(Image via Greg Miller of Frostline Photography)

Come early February, our friend Greg from Frostline Photography, was suggesting we all by tickets for the Pro Photographer Showdown.

We didn’t.

Growing up, Papa Sevig was always a big fan of scalping tickets at Mariners and Sonics games. At age 14, my Dad had me fixed to get $120 box seats for $10. I was ready to slang tickets on the corner of any sporting arena and to this day I always enjoy “hunting” that ticket for the special price. This time it wasn’t really hunting, as all the tickets were general admission and we were going to be riff-raff at the event watching it from the door way behind a sold out crowd. But thanks to Romain De Marchi’s wife and John Laing, we managed to squeeze our way in at the last minute.

With 5 big screens and a 360 degree stage, the lights dimmed and the stage was set, with Mike Douglas in his wife’s dress…..

Have you ever come back from vacation, camera full of photos, faced with the task of separating the bangers from the wastes of disk space, and realized how hard it can be to do so? Now imagine that you’ve been shooting photos for years and years, of some of the most amazing athletes in the world, and you’re tasked with sorting through all those years of work to pick your best. Now, take those photos and create a nine-minute slide show to music. That’s a lot of work just to impress a room full of action sport junkies, industry leaders and Japanese tourists.

That’s just what five talented photographers did on April 23 at the Olympus Pro Photographer Showdown. I guess it’s all worth it given the $10,000 check awarded to the winner and the sold out crowd at the Telus Whistler Conference Center.

The five finalists: Ian Ruther, Christian Pondella, Scott Pommier, Daniel Blom, and Jordan Manley, all put together amazing presentations.

(Image via Ian Ruther)

Ruther’s presentation showed amazing use of off-camera strobe lighting and an inspirational set of photos focused on athletes with disabilities.

(Image via Christian Pondella)

Pondella put together a presentation of photos from some of the most amazing, remote locations in the world from his work with Red Bull. I mean, wakesurfing on icebergs? Really?

(Image via Scott Pommier)

Pommier’s eye for interesting subjects, both skate and motorcycle, really showed in his presentation of mostly black and white images.

(Image via Daniel Blom)

Blom put together an amazing set of snowboard photos from around the world that could make anyone want to go out and pick up riding.

(Image via Jordan Manley)

Manley’s mix of mountain bike and ski photos, many from around Whistler, in his presentation brought the crowd to their feet. His use of natural light in his photos was inspirational, and many of them left the crowd whispering to people sitting next them “how did he do that?” Visit his site and see the photo that raised the biggest “ooooooahhhh-wowie” from the audience. Rumor has it, the blade of grass was in his own backyard.

In the end, the check was awarded to Manley, bringing the audience to their feet yet again, and marking the fifth photography competition in a row that Jordan has won. I think everyone would agree this kid is going places. Keep your eyes peeled for this guy.