From a real hare-raising scene to truly wild Arctic landscapes, Up Here readers travelled far and wide to capture both the majesty of the land and the beauty of day-to-day life in the North for our annual photo contest.
Grand Prize Winner: Science & Nature
Fred Lemire, Iqaluit: There are few humans on Ellesmere Island and, for that reason, local wildlife show little fear of people. Fred Lemire has spent part of the last four summers on the island photographing its fauna. “Since the sun never sets on Ellesmere Island during the summer, I was heading out at about 11 p.m., when the light is less harsh,” he says. “I had just left my tent and was putting on my boots when I saw a baby hare pass about a foot in front of me.” Then came another and another, until seven baby hares were playing and jumping in front of him. Lemire noticed a white and brown adult hare about a mile away, as did her leverets soon after. “When they spotted her, they darted towards her, jumping and tumbling over one another, fighting for a feeding spot,” he says. “I was fortunate to experience the family of hares in such a special moment. It’s not something you see everyday.” From hundreds of entries, our judges, Paul Aningat (Arviat, Nunavut), Fran Hurcomb (Yellowknife) and Peter Mather (Whitehorse) selected Lemire’s photo as the winner of the Science and Nature category—and as the grand prize winner of the annual Up Here photo contest.
Winner: Arts & Culture
Kyle Sears, Halifax:
For more than 80 years, the Maud rested at the bottom of Cambridge Bay. But this summer, a Norwegian crew floated the ship, once helmed by Roald Amundsen, to the surface. “I really wanted to take this photo because I knew it was going to be one of the last days the Maud would be frozen in Cambridge Bay waters,” says Kyle Sears, adding the crew that came to bring the ship home built the cairn in the foreground. The Maud is now on its way back to Norway.
Winner: People & History
John Bunbury, Whitehorse:
Photography doesn’t come without dangers. John Bunbury laid under a flight of stairs so a skateboarder could jump over him for this shot in Whitehorse. You know what they say: no risk, no reward.
Winner: Travel & Adventure
Darcy Shawchek, Fort St. John, B.C.:
This homestead cabin was built in the 1930s and is a favourite subject of photographers in the Fort St. John area. “It was a stormy night and I wanted to capture the cabin in a lightning storm,” says Darcy Shawchek. “So I did.”
See our March issue for more photos including our editors picks.
