My name is Oleh Maksymiv. I am a photographer and filmmaker living in Canada.
I arrived in Alberta in January 2024. The first thing that inspired me here was the winter. I walked through the streets of Calgary with my camera, trying to fight loneliness and understand this new country. Through photography, I slowly found peace, friends, and a new life.

Back in Ukraine, I studied film at the National University of Culture and Arts. Even then, my camera was always with me. I photographed street life, helped friends with their businesses, and later worked as a TV camera operator creating documentary stories. After gaining experience, I started a small media business with friends — we made music videos, corporate films, podcasts, and covered concerts.

When the full-scale war began, I travelled across Ukraine with my stand-up comedian friends. Together we created a full-length documentary about the spirit of young Ukrainians living through missile attacks and performing in basements.

Eventually, the war forced me to leave my home. I spent a year in Germany, where photography again helped me feel grounded. Then I moved to Canada — to Calgary, which became my new home.

Finding work was difficult at first, but I got a job in northern Alberta at an oil and gas site. Even there, in the middle of cold forests, I continued photographing my coworkers. Their kindness and strength inspired me deeply.

Working long rotations (14 days on, 7 days off), I started dreaming about building a small photo studio. I practiced portrait lighting using whatever space I could — even the kitchen of my shared apartment. It wasn’t easy to convince my roommate and models to visit a “studio” in a kitchen, but step by step I built a portfolio and trust. Eventually, I shot around 50 portraits in that tiny space.

After being laid off from the northern job, I decided to focus more on photography to reduce stress and create something meaningful. I moved into a bright studio apartment with big windows — perfect for the portrait project I wanted to make. I set a goal: 50 portrait sessions.
For a month I lived like this: wake up, hide the mattress, make breakfast, take the camera, and photograph two people every day. In the evening I edited photos and cleaned my small studio. It was hard but beautiful work.

Later, I returned to industrial work again, but on my second shift I injured my back badly. I couldn’t work or even walk properly. After some time recovering in Europe, I came back to Calgary once more — like in Rocky II, as my brother said.

Today I am here again, stronger, building a new life and new creative projects. Photography is not just my job — it is the thing that gives me purpose, connection, and energy. I hope to share that feeling with everyone who steps in front of my camera.