About Me

About Jenaya Launstein

Hi there! I’m a professional photographer based in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta.

When I was little, my dad was a fine art nature and equine photographer…I guess you could say it runs in my veins!

At 10 years old, I told my parents I wanted to be a wildlife photographer. After continuing to talk about this dream of mine, my mom and dad bought me my first DSLR for my 13th birthday; a used Nikon D70s. From there, my passion grew exponentially!

In 2013, I became only the second young woman to be named Youth Photographer of the Year in the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards, one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. The contest sees some 25,000 entries from over 50 countries.

The following year, I joined fellow award winners Art Wolfe and Tin Man Lee, along with several other winning photographers, for the award ceremony at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

My winning image, which featured a porcupine in the Yukon, was later selected by the Smithsonian as one of the top 100 nature images from the past 20 years and returned to the museum for an extended exhibit of “The Best of the Best.”

In 2015, I was named the overall winner of the Youth Division in the Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition, as well as being Specially Commended in Por el Planeta and receiving an Honorable Mention in the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards.

Two years later, I was blessed to have another image on exhibit at the Smithsonian, as well as be awarded in the Memorial Maria Louisa International Competition.

My work has also been displayed at the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Canadian Museum of Nature.

I am privileged to have had my photography published in numerous national and international magazines, including Canadian Geographic, Nature’s Best, Nature Photographer Magazine, National Wildlife, Ranger Rick Jr., Canadian Wildlife, WILD Magazine, Outdoor Photography Canada, and more.

When I’m not out in the field photographing, I can often be found fly fishing southern Alberta’s pristine rivers and streams, horseback riding, hiking with my family, and just generally enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.