A Vancouver Island man has been named Canadian Photographer of the Year by Canadian Geographic, beating out thousands of other entries from across the country.

Anthony Bucci, from Port McNeill, received the title, winning out against a total of more than 7,000 entries.

One of his winning shots was of Rugged Mountain, near Zeballos on Vancouver Island, with snow and fog covering the peaks.

Bucci told Canadian Geographic that he sat near the mountain range for hours, waiting for the fog to thin to the perfect thickness.

Winter on northern Vancouver Island by Anthony Bucci. (Canadian Geographic)

“I’ve got to make sure everything’s perfect,” he said. “If I don’t like it, I don’t take a picture. It’s got to be special.”

Some of his other winning shots include a running black bear, a floating sea otter and “lunar halo” of light around a mountain range.

Fishing fall bears by Anthony Bucci. (Canadian Geographic)Sea Otter by Anthony Bucci. (Canadian Geographic)Lunar Halo Anthony Bucci. (Canadian Geographic)

Bucci says it was an honour to win the Photographer of the Year title, as he knew many talented photographers entered this year.

“It’s still a shocker, just because I know how many people contribute to [Can Geo’s competitions]. To be selected is truly amazing,” he said.

This year’s winners were chosen by Canadian Geographic’s editorial and design staff, Canadian Geographic’s photographer-in-residence, Scott Forsyth, and Canadian adventure and wildlife photographer Jenny Wong.

Besides the Canadian Photographer of the Year award, Canadian Geographic had four other categories to compete in, with two other B.C. photographers taking home golds.

The winners of the other four categories are:

Flora, Fauna and Fungi – Eli Wolpin, Vancouver, B.C.

Eli Wolpin (Canadian Geographic)

Epic Landscapes – Ash Voykin, Rossland, B.C.

Ash Voykin (Canadian Geographic)

Weather, Seasons and Skies – Matt Melnyk, Calgary, Alta

Matt Melnyk (Canadian Geographic)

Outdoor Adventure – Will Lambert, Banff, Alta.

Will Lambert (Canadian Geographic)

“From capturing a bucket-list shot to just getting out there and experiencing the beauty and geographical diversity of Canada, we love to see what our photography community has been up to over the past year,” said Canadian Geographic editor-in-chief Alexandra Pope in a release Wednesday. 

“Although they all portray different locations and subjects, the winning images in this competition have one thing in common: they made us stop and say ‘Wow,’” he said. 

Canadian Geographic first started printing in 1930, and is published by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

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