What started as a hobby for Vancouver Island resident Sara Kemper has now landed her on the pages of one of Canada含羞草研究社檚 most prominent geographical magazines.

A few months ago, Kemper, who grew her interest in photography into her own business, submitted an image online into Canadian Geographic含羞草研究社檚 What is Home re: Location Photo Competition. On Jan. 15, the magazine announced it selected Kemper含羞草研究社檚 image as their first-place winner.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 such a highly regarded publication and it含羞草研究社檚 such an honour,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚 got an email to confirm that it was my image and it wasn含羞草研究社檛 digitally altered, so I含羞草研究社檝e known for about two weeks, but I didn含羞草研究社檛 say anything because honestly, I didn含羞草研究社檛 believe it.含羞草研究社�

Kemper, who worked as an education assistant for students with special needs, found herself with some time on her hands as a result of the pandemic. She pivoted and spent more time on her business, focusing on landscapes, lifestyle, sport and nature photography.

Born in the Comox Valley and a resident of Cumberland, Kemper explained living in the Valley 含羞草研究社渋s such a privilege; I love to capture the essence of who we are.含羞草研究社� About two or three years ago, Kemper snapped a photo while visiting her parents at the property she grew up on at Seal Bay by the ocean.

The photo is an homage to her childhood and she recalled running around on the logs as a child.

含羞草研究社淚 wanted to create an image as a tribute to show where I grew up and how I spent so much of my childhood - it influenced my lifestyle and photography - it含羞草研究社檚 a very personal image.含羞草研究社�

Canadian Geographic launched the contest as part of their educational project on relocations in Canada. They asked their readers: 含羞草研究社渨hat does home mean to you?含羞草研究社�

They received hundreds of entries showing homes, backyards, neighbourhood parks, family members and pets. Their judges chose a first, second and third place entry whose photo and caption both depicted the feeling of what 含羞草研究社榟ome含羞草研究社� means.

含羞草研究社淚 will be forever grateful for this beach and all it taught me,含羞草研究社� wrote Kemper in her caption.

She shared her winning entry on her Facebook page, and since then she said there has been an overwhelming outpouring of support. She added numerous people and businesses are sharing the photo and credited small businesses in Cumberland and throughout the Valley for supporting one another.

As for the future, Kemper said she含羞草研究社檚 looking at developing her content and brand while continue to pursue sports photography.

To view the 含羞草研究社榃hat is Home含羞草研究社� contest, visit

For more news from Vancouver Island and beyond delivered daily into your inbox, please

photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com
Like us on and follow us on