鈥楬umdinger of a shot鈥� by Terry Farrell with the Comox Valley Record. 鈥淭he crispness and detail of the wings is a shot rarely seen. Plenty of hummingbird photos around, but rarely will there be no blur whatsoever.鈥�
This story is part of Black Press Media鈥檚 2019 Year in Review. Celebrate the end of a decade by taking a look back through our top stories by clicking here.
Fires, protests, celebrations 鈥� 2019 was a busy year.
Through it all, Black Press Media journalists were in communities big and small, capturing the moments most don鈥檛 get the chance to see.
We asked our roughly 250 reporters from across the province to reflect on the year and share their favourite pieces of work 鈥� some painful, some jubilant, some inspiring.
Here are our best news photographs, and why the photographer behind the lens felt it was important to share with the world:
鈥楩or the reach鈥� by Cameron Thomson with the Salmon Arm Observer. 鈥淭he shape and symmetry of the tennis player鈥檚 body always reminds me of a Greek statue. I was ecstatic when I looked through the photos taken at this event and saw this one, it was exactly the shot I wanted to get; a sharp image at the very peak of his serve.鈥�鈥楾oronto Raptors are NBA Champs鈥� by Phil McLachlan for the Fernie Free Press. 鈥淎n entire country united; on June 13 the Toronto Raptors were named the NBA champions. In a small bar in Fernie, the emotion brought the roof down. Pictured above is the moment before the Raptors won. It served as a momentous night not soon to be forgotten.鈥�鈥榊outh climate strike 鈥榙ie-in鈥� by 1,000 people in Nelson鈥� by Bill Metcalfe with the Nelson Star. 鈥淚 like it because it鈥檚 not every day you see 1,000 lying down in the street.鈥�鈥楰ings for a minute鈥� by Jenna Cocullo with the Northern View. 鈥淚t tells the story of hockey. And was taken during Hometown Hockey in Prince Rupert.鈥�鈥楬ead to head鈥� by Mark Brett with Penticton Western News.鈥榁eteran opens up about mental health, stress injuries鈥� by Phil McLachlan for the Fernie Free Press. 鈥淚t was an honour to listen to this veteran open up about his struggles with mental health and stress injuries, and encourage others to accept their vulnerabilities and seek help.鈥�鈥楶eachfest kicks off with a bang,鈥� by Mark Brett with Penticton Western News.鈥楩ire鈥� by Thom Barker with Smithers Interior News. 鈥淚t has action, mood, atmosphere, news value, composition, heroism, and fire.鈥�鈥楥lose call鈥� by Jim Bailey with the Trail Daily Times.鈥極pen house at North Island College鈥� by Elena Rardon with the Alberni Valley News.鈥楥old water enthusiasts鈥� by Tyler Harper with the Nelson Star. 鈥淭he picture captures a group doing what many would think is an absurd act, but also the orange bridge in the background plus the blues and whites gives the whole shot a soulful tone that I thought was perfect for the story.鈥�鈥楽anta of 50 years catches a snooze鈥� by Sarah Grochowski with the Aldergrove Star.鈥楾rue grit鈥� by Millar Hill with the 100 Mile Free Press. 鈥淚t was my first experience attending a rodeo. I had never seen something like it before and I couldn鈥檛 believe these men were wrestling these steers.鈥�鈥楪ratitude for our veterans鈥� by Heather Colpitts with the Langley Advance Times.鈥楩abulous-frivolity-of-a-forest-of-flowers鈥� by Jenna Hauck with the Chilliwack Progress.鈥楽aying goodbye鈥� by Susie Quinn with the Alberni Valley News. 鈥淭his was the first line of duty death and funeral that Port Alberni experienced in more than a decade, and the first that I ever covered. The emotion these firefighters are holding back as they carry their colleague鈥檚 urn of ashes into the Alberni Athletic Hall was gripping to me.鈥�鈥楤eyond the chair鈥� by Liam Harrap with the Revelstoke Review.鈥楩irefighters save family portrait from flames鈥� by Natalia Balcerzak with the Terrace Standard. 鈥淚 thought it was a remarkable moment in the midst of all the chaos fighting a house fire for firefighters to save the family portrait from being destroyed. The family was expecting a baby as well and they lost everything, so it was very humbling to witness and capture this on camera.鈥�鈥楥ommemorating Vimy Ridge鈥� by Jenna Hauck with the Chilliwack Progress. 鈥淏ernie McNicholl (left), 93, gets a chuckle out of 94-year-old Werner Hockin following the 102nd commemoration of the battle of Vimy Ridge at All Sappers鈥� Memorial Park on Tuesday. The two veterans both fought in the Second World War.鈥�鈥榃restling invitational鈥� by Elena Rardon with the Alberni Valley News. 鈥淎ll that wresting action, and the Port Alberni athlete has time to peek at the camera while in the middle of his match.鈥�
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