Editing Luke

North Railway Street: Part 1

2013-05-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite streets in all of Medicine Hat has to be North Railway. It's probably also one of the most intact historic areas in the city. Tons of original brick buildings are still in use here, and they're complimented by their proximity to the train station and rail yard. It's an incredibly visual neighbourhood with a look that spans a century.

North Railway Street ca. 1946

This car was early inspiration for this photo set.

Vintage Neon Signs Postcards

2013-05-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

Featuring some of the vintage neon motel signs in Medicine Hat, Alberta, these 5 original postcards capture a piece of historic novelty. Check out these new prints and numerous other original images in my postcard shop here.

Towne Theatre Interior: Main Cinema

2013-05-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

From the lobby of the abandoned Towne Theatre, I made my way into the main cinema. With only a couple of the lights at the back working, this is where the theatre really started to feel abandoned. The carpet was dirty, some of the seats were badly stained, and some of the wall drapery was hanging down. No question, the Towne has seen better days than this. Even so, through all the rough spots I could still see the place that I'd frequented so many times growing up.

At the front of the theatre the golden curtain still hung above the stage. A small opening in the curtain revealed that the screen had been taken down and was now lying on the floor. I imagine it was taken down to remove the speakers that were behind it. That's probably what happened to a lot of the drapery on the walls as well. Nothing else was behind the curtain except a brick wall and a wooden frame.

Down the stairs behind the screen I had a quick look at the original boiler in the basement. There are a few small rooms down there that were perhaps dressing rooms at one time. They're all empty now, but if I'm not mistaken it seems like they must have done some theatre productions here way back when.

Just off of the stage a small room revealed a few more interesting clues from the Towne's past. A few theatre employees had scribbled their names on the wall from over the years. There weren't all that many, but they did span from the 1970s to the late 1990s, which was pretty cool to see. It's always interesting to think about the people in places like this, especially considering that this theatre would've been packed on opening nights every weekend. Now it's just a dark and quiet room collecting dust.

From here it was on to the projection rooms.

A Photo Shoot with Rupali Yeast

2013-05-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

When my cousin, Rupali sent me a message about doing some photo shooting last weekend, I thought it sounded like a fun idea. Some of the family was coming down from Calgary, and my Saturday hangout with Rupali seemed like a good chance to kid around and bond over shared interests. I really didn't have any expectations for that afternoon, but then I never thought that we'd get on such a creative kick either.

Rupali has been pursuing a professional modeling career for the last couple of years. In addition to bookings around Calgary, she spent three months in Shanghai exploring opportunities set up by her international booking agent. Lucky for me, Rupali, having seen some of my photographs, seemed as enthusiastic to let me experiment as I was to have the chance to photograph her.

I decided it would be fun to try blending some of Medicine Hat's stereotypical backdrops (that I'd already played with in Around the Hat) with Rupali's youthful look and style to create a contrast that I thought looked original. My goal wasn't just to capture a nice portrait, but to create a scene that made the various locations as interesting as my subject was. As a result, not only did Rupali look amazing, but I felt that the images had more depth, detail, and character.

I loved the challenge of making the Hat seem overtly trendy in some instances, and almost dreamlike in others. Rupali glowed in these surroundings. Even just as snapshots, I think all of our images tell a cool story about the series of brief adventures we had that afternoon around the city.

I would also be remiss if I didn't acknowledge just how talented I think Rupali is. She was continually giving me a variety of looks to play with and didn't hesitate when I brought up ideas for us to try. In the end, I feel like we played off of each other's strengths and came up with some really cool stuff. I look forward to doing it again sometime. Hopefully sooner than later.

Salt Kiln Firing at Medalta

2013-05-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Of all my explorations around the clay district, it's been especially exciting during the last few weeks to get an up close look at the Artists in Residence facility down at Medalta Potteries. Having undertaken a few new contract projects with Medalta, I was in the right place to get a first hand look at a salt kiln firing last night.

Salt firing is a process where packets of salt are added to the kiln at high temperatures, where it then vaporizes and creates a glaze on the pottery. I watched as some salt was added, causing flames to momentarily roar from the kiln. I was also shown how test pieces are removed from the kiln to see how the firing and glaze is looking. If I remember correctly, this batch of pottery was in for about 14 hours.

It's some pretty amazing stuff, and a very cool scene to witness. I can't wait to capture more of the energy around the site as I try and contrast the old and new methods of pottery making in an upcoming video for Medalta. This is such an iconic location in Medicine Hat and a brilliant historical resource for the community. I'm really happy to have the opportunity to be involved in showcasing it.

Glazed test piece removed and cooled out of the kiln.

Grandma's Last Roll of Film

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

Having shared a number of my Grandma's old cameras, like her AGC folding camera and GAF 880, this Pentax Espio 105G was the last (and newest) camera she had. What actually made it most interesting to me was that there was still some film left in it, and she'd taken a couple of shots. I told myself that I'd use up the film when the right opportunity came along and see what was left on the roll.

My cousin made plans to do some photo shooting with me last weekend and the urge struck me to use the camera as we explored a bit of the clay district. I shot a lot of the painted walls and various textures, as well as my cousin capturing a few shots too. After I got them developed I thought my pictures turned out alright, and what was left were three images that my Grandma had took - likely the last pictures she ever snapped.

On one hand I was thinking there might be nothing on that roll of film. But then, I also let my mind race with the promise of some great mystery, like the pictures would start me off on another journey of discovery. The reality was that at first glance these last three pictures were nothing much. I was a bit disappointed. And then I looked at them a few more times, and it struck me how fitting they actually were. In their own simple way, they were very much my Grandma's.

The glare of a setting sun on the wall, a stormy night sky, and the flowers on the table were the focus of her last shots. They were all taken from her seat at the kitchen table. As my Grandma's mobility declined, it was from this seat that she'd explore the world through magazines and newspapers, and perhaps it's what struck me as being so genuine about these images. In a very humble way, she was still fascinated by the world just outside her window.

Looking at these shots now, all I can think is how much she always loved the beauty in nature. She was keen to share pictures, talk about a sunset she saw, or mention how strangely the light was reflecting off of something. It seemed to come out of nowhere sometimes, but it was certainly an appreciation. It's perhaps a bit poetic then that I finished off this roll of film on a warm spring afternoon, photographing exactly the kind of random details of an old Medicine Hat landmark that I know she would've loved to talk about. Sometimes pictures really are worth a thousand words.

Towne Theatre Interior: Lobby

2013-05-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

There have been few locations around Medicine Hat that I've wanted to explore for my photo series as badly. So, when I finally got the opportunity to go inside the now closed Towne Theatre last month, I was incredibly excited to see how the space was holding up. Naturally, I started in the lobby.

Not unlike the Monarch Theatre, my memories of the Towne are rooted in my childhood and teenage years in the '90's and early 2000's. Because of this, I clearly remember the decline of both downtown theatres as the new Cineplex in the mall became the go to location. With only 3 screens, it became more difficult to compete with the 10 in the mall. In general, the Towne just became a little rougher around the edges before finally closing its doors in 2007.

Inside the theatre today everything is left as though the employees just turned out the lights and never came back. The signage above the ticket booth still lists Reno 911, Astronaut Farmer, and The Queen. The reference materials are all dated for 2007. The prices are still up at the concession, and the marquees above the theatres still list the films that had been screened there. The lobby isn't derelict by any means, but covered in a thin layer of dust it just looks a bit sad.

Not all the lights in the theatre work anymore, but the vanity bulbs around the lobby did. I was instantly struck by nostalgia, and the familiar glow had me reminicising about all times I waited for popcorn with friends, with family, with girls. I saw lots of big movies here growing up like Independence Day and Titanic, but the last time I came here was in 2005 while home from university for the summer. We saw Spielberg's War of the Worlds.

The velvet ropes are now tucked away in a back storage room. Stacks of letters for the front marquee gather dust on shelves. A few kernels of popcorn are left scattered around the popcorn maker. But most fitting was the marquee above the main theatre, which shed light on the final film screened at the Towne Theatre in Medicine Hat. It read March 8, 2007 The Last Picture Show.

I was buzzing as I wandered further into the theatre. There was a lot more to see.

Fifth Avenue Church Postcards

2013-05-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

These 5 new custom postcards from my Around the Hat photo series feature the stunning interior details of Fifth Avenue church. Check out these new prints and numerous other original images in my postcard shop here.

Hutchings and Sharp Interior: Part 2

2013-05-09T08:00:00.002-06:00

This post is a continuation of my look inside the now closed Hutchings and Sharp, which occupied the Hutchinson Block in downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Vintage Esplanade Street Postcard

2013-05-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

Of all the vintage Medicine Hat postcards I've come across in my search, this one seemed special for two reasons. The first was that I'd never seen it before - not in my archive searches or online. The second thing was that it featured houses, not a specific landmark, along Esplanade Street (now 1st street) very close to where the current Arts & Heritage Centre now stands.

Today this portion of 1st Street is pretty much all civic buildings and offices, with the exception of the Ewart-Duggan House which is just a few doors down from where this postcard was photographed. The only real giveaway to the location in this picture is St. John's church peaking through in the background. I returned to the corner to try and get a modern image of the location today.

The back of the postcard is dated August 15, 1917 and is addressed to someone in Calgary. The fact that it isn't postmarked tells me that it was sent with someone who was making the trip there. It's a pretty fascinating find given how much has changed on that corner in nearly a century.

2006 Chrysler 300 Touring Edition

2013-05-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

In the grand tradition of photographing the vehicles I've owned, this beautiful spring weather inspired this latest set. After my '89 Buick and '99 Jaguar, the Chrysler is really the continuation on a theme for me. I like my big sedans. I like a comfortable ride and all the bells and whistles that come along with a luxury car. And like most guys, I like a car that has some guts when you put your foot down.

The 300 isn't a classic yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if in 20 years these cars are looked back on favorably. I still argue that they're one of a handful of mainstream vehicles out there today that actually have some distinct design behind them. That was a big deal to me coming from the Jag.

I was also keen to find a 300 with all the upgrades I wanted, and found them in this one. From an mp3 ready stereo, dual climate control, full leather, heated seats, upgraded dash computer, bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls, sunroof, etc, etc. - this car doesn't leave me in want of much. With another summer of road trips ahead, I can't wait to really break her in. I might finally get around to a bit of customization too. My cars have always just been big toys anyway.

May the 4th Be With You

2013-05-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending the wedding for my good friends Andrea and Travis. It was a very intimate gathering of close friends and family on the rooftop of the Esplanade, followed by dinner at Desert Blume, and an after-party back at their place. As a Star Wars fan myself, I think any couple who has a wedding on May the 4th just so they can say "May the 4th be with you" deserves bonus points.

For all the weddings I've been to, this one was unique. Andrea and Travis really wanted to keep everything simple and low key, and the short guest list made it seem even more special. In the end, it actually meant the whole group was able to interact with one another. Sometimes you barely feel like you have a chance to say hi to the bride and groom, but that wasn't the case here. I loved catching up with her family, joking around with everyone, and enjoying the ambiance of such a tight-knit gathering. The Dark Side blend coffee favors were a nice touch too.

One of the highlights of the wedding was seeing Andrea's dad walk her down the aisle. Ted has been in a wheelchair for the most part since having a stroke several years ago, but he wanted to do this for Andrea's big day. He did really well and it was a touching moment.

Andrea and I have been close friends since high school, and because they weren't having his and her wedding party's, she asked me to be her witness. I couldn't have been happier to oblige. It was an awesome day with beautiful weather, great friends, terrific food, and plenty of shared stories. No doubt, this is a wedding that we'll all be reminiscing about for years and years.

Medalta Potteries Postcards

2013-05-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

More custom postcards from my Around the Hat series have been added to my shop, this time featuring 5 new postcards of Medalta Potteries. This iconic location in Medicine Hat, Alberta has become the centre of the historic clay district, and these cards feature some of my first shots of the location. See more about these prints here.

Hutchings and Sharp Interior: Part 1

2013-05-02T08:00:00.003-06:00

After documenting the exterior of the Hutchinson Block earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before I'd find a way to see the interior - and what an interior it is! Like a blast from the past, the remnants of Hutchings and Sharp (a western clothing and apparel store) are still very apparent here. Vintage western suits, branded signs, and even Charlie the horse, who was wheeled out to the sidewalk each business day, are still there. The horse was the only thing I really remembered about this place as a kid, so it was cool to walk in and see that he was still hanging out at the back of the store.

The only major change to speak of is that there are a ton of wedding dresses being stored at the front of the building, but otherwise it's kind of eerie how much is still here. The basement is full of old tools, cash registers, signs, and antiques. It's almost like you could open a museum with some of the stuff down there. I was told that if the space is sold or rented, a bunch of this stuff will be donated to the Esplanade. I had a blast exploring the space, and no question, this place felt very stereotypically Albertan.

Charlie the horse.

A Life on Instagram

2013-05-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

I've been using Instagram for several years now on my iPod. I liked using it to create collages for posts on my blog - this one is a good example - and I racked up nearly 1600 images on that account. Despite this, that account was private, and it's only been about a week now since I created a new public account @editingluke to share pics and excerpts from my everyday. So really, this is my first honest go on Instagram.

I got to thinking that having a public Instagram account would be a good way to branch out, to share some of my work, to capture the things that wouldn't necessarily ever end up in a blog post, and to play around with my phone. I'm not really taking it that seriously, but then again, that's the fun in it. I'm still just getting up to speed, but I'm looking forward to the collages that are likely to come out of another eventful summer! Follow my updates as I get things going here @editingluke

Monarch Theatre Postcards

2013-04-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

As part of my latest series of original postcards, I'm proud to introduce this 5 card set featuring shots from inside of the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta. I think this set captures a lot of the charm of this 100 year old movie theatre, with shots spanning all of the interior locations from the projection room to the basement. See more of this set in my postcard shop.

Exploring Telus Spark Science Centre

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday afternoon we had some downtime before driving back to the Hat, so I went to check out the Telus Spark Science Centre with my folks in Calgary. There were tons of hands on displays and a special exhibit about movie monsters and animatronics. It's the kind of place that you have to experience for yourself, but I shot a few pictures to capture some of the highlights. I also couldn't help but reflect on the last time I shared something like this with my visit to the Saskatchewan Science Centre back in 2008.

Medicine Hat Quote Postcards

2013-04-26T08:00:00.001-06:00

In the interest of expanding my original Around the Hat series postcards, I decided to do something a bit different for this new batch. I played around with some of my more general Medicine Hat images, from a train track to a gas well wheel to a kiln, and created numerous filters for them. I emphasized the textures in the images, and then added additional cracks, a faint burlap pattern, and scuff marks. The idea was that I wanted to play up the wild west kitsch value of the city's history.

All of this was to provide a backdrop for a few notable points that I felt best defined Medicine Hat, Alberta. I wanted to combine the variety of my photo series with the historical branding to make Medicine Hat seem more unique. Here's what I came up with, and don't forget to check out these new cards in my shop.

All Hell for a Basement - this is a quote made famous by author Rudyard Kipling, who made a big impression when he visited the community in the early 1900s. The quote was in reference to the vast natural gas wells underneath the city.

The Natural Gas City of the West - or simply the Gas City. This nickname has been around almost since the city's inception and has appeared on countless souvenirs, documents, and signs. It was our cheap natural gas that became our claim to fame for many early industries that set up here.

Established Eighteen Eighty Three - clearly in reference to Medicine Hat's inception, which occurred in 1883 with the arrival of the railroad.

In the Footprints of the Medicine Man - this phrase is in reference to the legends that surround how the city got its name, often in reference to the Medicine Man and his 'Saamis' or headdress being lost in the river.

Where the Gas Lamps Never Dim - this refers to the early days of Medicine Hat when our street lamps were fueled by natural gas lines that went directly into the wells. The natural gas was so plentiful and cheap here that it was more affordable to leave them constantly burning day and night than to hire someone to light them in the evening.

World's Largest - today Medicine Hat's claim to fame for anyone passing through along the Trans Canada has to be our Teepee. At over 20 stories high it's the World's Largest.

Find these cards and more in my Around the Hat postcard shop HERE.

Vintage Post Office Postcard

2013-04-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Medicine Hat's original post office was a beautiful sandstone building on the prominent corner of 6th avenue and 2nd street. It was across the street from the original city hall, but just like that building, it was torn down decades ago. Arguably, the original post office is one of the city's greatest lost treasures in that if it was still around today you can bet it would be an icon of the downtown core.

I came across this vintage postcard of the original post office that was mailed on October 23, 1943. It was sent from a father to his daughter in Vancouver. His brief message was simply to check in and let his daughter, Ruth Mary know that he had a parcel on the way for her. I thought the handwriting on this card was especially nice, and the clean postal markings and stamp seem to compliment the image of the post office. A great piece of local history for certain.

Postcard in the same location today.

The Bank of Montreal where the Post Office was.

Post Office demolition ca. 1961

New Best Buddies

2013-04-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

Geez, kids are so much fun! I spent a lot of time playing with my second cousins, Milo and Quinn at my Aunt's memorial. From Lego to Bionicle to Batman and Star Wars, we had a blast! They're at such fun ages (6 and 4) and are really entertaining. I even joked with them about the good old days of 1999 when the Phantom Menace came out. Milo told me all about his favorite Star Wars characters, and Quinn showed off what they'd built out of Lego. By the end of the night I'd made a couple new best buds.

A Final Goodbye for Bonny

2013-04-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

Over the weekend my family reunited for my Aunt Bonny's memorial in Calgary. We hadn't all been together since my Grandma's funeral last fall, which was a clear reminder of what an eventful year it's been for our group. Despite the circumstances, it was a good day filled with tears, laughter, stories and music. One that I'm sure will be remembered for how uplifting and positive it was.

My cousin Leslie documented her mom's memorial and shared her heartfelt experience here. Many members of our family got up to speak, and I read the letter that I had given to my aunt when I first went to visit her in the hospital (which I posted here). Later in the evening Leslie's husband, Chris shared his song Paper Airplane that he wrote for Bonny. It was a touching tribute, and one of the highlights in a celebration that I know Bonny would have been proud of. When all was said and done, I was fixated on one thought: I'm lucky to have all of these amazing people in my life.

Around the Hat on Spectator Tribune

2013-04-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

Every week or so I like to follow up with my analytics to see where some of my traffic is coming from. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that last Thursday my latest promo for Around the Hat ended up on the Spectator Tribune's website. Based out of Winnipeg, but with regional coverage around the west, their tagline is 'celebrating everything that makes the prairies extraordinary'. If that's not a pretty generous vote of approval, I don't know what is. Check out the post here.

My Around the Hat promo has been going over pretty well actually. Shortly after I posted it last month it was featured on Travel Alberta's facebook page. A few weeks later it was shared on SouthernAlberta.com, and just last week it appeared on the local blog, Mad in the Hat - all of these in addition to the Spectator Tribune (obviously). I not only uploaded this video to my vimeo account, but to my YouTube channel too where it has already surpassed 40,000 views. All of these things are pretty amazing when you consider that I've just been playing explorer in my own backyard. Naturally, it's great to see the project gaining traction and connecting with so many people!

Our Family Albums

2013-04-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

Last Friday, following the news of my Aunt's passing, we gathered at my folks' place and found ourselves reminiscing over our family photo albums. The experience reaffirmed in my mind just how powerful the images we take and share really are. It was such a simple and natural thing to do to explore our past, and the memories really were comforting and uplifting. Recognizing the joy that came out of this spontaneous moment, I couldn't help put snap a few pictures too.

Tramps Corner Block Interior

2013-04-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

I had the opportunity to explore the interior of this downtown corner block earlier this year, and there were actually a few surprises. I've referred to this location as the Tramps Corner Block, because Tramps, a comic book and video game store, was the last business to use the space. Architecturally, there's really not much interior detail.

This is one of those locations that has been pulled apart, remodeled, and altered numerous times over the decades so its historic value, despite being 100 years old, is difficult to determine. The original boiler is still in the basement, and the original stone foundation can still be seen. The retail spaces sit empty though without much to grab your attention. Upstairs is where I stumbled onto a bit of a surprise.

I wasn't sure what to expect in this location, but when I walked into one of the former apartments and saw stacks of comic books I was blown away. Left over from Tramps, whoever decides to buy this building will acquire hundreds - maybe even a few thousand - comic books along with it. In all honesty, the vast majority are probably only worth a couple of bucks, but who knows what gem might have been left behind? It's certainly a cool leftover from a business that hasn't been there for years. And hey, it's perfect for anyone looking to jump start their comic book collection.

Sunshine Skillet Food Fair 2013

2013-04-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

Over the weekend I had the distinct pleasure of being hired on as the official photographer for the launch of the Sunshine Skillet Food Fair hosted at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede. I don't usually share a lot of my contract work, but this was a really cool event that I had a lot of fun documenting.

The two day food fair featured local vendors sampling their products with everything from fresh produce to premium sausage and cuts of meat. This was all in support of the main event, which featured two competitions between local amateur chefs on Saturday, and local professional chefs on Sunday. The winners from three different rounds went on to face off in a final round for the title of Top Amateur Chef and Top Professional Chef of the 2013 Sunshine Skillet.

In the same style as Iron Chef, each round of competition featured three mystery ingredients that the chefs had to incorporate into their dishes. It was a thrill to see the creativity and resourcefulness of the competitors as they pulled together some really stunning culinary works of art - a pleasure for me as the food photographed really well.

On top of this, I can't even begin to describe how many beautiful smells there were in the air. You couldn't help but get swept up as the timer wound down, and some chefs rushed to plate their creations with mere seconds left on the clock. It was a great experience, and an event that's sure to be even bigger next year. Keep an eye out for my images on future promotional materials (*wink).

For more about the Sunshine Skillet Food Fair visit their website here. In the meantime, here is a very brief sampling of my shots from the event.