@2012 Highland games (Lewis Park BC)

Wow, What an event! To say the least I thoroughly enjoy myself. With a wide array of events taking place, it was a photographers dream. Having only learned of the event an hour before it began I was unsure of how the day would go or what I was truly in for. When I first arrived to the event there was very few spectators and was beginning to look like a small get together of local bag pipers and dancers. But no more then an hour in the steady buzz of bag pipes the fields began to fill. I tooled around the site looking at the stands and seeing what was being set-up or finished, taking in the dancing of children I wouldn't say were more then 4 years old but had trained well enough to put my two left feet to shame.

Feeling both the awkward stares of the parents at my camera and the now blatant need for dance lessons, I made my way to a tent that had a "Clan" title. Never being one that was good with names I have forgotten which clan it was. There I was greeted by an older gentlemen which was kind enough to educate me in the inner workings of the family clans and incorporation's of other smaller clans into their folds. He then took me to meet the Heavy Events group. I've always wanted to see a small man throw a telephone pole and I was extremely excited when they gave me permission to be inside the fenced area, allowing me to get closer to the action. The group was as friendly as they were diverse, some hailing from California, Alberta, and even home grown BC. But small men they where not. I stayed out of their way, not for making things more difficult, but fear of receiving a brick wall like backhand. But surprising me even more was the fact the the heavy events also had a women's division. I now know a female welder that if angered, although fairly small, can hurl a sledge hammer like object farther and harder then any man would wish to catch.

But with a total of 1069 RAW format photos and 11min14sec of HD footage, I have to say this is an event that I will be attending again next year. I missed so much but did so much as well, I would recommend planning the events you really want to see and choosing the ones you can miss.

I'd like to sincerely thank the Pacific Northwest Scottish Heavy Events Association for allowing me the opportunity to take all the photos that I did and just for being all round awesome and friendly people.

Now to sort some photos......