There’s no doubt that having a camera in your phone in your pocket almost all the time has changed the way people communicate. If a picture is really worth a thousand words we can now send entire bookloads of information around the planet in mere seconds. Thanks to social sharing apps like Twitter and Instagram visual communication has never been so common, or fun.

And in a place as visually incredible as Whistler, the sky is literally the limit. So as the autumn colours creep into the forest and the fresh snow inches towards the Village we’ve compiled a list of some of Whistler’s best online image makers to help get everyone stoked for winter, and the Whistler-style of appreciating life. Enjoy.

The Insider’s Top Ten Whistler Instagrammers You Need to Follow Right Now

 

@instagramwhistler


Whoever this anonymous Instagrammer is, they have a knack for finding beautiful spots in Whistler and taking equally beautiful photos. The awesome thing is that some of these spots are not that hard to find so take a look and let this stream inspire you to step off the beaten path a bit more often. Check it out

 

@bushywayne


Pro skier/celebrity highdiver/everyday adventurer Rory Bushfield long ago kicked the bottom out of any regular person’s bucket list and his instagram feed is pure action, beauty, a dog here or there, a lot of hashtags and a glimpse into the mind of a true one-of-a-kind. Check it out

 

@mason_mashon


Is it unfair to pick professional photographers for this list? Who cares?! Mason is a pro but if you want inspiring shots of the mountains, ocean, clouds and those little unique moments of life that speak more than words, this is the place to come. He’s also a regular accomplice of @bushywayne so that gets pretty exciting. Check it out

 

@nadia_samer


Nadia is a hard-core snowmobile chick who can also rip the big mountains on skis or a mountain bike so her pictures can’t help but be exciting. She also spends more time in the Whistler backcountry each year than many of us will in our entire lives so she gets those incredible right-time-right-place shots on the regular. Toss in a positive, upbeat perspective and this feed is guaranteed to build your stoke. Check it out

 

@jorgetoadhall


After 30 years in town, Jorge is as real-Whistler as it gets. A long-longtime local legend, he played key roles in establishing Whistler’s nightlife and underground art scenes and seems to get more adventurous with each passing year. He also has a keen eye for photography and a week in the Instagram life of Jorge can easily include hiking, camping, paddleboarding, kite boarding, boating, sunsets and, when the snow falls, a whole lot of skiing. This is Whistler done right. Check it out

 

@emilyanthem


Emily is a local graphic designer so she has that discerning eye that lends itself well to visual awesomeness. She’s also a big time explorer and lover of getting out and finding those hidden spots around Whistler that lift the spirit and blow the mind. And then she takes pictures of them! There is a beautiful contemplative peacefulness to Emily’s Instagram feed. It’s like meditating but way more interesting to look at. Check it out

 

@colindwatt


“The ‘D’ is for Adventure.” Yes, after they made DWatt they threw away the mold—this guy is definitely one of a kind. Part snowboarder, part hobo, all comedian, DWatt curates an Instagram feed that roams the earth uncovering nuggets of lowbrow humour, high concept hashtagging and lots of deep pow and big air. Only loosely based out Whistler some of the time, DWatt’s feed gets surreal at times but you can always count on beauty photos, good laughs and some exuberantly philosophical hashtags like #TheEndOfTheWeekIsTheStartOfYourLife Check it out

 

@austinross88


Ever wonder what the life of a born-and-raised local big mountain ski star looks like? Wonder no more because Austin grew up in these mountains and he has an appreciation for them that’s as passionate as any. Whether skiing big lines of Blackcomb, paragliding high over the Pemberton Valley or hiking into a rainbow at Rainbow Lake, this feed offers a real insider’s look at what makes it so awesome here. Check it out

 

@helenschettini

One of Canada’s most popular snowboard stars is also one of Whistler’s healthiest eaters so don’t be surprised to see freshly harvested broccoli in Helen’s feed alongside snow, surf, yoga and fashion shots from all over the world. Always smiling and posting often, Helen brings the real Whistler attitude of humility, adventure and kindness everywhere she goes. And it’s really fun to tag along. Check it out

 

@robinoneill


Another professional photographer, Robin sees the Whistler area in a way no one else can. This feed’s mix of action, scenery and personality really showcases everything these mountains have to offer. Each post could easily hang on your wall as artwork. Check it out

This list is anything but conclusive as there are tons of amazing Instagrammers here in Whistler. Check out the official GoWhistler account to see some great local content and another good venue for radness is the user-curated #whistlerunfiltered archives: go find some new favourites, or contribute a few 1000-word visual masterpieces of your own. Let’s go winter!

Author

Feet Banks moved to Whistler at age 12 so his parents could live the dream and ski as much as possible. He ended up living it too. After leaving home Feet did a few good stints in warmer climates and 4 years of writing school before returning to the mountains to make ski movies, hammer out a journalism career and avoid the 9-5 lifestyle as long as possible. He’s been a hay farmer, a hole digger, a magazine editor and has a jump named after him on Blackcomb Mountain, Feet’s Air. It’s tiny.