People & Culture

Behind the scenes of our 2024 Canadian Photos of the Year competition: Can Geo’s staff picks

An ode to the photos that made us laugh, reflect or just say “wow”

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When it comes to judging a photo competition with thousands of entries, it’s most definitely a team effort. To bring you all behind the curtain, there are several rounds of prejudging that happen before the finalists make it to the final judging panel of Canadian Geographic’s photo competitions. All photos are judged blind — and each is given careful consideration by the Can Geo team, taking into account composition, technical execution, storytelling and more. Photography is also very subjective, and everyone has their own opinion on what makes a great shot. Alas: not everyone can be a winner. But this year, we wanted to give a shout-out to some of the entries that spoke to the team whose desks these images crossed. Maybe they made us laugh, maybe they transported us somewhere, or maybe they simply told a story. Here are the Can Geo team’s highlights.

Alexandra Pope, Editor-in-Chief

Bridled murre by Cameron Hunter

I’m pretty sure this is how my face looks when I open my inbox on a Monday morning. A beautiful bird and not a subject we see often among our competition entries!

a bird with a smooth black head and white chest looks dazed and confused Expand Image

Prairie thunderstorm by Carmen Therriault

I’m jealous of every single prairie storm photo I see. Ontario gets some crazy thunderstorms in the summer, but it’s hard to find wide-open vistas like this where you can just sit back and appreciate a beautiful storm structure and crisp cloud-to-ground lightning. 

red lightning shoots from the sky into a yellow canola field Expand Image

Designated route by Tyler Cave

The storytelling in this image is top-notch, with the bear seeming to thumb its nose at the “designated route” intended to keep human visitors to Churchill, Man., safe from the predators that roam into this subarctic community.

A polar bear peers from behind a sign beside a road in arctic tundra landscape. The sign reads Expand Image
Abi Hayward, Senior Editor

Raven’s domain by Liron Gertsman

Frankly, I cannot resist a raven shot. And this is just a gorgeous one. Throw in a stunning mountain backdrop, crisp iridescent feathers and the capture of this incredible bird’s beautiful flight — this image hits the spot for me.

one raven sits in the snow, while another flies in to land behind it, almost as if to make the other one jump. In the background is snowy mountains and a hazy blue sky. Expand Image

Charred land by Jillian A. Brown

The story this photo tells is a desolate one — but there’s hope, too. While the foreground at first glance just shows the charred remains of this forest after a wildfire, look closer and we see a lone elk resting, patches of green sprouting up through the black earth. Life always finds a way.

In the foreground is a charred black forest but there is also a resting elk and tiny sprouts of grass and other vegetation. In the background is a misty mountainscape with forest rising up to the treeline. Expand Image

Chillin’ after lunch by Lisa Adler

Look for the bear necessities, the simple bear necessities. We see a lot of bear photos here at Can Geo but there’s something about this photo that makes it stand out. Maybe it’s the intimacy of the encounter, with the bear cub’s eyes meeting the photographer as it relaxes in this tree after its lunch of salmon. Maybe it’s the softness of the moss or the pop of colour of the autumn leaves. Either way, it almost makes you forget about your worries and your strife.

a young black bear rests in the crook of a tree. its fur is wet and it's looking at the camera. The tree is covered in lush green moss and it is all framed by yellow and green autumn foliage. Expand Image
Thomas Lundy, Associate Editor

Basking in the spotlight by Floor Terpstra

Are you… high?? Whatever your thoughts are on camera trap photography, you have to admit they provide intimate access to moments that people would otherwise never witness. This photo makes me feel like a parent arriving home early to find three teens who’ve been sneaking a few puffs of something they shouldn’t have. Left cougar: “As long as I maintain eye contact they won’t be able to tell.” Middle cougar: “Wuh… wuhh??” Top right cougar: *Nothing but the faint sound of its one brain cell bouncing around its empty head*

A family of three cougars peer at a camera trap in a dark forest. They all look a bit derpy. Expand Image
Kendra Thompson, Digital Marketing Coordinator

Peek-a-boo by Aiden Conners

Is it just me, or does anyone else see food-related items in this photo? The eye to me resembles the perfect peppermint candy, and at the top, I can’t unsee a peeled half onion. Photos from the underwater world will never fail to impress me because it’s just something I don’t get to see every day, and it reminds me that we have some pretty crazy looking things underwater.

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Naked Fainting Goat aurora by Gerald Situ

This photographer definitely understood the assignment when we asked for “Outdoor Adventure.” For me, it’s the fact that this person doesn’t even look harnessed! I am all for adventure, but this will have to be a no from me… unless you can promise me pretty northern lights views like this each time; then we’ll talk. I wonder if the photographer was also on a wire? Extra points if they were.

pink and green northern lights fill the sky, while another beam of light illuminates a figure balancing on a highline. Expand Image
Iza Valle, Graphic Designer

Lake Louise turns by Will Lambert

I like that this was more of an action shot than just outdoorsy! It feels more creative and balanced while using solid camera techniques.

a snowboarder in bright purple sends a cloud of snow as they board down a steep-looking slope with a mountainscape backdrop. Expand Image

Nightlife at the Hub by Kari Luhtasaari

GHOSTBUSTERS! Who you gonna call when you see ghosts dancing in the sky? A mesmerizing pattern that’ll catch anyone’s eye!

green auroras swirl above an illuminated church Expand Image
Sophia Villamayor, Graphic Designer

Golden hour catch by Anastasiia Khvostyk

A small catch but a bigger bond. I like how the photo showcases how each person is playing a part within this fishing trip, demonstrating how one action is important to the next. Friends or brothers, they’re all connected by one line. [Editor’s note: this photo was eliminated during the screening stage of the contest because it wasn’t taken in Canada, but we all agreed it was a fantastic photo.]

three silhouettes fish against an orange sky. You can see the perfect silhouette of a fish on a line. Expand Image

Heart of the city by Christina Doherty

Our cover runner up! To see two female photographers go toe-to-toe in our cover vote was amazing to see! Regardless of the final result, Christina Doherty deserves as much recognition for this majestic fox.

a red fox peers at the camera with beguiling amber eyes. In the background is lush greenery Expand Image
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