Behind the Lens : 2017 Year in Photographs
Finding experts, asking questions, listening and applying their answers continued to be my major theme in 2017.
My biggest struggle came with evaluating whether or not I’m learning photography at a rate that is acceptable while improving my knowledge of how to properly run a small business.
There is also the question of balancing family life with work life which can be difficult as a freelancer as my general reaction is to take work when it comes. I have a few things that I hold above work and one of them is running beside my daughter as she rides her bike to school and then again after as I run beside her on her way home.
Thank you to my immediate and extended family, rowing teammates and fellow photographers some of whom I met for the first time in 2017 and others who continue help, encourage and answer my questions.
The way I selected the best photographs of 2017 was different this year compared to 2016 when I choose them myself. I began with selecting what I thought were my best photos from my monthly entires in the NPAC Western Clips contest and ended up with 200 which I edited down to 75. Then I recruited my wife, father in law, mother in law, sister in law, 12 year old cousin and also gave myself a vote. I made each of us folder in Photomechanic that contained 75 images. Then set up a slide show for each person to watch individually showing each image for three seconds and asked them to press the #5 key if they liked the photo.
After we had watched the slide show and everyone had tagged their favourite photos I combined all the images into one folder and looked to see which images were tagged the most times. There were six out of 75 that were selected by everyone and 11 out of 75 that were selected by five out of the six and I added two more to make an even number of twenty.
It was a great evaluative process as it is easy for a photographer to become emotionally attached to either the situation or the individuals in the photos and not enough on the actual content of the photo. Everyone was excited to participate which I was happy about and are looking forward to next year.
Sabine Hotz walks through the forrest after surfing on Cox Bay during a snowfall in Tofino, British Columbia on February 3, 2017. Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for the West Coast of Vancouver Island of up to 15cm. (©Kevin Light/Times Colonist)
Denise Graham,left, and Nikki Barber walk with their dogs Fritz and Essie around Elk and Beaver Lake during a snowfall warning in Victoria, British Columbia on February 6, 2017. (©Kevin Light)
Two kayakers walk their boats along Chesterman beach in Tofino, British Columbia Canada on February 17th, 2017. (©Kevin Light/Stohlquist)
Ben Doffe punches through a wave in a sea kayak at Chesterman Beach in Tofino, British Columbia Canada on February 18, 2017. (©Kevin Light/Stohlquist)
Ben Doffe catches a wave in his sea kayak at low tide in Rosie Bay in Tofino, British Columbia Canada on February 19, 2017. (©Kevin Light/Stohlquist)
A group prepares to go surfing on Chesterman Beach in Tofino, British Columbia Canada on February 20th, 2017. (©Kevin Light/Stohlquist)
Rugby Canada 15’s team member Julianne Zussman high fives with a young fan prior to an intra-squad trial game on the Shawnigan Lake School pitch in Shawnigan Lake B.C. on March 23, 2017. (©Kevin Light/Rugby Canada)
The University of Victoria stroke man Taylor Perry lifts his arms along with his teammates in celebration after beating the University of British Columbia crew by two boat lengths finishing with a time of 10:37.60 to win the Brown Cup Regatta in Victoria, British Columbia Canada on March 25, 2017. (©Kevin Light/University of Victoria)
River surfer Ryan Morstad leaps from a rock with his surfboard and onto a man made standing wave beside the Tenth Street bridge on the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta on May 5th, 2017. (©Kevin Light)
Figure Skater Sarah Tamura spins during a workout at Burnaby 8 Rinks in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on May 17th, 2017. (©KevinLight/CBC)
A youth soccer team practices kicking half volleyÕs at Tyndall Park in Victoria, British Columbia Canada on October 5th, 2017. (©Kevin Light/Saanich Parks and Recreation)
A paddle boarder makes their way along the shores of Spiral Beach in Victoria, British Columbia Canada on October 8th, 2017. (©Kevin Light)
Joshua McGillivray checks on McMaster teammate John Christian MacGillivray following the five lap 10km course in Beacon Hill Park to win the the U SPORTS Cross-Country Championships in Victoria, BC, Canada on November 12, 2017. (©KevinLight)
Conductor for the Victoria Symphony Christian Kluxen poses for a portrait by leaping through Dragon Alley in Victoria, British Columbia Canada on November 20th, 2017. (©Kevin Light/Victoria Symphony)
Jane Channell, member of the Canadian National Skeleton team sheds a tear following the first podium finish of her career at the ISBF Skeleton World Cup in Whistler, British Columbia Canada on November 24th, 2017. Channell finished in silver medal position 0.23 seconds behind Germany’s Jacqueline Loelling and 0.05 seconds in front of Tina Hermann also from Germany. (©KevinLight/CBC)
Rudy Rinaldo and Boris Vain of Monaco speed down the track in the two man Bobsleigh event during an ISBF World Cup race in Whistler, British Columbia Canada on November 24th, 2017. (©KevinLight/CBC)
Speed Skaters round the turn during the Women’s Mass Start event during the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Calgary, Alberta Canada on December 2nd, 2017. (©Kevin Light/CBC)
Natalie Wilkie poses for a portrait at the Nordic Centre in Canmore Alberta Canada on December 6th, 2017. In a school workshop accident in 2016 Wilkie lost all four fingers on her left hand and now competes in both able-bodied and Para Nordic skiing and has qualified for the 2018 Paralympics Games in Pyeonchang, South Korea. (©Kevin Light/CBC)
Emily Young of Canada powers up a hill skiing to a second-place finish in the 15-kilometre classic-ski race at a Para-nordic World Cup in Canmore, Alberta Canada on December 10th, 2017. (©KevinLight/CBC)
The Canadian Women’s Hockey team and fans celebrate Jennifer Wakefield’s game-winning overtime goal against the United States in Edmonton, Alberta on December 17th, 2017. (©Kevin Light/CBC)
Chris Hoskins hikes through the woods in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada on December 28th, 2017. (©Kevin Light)
Twent photos. One word: Outstanding.
Very inspiring photos! What camera do you recommend for beginners. I love sports but like to photograph nature.
Scott, email me at kevinlightphotography@gmail.com and I can respond better to your question