Photo Contest Award-Winner

Jon Kolbrek's award-winning image.

When Jon Kolbrek looks at the photo he took of his daughter Brynn, he sees his little girl celebrating life. The coincidence is he took this photo last year when preparing for her fifth birthday—an actual celebration of her life.

For several years, the Kolbrek family has printed a larger-than-life-size photo to place on their front door to welcome party guests. Jon thought this photo, which was a finalist in Maple Grove Magazine’s Focus on Maple Grove photo contest, fit perfectly due to Brynn’s fifth birthday’s Scooterpalooza party theme.

Kolbrek says he “caught the photo bug” from his wife five years ago and now finds himself adding thousands of new photos to his library every year. He’s explored high-dynamic range (HDR) photography, and enjoys the energy that can be portrayed in an action scene or a vivid landscape. But Kolbrek doesn’t have to look far to find his best subjects. “I like to photograph events, especially when they involve my children,” Kolbrek says. “Many of my photos remind me of the blessings that are around all of us. Sometimes it takes a photo to pay closer attention to them.”