Wow, it’s been a minute. Sometimes I forget this website exists. Then I have an idea for a YouTube video and lack the motivation to set up my filming gear, and here we are. Let’s take a look back at the year that was and some of my favourite (not best) photos. I’ll get into camera/lens/settings for each one if you’re into that sort of thing.

The year started with the oldest digital camera I own, the Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro. This 6 (or 12 if you believe in magic) megapixel camera is still one of my favorites. The birds at Tynehead Regional Park are very tame when the weather is cold.

Fujifilm S2 Pro. AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8. 1/125. ISO100. F/5.6.

I had the tremendous misfortune of being downtown during Vancouver’s version of the Trucker Convoy rally aka the Freedumb rally aka the Flu Trux Klan rally. Needless to say I had an absolute blast being amongst oblivious morons completely unaware of their surroundings. Most of them spent the day arguing with each other over what they were actually mad about. Mensa was not in attendance to recruit new members.

Sony A7 IV. FE 70-200mm F/2.8 GM. 1/200. ISO125. F/2.8.

I had a Sony A7 IV on loan for review in early 2022. Fantastic camera. Am I going to switch to Sony? No, but I’d jump at the opportunity to shoot with more Sony gear.

Sony A7 IV. FE 28-70mm F/3.5-5.6 OSS. 28mm. 1/1000. ISO100. F/5.6.

Unlike the Flu Trux Klan rally, I attended a few rallys I wanted to be a part of this year. This rally for Ukraine took place in Vancouver in late February.

Fujifilm X-T1. XF 35mm F/1.4 R. 1/1000. ISO200. F/1.4.

My YouTube camera, a Canon M5, made a few trips out of the studio this year. The now defunct Canon M system is severely underrated.

Canon M5. EF-M 15-45mm F/3.5-6.3 IS STM. 15mm. 1/400. ISO100. F/5.6.

Donovan Woods at the Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver.

2022 saw the return of live music and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. Donovan Woods came to town in May and put on a great show.

Fujifilm X-A1. XF 35mm F/1.4 R. 1/60. ISO640. F/1.4.

Counter protester at a rally for abortion rights, Seattle.

I was in Seattle the weekend the Roe v. Wade was overturned. I ventured out to photograph the protest that quickly formed at Westlake Park, following it down to 2nd and Marion where we joined up with another protest. This man, a counter protester, was quickly neutralized by some helpful citizens and was arrested shortly after this photo was taken. This was my first time shooting with the original Canon EOS M and it was outstanding as a compact, discreet street/protest photography camera.

Canon EOS M. EF-M 22mm F/2 STM. 1/100. ISO100. F/5.

This photo got a lot of traction outside of social media, being published by a few Seattle outlets. This was another shot with the original Canon EOS M. A great reminder that you don’t need the latest and greatest cameras to make nice photos, or to get published.

Canon EOS M. EF-M 22mm F/2 STM. 1/30. ISO400. F/2.

Motorsports photography treated me very well this year. I had a number of images published by various motosports outlets in 2022, including this shot of six time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon getting ready for the Grand Prix of Portland.

Fujifilm X-T30. XF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. 400mm. 1/500. ISO640. F/5.6.

I still dable in film photography, though not as much as I’d like to. Thankfully I brought some film gear with me to Portland in September and got a ton of images that I’m super happy with. This one of Felix Rosenqvist on film you SHOULD NOT use for motorsports was my favourite.

Nikon F80. Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6. Kodak 5222 Double X.

One more film shot that isn’t super technical or anything, I just like it. A porsche 550 Spyder shot on colour negative film from the Grand Prix of Portland parade car paddock.

Nikon F80. Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6. Fujicolor 200.

I’ve tried to get away from overly edited photos the last few years. Nothing kills a photo like overly processed HDR type editing. I’m still guilty of it from time to time, and if you’re into it that’s cool, it’s just something that doesn’t meet my eye very well these days.

Canon M5. EF 70-210mm F4. 145mm. 1/250. ISO125. F/8.

I have dozens of bird and wildlife photos that I love from 2022, and this one isn’t the “best” by any means. I like it because this Sandhill Crane, which looks like a living dinosaur, was eating out of my daughters hand. She’s braver than me.

Fujifilm X-T30. XF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. 400mm. 1/680. ISO320. F/5.6.

Like you, most of my day to day photos are made with a smartphone. As much as I’d like to carry a “real” camera with me everywhere, it’s just not possible. That HDR look I’m trying to get away from is baked into most smartphone images, and that’s ok. Without a smartphone how would I take photos when I go for a run?

iPhone XR. 1/220. ISO25. F/1.8

So that was 2022 through my lens. A year of change. A year of growth. A year to look back on as the start of something new? I hope so. See you all in 2023.

Scott.