Bio
Clayton Reitzel has a passion for capturing people and wildlife in their natural environments, favouring candid, unposed moments that reveal the true character of his subjects. He finds the greatest satisfaction in capturing the essence of a person, animal, or place and presenting it in a visually compelling way.
Although Clayton has been involved in photography in one form or another since his early adult years, his skills and creative vision developed considerably after joining the Images Alberta Camera Club (IACC) in 2012. Club competitions, workshops, and outings have continually challenged him to explore new techniques and refine his photographic style. In 2023, he joined the Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) to further pursue his competitive interests. His accomplishments include advancing to the Intermediate competition category and receiving the MCAPA distinction.
Above all, Clayton is driven by a desire to continually learn, improve, and challenge himself. He is particularly passionate about testing his skills at increasingly higher levels of competition, including the World Photographic Cup (WPC), and looks forward to continuing to grow as a photographer while contributing to the photographic community.
“As an original member of the f/x Photo Group, a collective of eight photographers with diverse interests from across Western Canada, I have grown tremendously through our monthly Zoom meetings. We share ideas, knowledge, inspiration, and a common passion for photography. Just as importantly, we encourage and support one another in our individual photographic journeys.
I’m incredibly proud that four members of our group have been selected to represent Canada at the 2027 World Photographic Cup. This is a testament to the talent, camaraderie, and inspiration within our group. I’m especially grateful to my fellow members for continually challenging and motivating me to grow as a photographer and achieve the honour of being on Team Canada 2027. This is by far my personal best in photography achievements to date!”
2027 – Sports
This photograph was one of hundreds captured during the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Edmonton, held September 3–4, 2016, at William Hawrelak Park in Edmonton, Alberta. Throughout the event, I photographed all three disciplines of the competition, producing a collection of images that went on to achieve success in other photographic competitions.
For me, the highlight of the day was undoubtedly the start of the men’s triathlon. This image captures the opening moments of the men’s swim leg, as the athletes launched into the water at the sound of the starter’s gun. To this day, it remains one of my favourite images from the event.