A self-portrait at Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, Jan. 2013. (Paul Zizka)

Canadian photographer Paul Zizka not only captures beautiful landscapes in the Canadian Rockies, he also creates unique silhouetted self-portraits that bring “selfies” to a whole new level.

Zizka uses a tripod to capture his silhouettes in various scenic and serene locations. But while there’s a sense of calmness in the photos, Zizka says the process of setting up the shot is actually a lot more frantic than it looks.

“It’s really amazing how much running back and forth happens in the middle of the night when trying to set up those self-portraits, which is funny when the end goal is to create an image that will convey a sense of peace,” Zizka told weather.com.

Zizka’s photo series was born after spending lots of time in the Canadian Rockies.

(MORE: Mind-blowing Canadian Landscapes (PHOTOS))

“It started simply as a way to document places, and eventually grew into something much deeper and a desire to keep rediscovering the mountains in new ways,” he explained.

And while venturing out into the mountains or near the icy caverns of Haffner Creek in Kootenay National Park can be treacherous, Zizka says he’s got a hold on the terrain.

“I am very familiar with the places featured in the photographs, but I try to use common sense when heading onto frozen lakes, approaching ice curtains or venturing into open water,” said Zizka.

Zizka tries to visualize his shots before he gets to a particular location, but most of the time it is up to the weather to cooperate.

“These days gear perform extremely well at low temperatures, but clouds remain an important factor,” he explained. “Fast moving clouds, when exposed over minutes, can create amazing streaks across the sky. Too much cloud and one loses the opportunity to shoot the Milky Way or the Aurora.”

To see more of Zizka’s work visit his website, 500px or Facebook page.