logo

In the Shadow of Cayesh

(Peru) What was meant to be an easy climb turned into a 15-hour ascent through steep rock & glacier in the dark. With no clear route, we navigated exposed terrain before reaching the ice. At dawn I captured this drone self-portrait facing Cayesh, a peak I had dreamed of photographing for years.

Awards

Color Photography Contest

2026

Nominee

Conceptual

Professional

In the Shadow of Cayesh

(Peru) What was meant to be an easy climb turned into a 15-hour ascent through steep rock & glacier in the dark. With no clear route, we navigated exposed terrain before reaching the ice. At dawn I captured this drone self-portrait facing Cayesh, a peak I had dreamed of photographing for years.

About Artist

Cath Simard

Cath Simard is a Canadian photographer and digital artist based in Calgary, Alberta. Known for surreal composite landscapes that blend reality and imagination, her work features cool tones, ethereal light, and remote mountain environments. She has gained international recognition across both traditional photography and digital art. Her images have been published in TIME and Sony Alpha Universe and auctioned by Sotheby’s and Christie’s. Simard is recognized for her distinctive visual language and contributions to digital storytelling and photographic innovation. Her journey into photography began in 2016 after a solo trip through Indonesia, Hawaii, and Western Canada. Inspired by the Canadian Rockies, she left a career in fashion modelling and art direction to pursue visual storytelling rooted in nature. Entirely self taught, her process involves multi day treks through remote landscapes, often alone, to capture the elements used in her composites. Simard produces only a small number of artworks each year. Using techniques such as focal length blending, focus stacking, and time based layering, she constructs images from multiple photographs captured across different moments and expeditions. The resulting works are poetic reconstructions of real experiences, shaped by solitude, endurance, and a deep sensitivity to light and form.

Cath Simard

Photographic Areas of Focus

Landscapes

Location

Canada

Explore Other Winners

View All
Nominee
Natalie Rozvezeva

Natalie Rozvezeva

Conceptual

Honorable Mention
Anne Neiwand

Anne Neiwand

Abstract

Nominee

NA

Nazanin Alipour Jeddi

Conceptual

Honorable Mention
Philip Ringler

Philip Ringler

Conceptual

logo

Contests

Info

FAQ & RulesTerms of UsePrivacy Policy

Links

Facebook

Instagram

Contact Us

© Creative Resource Collective, LLC 2026. All Rights Reserved.

reFocus Awards is managed by Creative Resource Collective, LLC.

Learn More

Creative Resource Collective, LLC.