2009 was a challenging year but, when we get behind a camera, there's something about that dark little boxed-in viewfinder that helps to shut out the world and transport you to a place where you don't really exist. I tell people who I'm shooting all the time: "don't mind me, pretend I'm not really here." and it's because I'm not... I'm miles away pushing a button that grabs a little piece of their world...

I’m rambling! So to celebrate this process, here’s a shortlist of the studio's favourite pictures from 2009. And we want you to choose yours - vote at the bottom of this story and help make the winning image our "shot of the year". The winning photographer gets a case of beers.

We shot over 222,000 pictures last year. Holy crap! Not easy to sift through but by some feat of badass-ness Lisa pulled it off.

For the year’s best videos click here.

Shot #1: This first shot is from Andre and Rebekah’s Trash-the-Dress session in Bathsheba, Barbados. We were all feeling pretty wrecked - including them I imagine - because we set out to shoot this the day after their wedding before we flew out. That’s a brave mission. In this shot, a wireless flash backlights the spray and freezes the action. I loved the idea of Rebekah splashing Andre like that. We reversed it too, but it wasn’t as playful.

Shot #2: One of the hardest shoots we do each year is the Tropical Power Coast2Coast Adventure Race. The biggest challenge is not just to stay in the race getting the “facts” but to come back with images that connect with the hardcore nature of the race. A blown out sky is always a challenge so we try to light racers when we can. It comes down to travelling with almost a portable studio: reflectors, gels, wireless lights... Anyway, sometimes all that works fine and the shot is “technically ok” but fails to tell the story. After a couple of riders went by with frustratingly boring results, I dragged the shutter speed to 100th/sec and twisted the camera. I lost the sky again but managed to get a shot that stood out. Then it was back in the truck to make up for lost time.

Shot #3: There are so many amazing photographs from CHOGM that it was the hardest selection to make. Moreso because we have a rights/responsibility issue and some of the images do not portray the event in such a positive light. One of the shots, which we thought was THE shot of the year overall, is so chilling that we almost delete it every time we see it. So “runner up” is this image of Her Majesty the Queen of England. The organisers of this event lined her route with scores of boyscouts and other “VIPs” (!) and she was shorter than all of them. The shot below is one of maybe a hundred, rattled off at 10 frames per second, while holding a 7D and 300mm lens high ove my head about 100 feet away. Every shot but this one is a random waste of time. Proof that the planets do align occasionally!

Shot #4: This is a really cool photograph made druing Nicholas and Natasha’s Trash-the-Dress session. They didn’t do a “first dance” at their wedding so we built them a raft for that opportunity... in the Gulf of Paria. This is our only “Behind-the-Scenes” entry for shot of the year and it was taken by Anton from the boat while Lisa and I shot closer. The full-dress and placement of the grooms hands set against the working photographers in the background is an interesting juxtaposition.

Shot #5: Another “Trash” - this time for Brendan and Tracy. We did three last year and they ALL stood out in our selection. Obviously it’s a shooting opportunity like no other. I love the connection between them here and what the dress is doing in the light breeze. All set against the earthy tones of rock and sand and almost no post-production required.

Shot #6: This is from Anand and Alison’s wedding ceremony on Pigeon Point Beach, Tobago. It’s not surprising that Tobago features here because we always come back with our best images from the sister isle. We didn’t all agree on this selection but I loved how the trees and the blue sky just peak through the cloth at the top of the image. The whole partition between that and the ceremony draws a line between the significance of the event and the whimsical nature of the location.

Shot #7: Meiling’s shows always give photographers an opportunity to produce good images. My gripe has always been with the event’s lighting. In relation to the photographers position it’s quite terrible - maybe because flat lighting helps the audience to “see” the whole piece? Anyway, this photograph was made by Lisa who sat on the floor, below the feet of patrons, looking up at the end of the runway. Better light, more drama and an angle that no one else has. Another photographer, who I respect, looked at some of the images and said “their nice, but a fashion mag would have a lot of problems with these...” I deliberately didn’t ask what those problems might be, so that Lisa and I might stay in the land of ignorance - oblivious to the “rules” of the fashion industry. Close call! Meiling has always asked us to produce “a different take” on her shows and the last thing I want is to have guidelines.

Shot #8: This little boy was so cool. I love the catchlight in his eyes and the way yours is bouncing between them and the sharp water droplets. You can bounce forever and never get tired of the connection.

Shot #9: Sometimes we get caught up with trying to “light” details. And sometimes the morning sun does it so much better.

Shot #10: Krista’s wedding had it all - torrential rain, gale-force winds, a pastor who needed a little reminder about their names... Outside the frame in the shot below, about 20 people stood by helping with instructions (mostly to hurry up!). Krista’s attitude and the hard light in the folds of the dress make this shot.

Shot #11: You don’t usually see a portrait of people’s backs but I wanted to find a way to get Navin and Nadita to get anyone looking at this image to share the sunset with them. In low light like this it’s “manual everything” including manual focus which is a pain, but worth it.

Shot #12: After one of the bar-staff, from More Vino, caught the garter, everyone started dancing in the rain. At this point my camera is getting absolutely drenched and the light Lisa is holding (hidden behind the dancer) has set fire to every drop of water. It’s a little intense but I was really trying to get the shot fast and get back inside!

Shot #13: I’ve taken this image dozens of times over the last year. It’s fun to get it just right and I really dig getting the camera down to waist-level where the hem of the dress cuts the shot in half - the world above and below. The venue was really dark which ordinarily makes for poor ambience but here the contrast helps.

This has been a really interesting process for us. It’s already February and so we were completely FLOORED by the fact that there are just as many images as good and better than these, produced in January 2010 alone. So - NO you can’t choose the shot at the very top of the page - you have to wait until next January :-)

I don’t know what to say about that: maybe looking back really isn’t as useful as looking forward. That will be my next post!

For now... we’re looking forward to seeing which image you think is numero uno from the selection above. All you gotta do is vote below. And then it’s: bring on 2010.

Leave (positive) comments below. Pointless arguing in the comments section will be removed by me :-) one love.