Hauntingly Beautiful Canadian Photography: 20 Shots That Showcase the Spooky Side of the Great White North

Calm Before the Storm

This lightning storm looks positively frightening! Our “Spooky” Canadian photography challenge inspired Sheri Sanders of Elkford, British Columbia, to share this jaw-dropping photo.

You can check out more of Sheri’s amazing photography in our “Big and Small” Theme Pic Challenge gallery!

In the Dead of Night

Photographer Bob Wall of Terrace, British Columbia, writes: “St. Paul’s Church under a starry night. This church originated in 1882 and is located at a small native community at Kitwanga, B.C. It has a separate bell tower in front of the church.” Thanks for sharing, Bob!

You can see more of Bob’s work in our “On the Move” Theme Pic Challenge gallery.

Surprise, Surprise

Photographer Norman Dyrvik of Sherwood Park, Alberta, writes: “When you’re trying to take photos of the start of the Aurora, hear a noise and switch on your flashlight and see this guy less than ten feet away.” This would terrify us too, Norman! Don’t miss our collection of great Canadian bird stories.

Eerie Lands

Our “Spooky” Theme Pic Challenge inspired Kim MacDonald Cameron of Bow Island, Alberta, to send us this chilling shot taken near Highway 879. Thanks for sharing, Kim! You can see more of Kim’s work in this collection of photos that will get you fired up for a Canadian road trip.

What Lies Beneath

This shot by John Pelechosky of Edmonton is the perfect example of why cemeteries can be both beautiful and spooky. In fact, here are eight of Canada’s prettiest cemeteries.

Bad Omen

Photographer Kim Goslin of Burns Lake, B.C. stumbled upon this lone bird on an old Poplar tree during one of her autumn walks. Spooky, indeed!

Last House on the Left

Mel Diotte of LaSalle, Ontario, writes: “Old home long abandoned. This home is a bit scary as the wild flowers growing around the home brings thoughts of the long lost souls that use to live here many years ago, or are they still there?” We hope not, Mel!

Mel’s beautiful photography also graces our gallery of Canadian lookalikes. Check it out!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

There are millions of people around the world who suffer from arachnophobia—the fear of spiders. The prolific Mel Diotte captures one of 40,000 known species of creepy-crawlies. We’ll try not to have nightmares tonight… Check out these absolutely beautiful spider webs captured on camera.

Abandoned

Mel Diotte really nailed our “Spooky” Theme Pic Challenge! In this beautifully composed photo, he used a time exposure to capture both the abandoned old farmhouse and the stars in the night sky above. If you love this shot, don’t miss these eerily gorgeous abandoned churches.

Magical Clouds

Joyce Stolte of Edmonton captured these low-flying clouds near the North Saskatchewan River. They may look beautiful from afar, but we wouldn’t want to drive through them!

You can see more of Joyce’s gorgeous snaps in this gallery of great Canadian fall photography.

The Watcher

This dilapidated farmhouse captured by Deb Sandau of Red Deer, Alberta, seems abandoned. But look a bit closer and you’ll find it’s anything but. Brrrr!

In the mood for a scary story or two? Check out the best ghost walks across Canada.

The King of Limbs

Here’s another submission by Deb Sandau, who proves with this photo that even the most harmless-looking trees can take a sinister turn in black and white. Don’t miss this great advice for taking beautiful black and white photos.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Deb Sandau skillfully captures both the darkness and spooky blue night sky of her neighbourhood. Thanks for sharing, Deb!

Deb’s artistry also graces this gallery of photos guaranteed to make you smile.

Trick or Treat

This shot by Joyce Stolte is both spooky and playful, and has us eagerly awaiting Halloween. Here’s the reason why we celebrate Halloween in the first place!

Forest of Light

Photographer Beverly Lafortune of Kanata, Ontario, writes: “This picture was taken in Coaticook, Quebec, at the Forest de Lumiere. Magical things happened as you walked through the forest of light. This was a holographic of a woman dancing around.” Thanks for sharing, Beverly! Here are 10 things you absolutely must do the next time you’re in Quebec.

Fright Night

Through photographic skill and some neat post-production trickery, Linda Sweeney of Miramichi, New Brunswick, created this image worthy of a Hollywood horror film. Yikes!

Speaking of horror, could this popular restaurant be the most haunted place in Canada?

Mist and the Moonlight

We can’t decide what’s spookier in this photo by Shelagh Quinn of Kamloops, British Columbia. Is it the eerie moonlight, or what may or may not be lurking in that vast foggy field? (You can’t blame us for our overactive imagination—we just read these 13 frightening facts about Canada.)

Into the Fog

This shot proves that a forest can be creepy even during daylight! Heather Loewen of Lloydminster, Alberta, captured this atmospheric photo in Collingwood, Ontario.

Does this shot make you want to fill a backpack and venture into the woods? Check out 10 of the greatest hikes in Canada.

Take Shelter

Norma Keith captured an angry sky over Baltimore, Ontario. Batten down the hatches!

Here’s what you should (and shouldn’t) do during a thunderstorm.

Mysterious Island

Kelly Roy of Cobourg, Ontario, captured this eerie photo on a very misty morning. Thanks for sharing, Kelly!

Next, check out this gorgeous gallery showcasing the rustic side of Canada.