13 pics from ’13

I selected 13 photos from my files as a look back over the year of 2013 that becomes history in just a few hours. These reasonably reflect the passing months (an extra shot goes in for August) and were taken with one of three cameras: Canon Rebel T2i, Canon Power Shot and iPhone. I hope you like them!

This shot was taken at the end of the year but liked it so much that I have it as my representative photograph for January. Young referees, like Ian here, demonstrate great courage and leadership in running minor hockey games.

This is a fascinating part of the Canadian Prairies, east of Calgary. Later on in the year, the area would become the Shell Buffalo Hills Conservation Ranch, protecting valuable grasslands and wetlands through a partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada.

It was quite a surprise to see that this photograph was in fact taken in March. We went downtown to view the new “Bow”, Calgary’s largest new building. Behind jumping William, you can make out the fabulous head sculpture in the adjacent plaza.

In April, I was in the Netherlands and England for a short visit. This allowed me to take in a beer festival in Yorkshire, where the Leeds Morris were in attendance to show their traditional English dancing skills.

Back over to the Netherlands in May for a couple of days in Rotterdam. I was intrigued by this derelict building on the edge of a new development site, within which a black tree has been painted.

I selected this image for June out of many taken in the rugby season as it shows off the skills and courage (there is that word again!) to make a tackle. This was a game between The Hornets and Canucks U15 teams.

We acquired Arya the Airedale as an eleven-week-old puppy on July 5. She loves the garden as it presents many, many chewing opportunities. There was an encounter with a toy bee.

A shot for August, a time for many festivals and events. I loved the colours that came out from the stage lights shining onto these fab blue shoes during Expo Latino. The arm of another photographer appears to come up through the floor….At the climax of the inaugural Tour of Alberta, in September, former Tour de France Champion, Cadel Evans, was amongst the pack, sprinting around the streets of Calgary.

September was the start of the new school term and a new adventure for my son-High School football. This shot was actually taken at the beginning of November in the evening under floodlights during the semi-final of the City Championships.

In October I was in Houston for one of many trips during the year. This one took in the Grand Prix, two races over a weekend as part of the IndyCar season, run on a street circuit through the car park adjacent to the Texans Football stadium. Pairs of drivers paraded like charioteers before the start of the race. This photo features Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing) and Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing). Dario sadly retired from racing this year following his horrendous accident on this circuit the following day.

After a bit of a gap (nine years, actually), I got back to work in Brazil and had the good fortune to hang out a few days along Ipanema beach in November. Here’s a cool coconut drink shot (with my iPhone) in front of Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Mountain) at the end of Leblon beach.

After the heat of Rio, it was back to reality and the cold in Calgary…..we put the ice down in the local outdoor arena on December 7th. Despite some Chinook conditions, the ice is still there, resilient and in reasonable shape. I hope things work well for you too in 2014. Happy New Year!

See J. Ashley Nixon Photography for copies of this collection (13 pics from ’13) and other images.