2008 in Review: Clark County's year in photos

They’re heeere! Fog gives the mundane an alien appearance. (Steven Lane/The Columbian)

Moonlight and lamplight create a spectrum of color. (Steven Lane/The Columbian)

A May afternoon this relaxing provides a great contrast to the press of news. It looked to the photographer like someone was blowing the clouds toward the subject, catching the top of the near tree as well. (Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian)

Ft Vancouver's Kierra Harrison pulls down an offensive rebound against Auburn's Jennsyn Chaney, Thursday, February 21, 2008. (The Columbian, Steven Lane)

A boy tries to get the attention of a Little League baseball player during a game at H.B. Fuller Park. (Troy Wayrynen)

Three geese think about crossing the Old Evergreen Highway, Tuesday, February 12, 2008. (, (Steven Lane/ The Columbian)

Rawley Kangas, 1, from Amboy, right, and his cousin Sylvia Hiivala, 1, from LaCenter, are unable to retrieve a lost shoe as they hang out at Lewisville Park, Thursday, April 3, 2008. (The Columbian/ Steven Lane)

Olivia Carlston, 8, from Vancouver, from left, Joshua May, 8, and Shawn May, 9, both from Washougal, pet Brumby, a 25 year old Appaloosa befor a rodeo for special needs kids at the Clark County Fair, Friday, August 8, 2008. (The Columbian/ Steven Lane)

The old adage is true – it could take 1,000 words to describe this perfectly crisp, frosty morning at Vancouver Lake. (Troy Wayrynen/The Columbian)

Finding and photographing moments from everyday life can be a frustrating and exhausting experience. The process takes time, anticipation and a little luck.

One of the toughest aspects for a photojournalist is trying to separate the extraordinary from the ordinary. But the right combination of elements extends what we commonly see.

On a rare occasion everything comes together – lighting, color, composition, timing and emotion – making a picture of everyday life that is rewarding both for the photographer and the reader.

In this business, these kinds of pictures are known as wild art, enterprise, features or stand-alone art. The term stand-alone is a good description for pictures that are not made to be associated with any particular article, but to stand alone on the printed page. These can be the most engaging pictures when artfully done. They are vignettes from our lives and world.

Stand-alone pictures can bring a little joy to our lives and lift our spirits. Other times, they offer us a moment of reflection and a sense of appreciation for our community. They tend to attract the most compliments from readers.

This year’s annual review is dedicated to all those who appreciate the artistry of the stand-alone picture. 

May some of our photographic favorites from 2008, reproduced today here inspire you to go out with camera in hand and search for your own perfect stand-alone photograph in the coming year.

Keep shooting!