Top 10 - #1

#1 - Redwood Meadows Emergency Services probationary firefighters put out a car fire during training.

This photo was one of the culmination of an approximately six month project documenting what it takes to become a firefighter. One thing I learned that day was that its really hard to light a frozen truck on fire.
Since getting big flames were out of the question I focused on using the light and the water and smoke.
This photo brought those elements together.
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Top 10 - #2

#2 - Cpl. Sam Agustin

This photo has a lot going for it. It is one of if not my favourite portrait of the year and in the running to be one of my best portraits to date.

When I set up to take this shot paid particular attention to balancing the sunlight and strobes. I frequently overpower the sun, which isn't always the best option as I have been told frequently by a mentor. I think I was successful in not only lighting the scene well but bringing together the background elements and the subject for a Remembrance day photo.

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Top 10 - #3

#3 - A tie, two shots from the final marathon of Martin Parnell's Marathon Quest 250.

This one is a tie. I think that the horses are my favourite but only just. However Martin Parnell was in the Eagle office after the paper published and told me that the shot of him running by himself in the cold was one of his favourite shots from the year and that it told the story of his experience for many of his 250 marathons in 2010.

As a photographer it is always nice to be told that you got it right and that not only is the shot good but it tells the story.

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Top 10 - #4

#4 - A tranquilized black bear is carried to the bear trap to be relocated.

This was one of the harder shots in the top ten. The moved around a fair bit and at one time the RCMP were guarding the wrong section of pathways. When I finally zeroed in on the bear it was pure luck. The fire department was called out to help carry the bear and the location was rebroadcast, which I picked up on the scanner. I arrived at the same time as the fire department and got several shots, this one being the best as the two Fish and Wildlife officers carried the bear back to the bear trap for transport out of town.

As it turned out the fire department wasn't needed.

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Top 10 - #5

#5 - A drop of water splashes.

This is the only picture in the top 10 of 2010 that wasn't shot for a newspaper. Trying to get a shot like this has been something I've wanted to try simply to see if I could do it for a long time. I just didn't have the time until early in 2010.

Photographing water drops can be as simple or complicated as a person wants. I did some research online and found a method on strobist that seemed feasible.

It turned out to be easier than I though. I have a lot of pictures that turned out but this was my favourite.

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Top 10 - #6

#6 - The stages of the lunar eclipse Dec. 20 comprised of 9 separate images.

December 20 was my day off. The plan was not to touch my cameras and relax. Unfortunately for that plan I found out that their was a lunar eclipse late that night. Since the forecast was uncertain I decided to just shoot it from my back yard as opposed to driving out into the country only to have it obscured by clouds.

Once the decision was made to cover the eclipse I had to decide how. I decided to try for my first ever photo collage. To be safe I set up one camera on a tripod to cover the stages and hand held a second camera with a longer lens to get the moon once it was red in case the collage didn't work out fortunately it worked. I have some ideas that I think will make for a better shot next time but for a first try I am very happy.

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Top 10 - #7

#7 - Cochrane baseball brothers Ryan van Keulen, left, and Chris.

Just a nice simple portrait of the brothers. This one came together on the fly. My original plan was to get a shot in the dugout. However upon arriving at the diamond I discovered that it was both small and that there was chain link fencing across the front of it.

With plan A no good I decided to go out to the field and try and get the guys at their positions. I used Chris to hide my light and stand that is shining on his brother and the shot came together.

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