What started as a hobby for Vancouver Island resident Sara Kemper has now landed her on the pages of one of Canada害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 What is Home re: Location Photo Competition. On Jan. 15, the magazine announced it selected Kemper害羞草研究所檚 image as their first-place winner.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 such a highly regarded publication and it害羞草研究所檚 such an honour,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 got an email to confirm that it was my image and it wasn害羞草研究所檛 digitally altered, so I害羞草研究所檝e known for about two weeks, but I didn害羞草研究所檛 say anything because honestly, I didn害羞草研究所檛 believe it.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渋s such a privilege; I love to capture the essence of who we are.害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 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害羞草研究所檚 a very personal image.害羞草研究所�

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

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 害羞草研究所榟ome害羞草研究所� means.

害羞草研究所淚 will be forever grateful for this beach and all it taught me,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 looking at developing her content and brand while continue to pursue sports photography.

To view the 害羞草研究所榃hat is Home害羞草研究所� 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