Hi, I'm Jamil

I was born in Dakar, Senegal, and grew up between Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Togo. Sport was part of my life from childhood. I practiced several martial arts and developed a lasting interest in fitness, nutrition, and how the body works.

I moved to Canada at 17. Hiking came later, and it brought together physical activity, fresh air, and space to breathe. Being outside made me happy, and it slowly became the centre of my life.

For 14 years, I worked in IT, but I also wanted work where I could help people directly and share something meaningful with them. That interest first led me to consider outdoor guiding.

Then a small Fujifilm camera I bought to take hiking changed things. I learned by myself manual mode, experimented different technics, and discovered how much I enjoyed photography. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know.

In 2022, I left my job, sold everything, and started living on the road. South Africa, then 14 months in a van across New Zealand, followed by 14 months in the French Alps, with trips to the Dolomites along the way.

Back in Canada in 2025, I modified my Jeep Wrangler for life on the road. In February 2026, I left Quebec for Western Canada, from the Rockies to Vancouver Island. It's my new backyard, and I'm still exploring it.

Living this way has taught me how much happens before a photograph: planning trips, preparing physically for long days in the mountains, starting early, making mistakes, and returning.

Before I explore a place, I study it closely, maps in hand. Then I go and discover it on the ground. The conditions are never guaranteed, and that uncertainty keeps me curious.

I also wanted to be better prepared for spending time in remote places. In 2021, I completed Advanced Wilderness First Aid (40 hours) and the Wilderness First Responder course (50 hours - bridge course) with SiriusMedx, to be certified. That training shaped how I approach the mountains, with an emphasis on preparation, staying calm, and respecting risk.

I'm drawn to dramatic light, but I also love looking closer: a small detail, a different angle, or something new in a familiar scene.

I was raised to help others, to be generous, and to give without expecting anything in return. Those values shape how I teach.

There is something special about bringing someone to a place I love. Even somewhere I have visited many times feels different when I share it with someone seeing it for the first time.

What excites me is the possibility of seeing someone's eyes light up because of the landscape, because something finally makes sense, or because they've made an image they're proud of.

In my workshops and editing sessions, I care about the small details, make time for questions, and explain why a choice works so you can use that understanding again.

I hope we get to share some of those discoveries together.