Top 50 of 2020
Spanning from photos for the NHL, to summer and winter adventures, moments in between headshots, excerpts from long-form photo projects , unsuspecting passersby and a fluffy friend, this list could not differ more from the expectations I had at the beginning of the year. My top 50 of 2019 (which if you have not seen, can be viewed here) was full of travel photos from over 50 cities in 15 countries and countless sporting events. I expected 2020 to follow that path, but it wasn't to be. The year started off with all the makings of having no shortage of choices for this list. It began with covering three or more stories daily across Toronto for Ryerson's school newspaper, a brand new DSLR to begin my professional career and a few photo-based jobs lined up post-graduation. I had multiple trips planned and was primed to be a force to be reckoned with, camera in hand. I easily bought into the belief my photos from the year would not only surpass the quality and variety from 2019, but would dwarf the total number taken as well.
What ended up transpiring was being stuck alone with nothing to photograph but myself in a single room for awhile- which led to me gaining a deeper understanding of how to work my camera and the small intricacies of it I never had cause to know before (I have left out my self-isolated self-portrait series from this list, but you can also view them all here). My love of film photography grew further, (all film shots marked with *) and in having so few memorable moments taking place, my love of the purity and power of photography was rekindled. Each opportunity to be with someone and capture the moment took a new importance this year- and made me evermore careful to document it properly, but also know when to put the camera away, and be present in the moments in time.
Overall, I was nervous this list would pale in comparison to its predecessor. I had no set plans of being anywhere or doing anything exciting. Although life finds a way, and my year ended up being full of adventures I'll always remember fondly. And so looking through my photos from the year, I could not be more proud of what appears below. I remember each moment so precisely and the feelings that came with it, and I could not be happier with my work this year. I found my portraiture style, significantly improved my ability and comfort editing, and allowed myself to experiment with what I could capture. Dare I say these 50 may outshine my 2019 list.
I took just under 12,000 photos over the 12 months, and just like last year it is important to note- by no means are these necessarily my best photos of 2020. These are the 50 photos from this year that stuck out to me the most, whether it be compositionally, for the opportunity to take it, or the moment forever associated with it. When all is said and done, and I look back on 2020 years from now, these photos to me will tell the best story of who I was, and where I was in my life. And before you continue, thank you, truly, for taking the time to look through. 2020 to many was a crappy year, and in many ways it was. But as strange as it is to say, I would not change any of it. The good and the bad, this year taught me everything it takes to make the most of every day I already had. I would not have wanted to miss a second of who I grew to be, and I would not have wished to have this year without every single one of these moments, and the people in them.
So cheers, folks. To 2020 and to 2021. And the 50 photos yet to come.
“Someone, I tell you, in another time will remember us.”- Sappho
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