out more of Deb’s captures in this gallery of beautiful boat pictures.
Ghost Light
Photographer Beverly Lafortune of Kanata, Ontario, writes: “This picture was taken in Coaticook, Quebec, at the Foresta Lumina. Magical things happened as you walked through the forest of light. This was a holographic of a woman dancing around.” Thanks for sharing, Beverly!
Here are more hidden gems in Quebec that are worth exploring.
Fright Night
Through photographic skill and some neat post-production trickery, Linda Sweeney of Miramichi, New Brunswick, composed this image worthy of a Hollywood horror film. Yikes!
You’ll find more of Linda’s creative captures in this gallery of “in the backyard” photography.
The Mist and the Moonlight
We can’t decide what’s spookier in this photo by Shelagh Quinn of Kamloops, British Columbia. Is it the eerie moonlight, or what may or may not be lurking in that vast foggy field? (You can’t blame us for our overactive imagination—we just read these 13 creepy facts about Canada.)
Into the Fog
This shot proves that a forest can be creepy even during daylight! Heather Loewen captured this hauntingly beautiful photo during a walk in the woods in Collingwood, Ontario.
Take Shelter
Norma Keith captured an angry sky over Baltimore, Ontario. Batten down the hatches!
Check out more impressive wild weather photography from across Canada.
Haunted Mansion
The approach to this grand estate in Niagara-on-the-Lake was overgrown and a bit ominous when Brett Walther visited in summer 2020.
Discover the most haunted places in Canada.
Mysterious Island
Kelly Roy of Cobourg, Ontario, captured this extremely eerie photo on a very misty morning. Thanks for sharing, Kelly!
Next, check out these photos that capture the spirit of Halloween in Canada.
