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At the end of every event I shoot, my friend asks, "if you could pick one, which would sum up the entire event?" It's tough! When I shoot events, I am [happily] saddled with thousands of images.

One of my favourites from the Mariposa Charity Gala in August 2010 is this strangely not of the superstars Jeff Buttle or Joannie Rochette, but these young, upcoming ice dancers, Baily Carroll and Peter Gerber (representing Poland):

Baily looks right into my lens, and her hair is swishing in an interesting pattern. Peter is just lifting her up, effortlessly, like "yeah, no big deal."

Favourite photos from Skate Canada International in October 2010 is a tie between this one of Nobunari Oda (representing Japan):

And this one of Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier (representing Canada):

Even though their faces are hidden by the shadows, there is just something I love about this shot. It's spooky, but so beautiful. I would print this out just to look at every day.

Favourite shot from 2011 Canadians would have to be this one:

I've always had misfires with Shawn Sawyer's cantilever, but this time it was mine! Golden.

While I only have less than a year's experience on my back, it cheers me up that this is just the beginning.

These are my immediate thoughts which I wanted to capture before they change and re-shape in a week's time. The reason why I want to do is because I will be returning to "normal life" consisting of class and my day job when I land in Toronto. I have no time except the wee hours of this night to get all the photo editing and reflection, completed.

I don't know where to begin. I'm just going to spit out everything that comes to mind.

First, National competitions are a whole other beast. There are more skaters with varying levels. There is a lot of waiting. For example, the men's event was 3 hours long because there are about 15+ skaters. I sat in my seat for 3 hours, shooting with a camera and lens that weighed 5+ pounds. It was like 3 hours of weight lifting. I don't like using a monopod because I don't feel very flexible or free with it. It was physically demanding even though I was sitting. I can only imagine how it must be like for the guys who shoot for Reuters because they had to stand. I respect them for soldiering through every single event.

I got to speak to the other photographers who were once (and still are) my idols. This weekend, being in the trenches with them, helped me respect them even more for what they do. Figure skating photography is so multi-layered. The final image is dependent on the photographer's control, yet the subjects (the skaters) are so out of their control. I also learned that figure skating doesn't just bring me to tears, it brought another photographer to tears during a few performances. I always knew figure skating (and other sports) has this connection with spectators, but this weekend I saw how that connection can be amplified when you've spent so much time behind a camera and watched your subjects progress.

Photographing the last event, which was the senior men's event, was the most heart wrenching assignment. Not only did I need to make sure my photos were great, I had butterflies in my stomach about who would be the next Canadian men's champion. Could it be Shawn Sawyer? Would it be Patrick Chan once again? I wanted them both to be Canadian men's champion. They were both so good in their own ways.

Despite the technically difficult and amazing quads and combinations that Patrick performed, my favourite moment was at the end when he finished his free skate and he pointed skyward, as if to say, "this one's for you" to whoever was "up there in heaven". That demonstrated, to me, the high-caliber and high-passion a person could feel as a result of so much practice, effort, faith, and patience. It is moments like those that motivate me and inspire me to reach new heights, and understand that it is not always an easy ride.

After all was done, I walked back to my hotel and the entire time I couldn't believe what just happened. I photographed the 2011 Canadian Figure Skating Championships. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I could get here and learn first-hand what it is like to be a figure skating photographer. I learned so much more than I ever could in a photography class. The event was my classroom and the performances were my final exams. The hustle and bustle and traveling and little sleep were my textbooks. The friends I made were my teachers. The best way to learn anything is by just putting yourself out there and opening up yourself to both the good and the bad. It might leave you exhausted. It might leave you cash-poor. But it will leave you with more than you materially lost. It's a very big, intangible gift that I received over this weekend.

I will continue this when I have more energy, as I have an early flight to catch tomorrow. But wow, what a weekend!

You can view my photos for the men's short program, ice dance short dance, and women's free skate, right now. I will put up the men's free skate, ice dance free dance, and exhibition gala tomorrow.