This is the first time I've ever been to a photo event like this before, and it was amazing. There was standing and sitting on the floor room only at the Brew Pub by the time the first of the five photographers began the evening’s entertainment .

The idea is that the five professional photographers from across North America take turns in presenting their work in short multimedia shows to be judged by a panel of their peers. Cash prizes were at stake and one photographer got to be crowned the "Steep Shot " Shoot Out Champion.

It must have been a really tough call to choose a winner amongst them. The calibre of work was incredibly high and all five displayed very different and individual approaches to climbing photography. From Andrew Qunerner's dramatic and personal look at the climbing community to Jia's humorous outlook (did you know you can BBQ on the Chief, Hibachi n'all!). No one person's work stood out above anyone else's and all around me, as the judges went out to deliberate, I could hear the audience excitedly discussing and justifying their favourite over their buddies choice. I'm glad I didn't have to be the Simon Cowell of that panel!

In the end the judges awarded Keith Ladinski with top honours and second and third prizes went to Andrew Querner and Jia Condon respectively. Big pat on the back to them all, it takes guts to put yourself and your work out there for people to pick apart!