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Royce Sihlis wins Revelstoke Photographer Challenge

After four days of taking pictures in and around Revelstoke, Royce Sihlis emerged as the winner of the Revelstoke Photographer Challenge.
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Royce Sihlis

Work & Play- 2013 Revelstoke Photographer Challenge from Royce Sihlis Photography on Vimeo.



After four days of taking pictures in and around Revelstoke, Royce Sihlis emerged as the winner of the Revelstoke Photographer Challenge.

Sihlis, 24, who grew up in Revelstoke and now calls Kamloops home, won for his slideshows Work and Play (which can be viewed above). He won $1,000 and a seasons pass at Revelstoke Mountain Resort for his efforts.

Zoya Lynch finished second and also won the the People's Choice Award. Jessica Hunter, from Banff, finished third.

Hans Christian Gulsvik, from Whistler, and Revelstoke's Adam Souter also took part in the challenge.

The photographers had four days, from Jan. 4-7, to go out with their athletes and take as many pictures as possible in and around Revelstoke. They presented their slideshows at a nearly-sold-out show at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday.

The Times Review spoke to Sihlis after the event.

How does it feel to win the Revelstoke Photo Showdown?

"It's pretty cool. It's quite the honour. I missed the comp last year so I was really hoping to make it in, and it's even cooler to win it."

Did you have a concept going in?

"I wanted to show people more than just skiing. For the average person skiing is skiing, but I wanted to show them behind the scenes and what goes on in the ski world."

How did you get access to the resort for the night shots and behind-the-scenes photos?

"I've got two good friends from high school that are groomers up there. One of the guys actually skied for me and later that night I went out on the cat with him. I ended up skiing back down by myself and ended up getting that shot of the city."

How long have you been a photographer for?

"I've been shooting for about five years now. I've had my business for a couple of years and I just went full-time before Christmas. I'm full time shooting skiing and shooting weddings in summer?"

How did you get into photography?

"By chance after high school I bought a nice camera, an SLR, and a passion just took off from there."

What's you favourite thing to shoot?

"Probably skiing because it's my favourite thing to do. It's passion, it's fun, it's relaxing, it's adventure. I still really enjoy shooting weddings but I grew up skiing so that's where my heart is at."

What would be your dream photo assignment?

"Dream photo assignment... Probably shooting for a large ski company or outerwear company, doing some kind of shoot in Alaska, something heli, something really out there, something different."

What do you shoot with?

"I've got a Canon 5D Mark 2, a Canon 1D Mark 2, and a big bag full of lenses."

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Here are the slideshows of the other contestants:

Zoya Lynch

Heartbeats. from Zoya Lynch on Vimeo.

Jessika Hunter

2013 Revelstoke Photographer Showdown from jessika hunter on Vimeo.

Adam Souter

Welcome to beautiful Revelstoke from Adam Souter on Vimeo.

Hans Christian Gulsvik's slideshow has yet to be posted online.