Mesmerizing images capture daredevil climbers hanging from ice caves and rock faces against a stunning backdrop of the Northern Lights

These breathtaking photos certainly take the saying ‘lights, camera, action’ to a whole new level.

Photographer Paul Zizka44, from Banff, Canada, specializes in capturing auroras in some of the region’s most picturesque parks, but he throws gaping ice caves and daring climbers into the mix to add to the magic.

One of his new photos shows a climber on a curved ice wall as the Aurora Borealis shimmers purple and green amid an array of bright stars.

Another photo shows the silhouettes of two climbers as they climb a large rock face against the night sky, their headlamps illuminating their bodies.

But the cameraman throws gaping ice caves and daring climbers into the mix to add to the magic

Zizka made the images in the Canadian Rockies and in places around Jasper National Park. The above shot was taken in Banff

Also taken in Banff, this shot shows a mountain climber wearing a headlamp as lights shine from a road and houses below

To create the compositions, Zizka used several Canon camera bodies. His distance from the climbers ranged from four feet to a mile and in some cases he had to communicate with his subjects via radio.

Meanwhile, a climber tackles an ice-covered rock face above water in another shot, the scene reflected in the mirror-like surface.

Zizka made the images in the Canadian Rockies and in places around Jasper National Park.

To create the compositions, he used various Canon camera bodies.

His distance from the climbers varied from four feet to a mile and in some cases he had to communicate with his subjects via radio.

“The distance to the subject varies from a few meters to more than a kilometer, depending on what best tells the story and provides the best composition,” Zizka explains.

‘In cases where the climbers are quite some distance away, I communicate with them via radio.’

The cameraman says that ‘the circumstances surrounding each of these images varied quite a bit, many of them taken in the moment during a climb.’

He continued, “While others are more pre-visualized and many factors come together.

“The distance to the subject varies between a few meters and more than a kilometer, depending on what best tells the story and provides the best composition,” Zizka explained

The cameraman says that ‘the circumstances surrounding each of these images varied quite a bit, many of them taken in the moment during a climb’

Sometimes Zizka would tell him to move in search of the perfect shot, while in other cases he would ask the climber to “move safely to a certain spot and hold a position for a few seconds” so he could capture it.

‘For example, I could follow the Aurora Borealis and then use my climbing models for a shoot.

‘It is a collaboration with the climbers and there is a lot of communication involved to get the right positioning.

“Compositionally, I have to look at the elements in the frame to see where to position the climber.”

Sometimes Zizka would tell him to move for the perfect shot, while in other cases he would ask the climber to “move safely to a certain spot and hold a position for a few seconds” so he could capture it.

Some images were more complicated to execute than others, and Zizka said this was especially the case with the images “taken at night with artificial light sources illuminating the scene.”

While Zizka captured these specific images in Canada, he has traveled to all seven continents to document Mother Nature and extreme adventurers.

Some images were more complicated to execute than others, and Zizka said this was especially the case with the images “taken at night with artificial light sources illuminating the scene.”

“Compositionally, I have to look at the elements in the frame to see where to position the climber,” says Zizka

The cinematographer (pictured right) revealed what drives and inspires him, saying: ‘Climbers love to see the final image, and it’s so much fun working with them to make it happen’

Revealing what drives and inspires him, he said: “Climbers love to see the final image, and it’s so much fun working with them to make it happen.

‘Seeing such tiny figures in vast and terrifying landscapes shows how small we are in the grand scheme of things.’

Zizka has published eight books and his images have been featured on numerous book covers and in various publications, including National Geographic and Outdoor Photographer.

He says the general reaction to his images is “one of awe and appreciation.”

“I often hear people call the images extraterrestrial,” he concludes.