On Selecting Your Personal Best

I gave myself a year-end assignment today to select my best images of 2015. I’ve avoided this in the past because it involves some challenging introspection, hard decisions and a lot of time. But, as with any good assignment, I learned a thing or two about myself.

On my first cull of the year’s 24000 images, I set aside about 160. After reviewing them many times, I narrowed it down to about 40. And that’s when I realized that many of my favourite images tell a story. I’ve been told by my friend Bill that I’m a story-telling photographer but I didn’t actually recognize it until today. So, here is a group of  story-telling images from the past year.

But, how does one select images for the ‘best’ category? The process is, of course,  extremely subjective. And, the stronger the emotional bond to the images, the cloudier the process. To be included here, the picture had to satisfy the following:

  • the goal for the photo had to be successful. That is, does the photo accomplish what I set out to achieve?
  • does the photo have visual impact? Is there a successful combination of compositional principles at play?
  • does it have a meaningful personal connection? If it’s ‘just a pretty picture’, it’s not included.

And then, of course, there is the whole question of in whose eyes are the images judged? When we photograph and subsequently select our favourite images, who is it for? If we shoot for Likes on Facebook, or for points in a competition, we rob ourselves. We spend our energy guessing what others may think and never find the resonance in our soul that an image can bring when we photograph for ourselves. After entering photos in camera club competitions for about ten years, I stopped a few years ago because I recognized that the points and judges’ comments, even though positive, were no longer meaningful. They were tremendously helpful to me as a beginning photographer but, after a time, no longer pushed me forward.

The first day of 2015 had me in the air over the Fraser Valley, photographing this airplane. Thanks to friend and photographer, Rick Church.
The first day of 2015 had me in the air over the Fraser Valley, photographing this airplane. Thanks to friend and photographer, Rick Church.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year at the Hobiyee with pride and joy.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year at the Hobiyee with pride and joy.

 

A plane soars over a model of the earth at YVR.
A plane streaks over a model of the earth at YVR.

 

Girls Fly Too at Abbotsford Airport
Girls Fly Too is an event to encourage girls to consider a career in aviation.

 

Air traffic controller at the Langley Airport on the job.
Air traffic controller at the Langley Airport keeps a watchful eye on the position of nearby aircraft.

 

The setting sun lit up a thick bank of cloud like never before over Vancouver.
The setting sun lit up a thick bank of cloud like never before over Vancouver.

 

Vancouver harbour
A Great Blue Heron waits for supper as the sun goes down on our city.

 

new baby is welcomed by family
Welcoming a new baby into the family.

 

Portrait of a Jamaican man
A Jamaican artisan takes a break from his work.

 

speaker pauses while daughter watches. Event photography.
Photographer Dave Brosha pauses in his presentation while  his daughter looks on, virtually.
Fisherman casts for salmon
My son Byron casts for salmon on the Pacific Ocean.
Eagle in flight over prey.
An eagle in hot pursuit of a lunch time snack makes a sharp turn.
Fisherman hope to catch salmon
As the fisherman casts, his prey seems to be saying, “Na na na boo boo!”
Humpback whale in British Columbia waters.
A spy hopping Humpback whale checks in.
Fisherman at sunset in British Columbia
As the sun goes down, this fisherman just does not want to quit.
Dad helps daughter learn to ride a bicycle.
A four-year-old shouts with joy as she rides without training wheels for the first time, with Dad’s guidance.
motorcyclist with dog in sidecar.
Is Man’s best friend a dog … or a motorcycle?
Guitarist sings the blues
Guitarist Joani Bye is rockin’ at Blues in the City, Vancouver.
creativity