An impromptu trip to Paris and an on-the-fly shot landed one Victoria photographer a spot in the World Photographic Cup. 

The competition is known among photographers as the 91裸聊视频淥lympics of photography,91裸聊视频� and honours some of the best photography in the world, by bringing together teams to represent their respective nations. 

91裸聊视频淚t's an honour to represent Canada,91裸聊视频� said Lee Milliken, 44, who transitioned from a career in health care to photography full-time at 32.

His submission to the competition depicts the chaos throughout the Salle des Etats, the gallery within the Louvre housing Leonard DaVinci91裸聊视频檚: Mona Lisa. The photo is a composite of several images using a technique described as 91裸聊视频渄ragging the shutter,91裸聊视频� which helps create motion blur and movement within the frame. With limited gear, it's a style that's tough to pull off. 

91裸聊视频淚 didn't have a tripod, because tripods are never allowed in museums, so I had to just kind of stand on my tiptoes and hold my breath to be as still as possible,91裸聊视频� he said. 

The photo is a departure from Milliken91裸聊视频檚 usual work, which primarily focuses on architectural photography. The image was selected by a committee of Canadian photographers, and after three rigorous qualifying rounds, was ultimately chosen as one of the three images submitted in the World Photographic Cup commercial category, making Milliken a representative of Team Canada. 

Today, Milliken and his wife own Spartan Media, a studio they founded in 2018. Since that time Milliken says it's been 91裸聊视频渨ork, work, work91裸聊视频� and it had been years since he submitted work for award consideration. When he joined the Professional Photographers of Canada in 2024, he decided to get back into it.

91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频婳ne of my goals was just to get out there and shoot more for myself of the stuff that I loved. And then I wanted to start entering competitions and submitting work.91裸聊视频�

While the decision to get back into competitions was intentional, the opportunity to shoot in the Louvre was not. 

91裸聊视频淚 had no plan in mind. Originally we didn't even plan to really go to Paris,91裸聊视频� Milliken said.

When a vacation to Greece in 2023 was derailed by flooding, Milliken and his wife decided to turn their layover into their new destination. 

91裸聊视频淲e flew to Paris five days early. So that was like a spur-of-the-moment trip,91裸聊视频� he said. 

The opportunity to get his photo was even more on the fly. When Milliken witnessed the chaos surrounding one of the world's most famous paintings he took inspiration. 

91裸聊视频淭he chaos that surrounds the Mona Lisa, it's unreal. It's just, it's non-stop. It's one of those things you have to see to believe,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 just tried to create that chaos motion, by blending the images and painting the people in.91裸聊视频� 

Milliken's photograph did not proceed to the Top 10 commercial images, but Canada was still represented by Louis-Philippe Provost's image of a fog-shrouded Empire State Building, in the commercial category. However, Milliken still plans to travel to Quito, Ecuador to meet with his peers, see the winners announced and to represent Canada.  

Winners of the World Photographic Cup will be announced in March. Milliken and the rest of Team Canada91裸聊视频檚 submissions can be found at .