Editing Luke

Archiving Home Videos

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

Over the last few weeks I've been capturing a tape at a time of my uncle's old home videos on VHS. They span from 1989 to the mid 1990s, with a couple of tapes from a New York trip in 2001. In all there's been over 30 hours of material, and the goal has been to archive the footage on mini-DV tapes and an external hard drive to then burn DVD copies. It's a slow process, but I'm happy to preserve the few moments of my childhood that were caught on tape too.

What has struck me most in doing this is not just the obvious of how much time has passed and how people have changed, but it's how the tapes themselves have degraded over two decades. Some of the footage is particularly grainy and there are lots of audio dropouts on some of the tapes. The reality is that stuff like this can be easily lost if it's not backed up and archived over the years. I've even found this to be true of pictures backed up on CDs just a decade ago - some of them don't hold up at all.

In some ways this project was motivated by the loss of my aunt, because it emphasized just how valuable these memories were. In general, I think it's been a reminder of how important our photographs and videos really become as time passes. Sometimes they're invaluable in triggering specific memories.

In any case, I'll be sure to share any of the gems from my childhood that I come across as the archiving continues. In the meantime, you might want to get busy backing up your own memories tucked away on VHS before it's too late.

My sister picking her nose on camera, haha.

Riverside School in Medicine Hat

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

Located in northwest Medicine Hat, Riverside School is still an active elementary school. Constructed in 1916, the school shares similarities with many of the city's other early schools, including separate entrances for boys and girls and an impressive brick facade. Much like those other schools, Riverside has undergone expansion and renovation over the years. While it lacks the embellishment of Connaught or Elm Street, there's no denying this classically styled school is still looking good after nearly 100 years in use.

Weekend Reunion in Regina

2013-06-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hijinks, laughs, hangouts, bubbles, midnight cigars, video games, baby talk, and even a little bit of vomit - these were the highlights from my visit to Regina last weekend. It's been a year since my last visit, and with my buddy Tyler no longer living there, this was the first time I crashed at my friend Wendy's place. We had a blast!

Mike came down from Saskatoon to hangout, I got tons of one on one time with Darwin, and Wendy and I got a chance to catch up. The Regina phone book that I sold the cover image for even showed up on the doorstep at the same time as I did.

It was especially fun seeing how much Darwin had grown since the last time I saw him. I shot some video that I'll share soon. I bought him a mini Kawasaki ATV that he seemed to really enjoy. He'd sit on it and push the sound effect button to rev the engine, and even took to dancing to the tune that it played. It was especially funny to see him learn how to use it. At first he would only go backwards, and he never quite learned how to get off of it without getting the handlebar in his butt. In short, he was entertaining.

It's fun bonding with Darwin now that he's so energetic and full of personality. He was quick to warm up to me and it wasn't long before he was treating me like a jungle gym, and feeding me his food that he'd dropped on the floor. Oh, kids - maybe that has something do with why I've been under the weather most of the week, haha.

And if you were wondering about the 'little bit of vomit' mentioned above, that was Darwin too. After a night of drinks and casual discussions, Darwin woke up just as we were all ready to fall asleep and he was sick most of the morning. Poor guy. I experienced the best and worst of baby time that weekend.

All and all, the visit was a nice ice breaker for the changing dynamic of our shrinking Regina group. Although, with a road trip planned with Mike and a concert with Wendy this summer I'd say we're all making the most of it.

Saskatchewan Highway

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

Last weekend I took the familiar drive to Regina, Saskatchewan, the place I called home during my film school days. My plan for the Friday was to stop and take pictures in Moose Jaw and downtown Regina before meeting up at my friend Wendy's place for a weekend of hangouts. Naturally, I ended up with a ton of shots that I'm still in the process of editing. Here's a brief teaser from the open road.

ChristCORE by Justin Ludwig

2013-06-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

Fellow University of Regina film school alum, Justin Ludwig has a new documentary that he directed playing in Medicine Hat from June 13-15 at the Monarch. We had several production classes together back in the day, and here's what he had to say about his project:

ChristCORE is a feature documentary that follows my journey into the world of evangelical Christian hardcore music. As someone who grew up in Regina's punk and hardcore scene, the music was a catalyst that helped to un-do my religious upbringing. The scene is traditionally secular, which is how I thought it should stay when I first became aware of the Christian insurgence which started to make waves in Regina ten years ago.

However, what started out as somewhat antagonistic concept grew into a film that strives for dialogue and understanding, opening up the world of the Christian hardcore movement to a whole new audience who may have never thought such a thing could exist. It's a film for fans of the scene as well as those who hate it, offering a glimpse into life on the road for two very different bands, newcomers Messengers and genre stars Sleeping Giant. We see faith healings, mass baptisms and some violent mosh pits, leaving the judgements to the viewer. Come check it out and support independent Canadian film!

ChristCORE screens Thursday to Saturday at 7:30pm at the Monarch.

My Regina Phone Book Cover

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

The new city of Regina phone book is out, and naturally the most thrilling part for me has been finally getting to see the image I sold printed on the cover. In addition, my name and portfolio web address are credited on the cover too just below the picture. I wrote about how this all came about last year if you're interested in the back story.

What's especially cool is that after a trip to Regina this past weekend, the phone book had literally just been delivered to my friend's doorstep when I arrived. I was sure to take one as a souvenir. Over 200,000 phone books have been printed, and I love the fact that from the university to the Legislative Building to the front desk of Hotel Saskatchewan, I've got one of my shots distributed across Regina for the next year.

It's one more really cool achievement in a year that's been full of amazing media projects and professional firsts. Plus, it's a fun story to tell and a pretty unique way of feeling connected to the place I used to live.

Teepee Postcards

2013-06-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

Featuring some of the original images I shot of the Kin Park Teepee village, these 5 custom postcards capture a piece of the Hat's aboriginal heritage. Check out these new prints and numerous other original images in my postcard shop here.

3D Ceramic Printer at Medalta: Part 2

2013-06-07T08:00:00.001-06:00

The shooting has wrapped and the experiments with the 3D ceramic printer at Medalta Potteries have ended for the time being. There were a lot of highlights over the last couple of weeks though, and I put my cameras to good use. I enjoyed getting an up close look at the machine in action and seeing how the artists were playing with the technology. It was also a lot of fun to get their comments about the printer and have the opportunity to use them as the driving force behind the video.

Over the course of two weeks I captured a lot of cool visuals. I did some time lapsing, captured the unique facets of the machine and the 3D computer modeling, and got some great footage of the dust being airbrushed off of a very unique 3D piece. In addition to this, on a Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago, Greg and I wheeled the printer from the Artists in Residence into the old factory in the Medalta museum. While there I shot some footage and captured some amazing pictures of the machine against the century old backdrop of the historic clay district.

On June 1 there was an open house at Medalta to showcase just what had happened while the machine was here. One of my images was blown up and displayed at the entrance of the event, which was cool for me to see. This project has been such a great experience overall, and after going through all of the footage, I can't wait to see how it pans out. The finished video should be ready in a few weeks time.

My print at the entrance of the 3D open house.

Medicine Hat Ghost Murals & Public Art

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

Earlier this year I began photographing a number of placards, ghost murals, and public art around Medicine Hat, Alberta for the local historical society. I wasn't tasked to capture everything, but instead was making up for a few holes in their image library (and was capturing a lot for my Around the Hat series in the process). Here's a sampling of what I photographed over the last few months.

Spectrum Festival 2013

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

Last weekend I did a bit of wandering around downtown Medicine Hat with my camera at Spectrum. I listened to a few of the live bands perform, grabbed myself a churro, and spent the majority of my time checking out the vintage cars along 2nd street. Here are some the pictures I snapped.

Thank You, Stream Media

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

In the chaos of numerous projects on the go at the moment, it was by accident that I rediscovered a half finished letter that I had written a few years ago. My intention after leaving film school in 2008 was to make a bit of money before pursuing film and video in a bigger market by 2010. However, by then I had carved out a pretty nice situation for myself here in Medicine Hat. With lots of creative projects keeping me energized, ultimately I decided to stay.

This letter I found was the beginning of a thank you that I intended to give to Barb and Julie, the owners of Stream Media. They gave me my first job out of film school as a junior editor and videographer, and most importantly, they gave me a crash course in the operations and demands of being involved in a small production company. Fresh out of school, it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

A lot has changed since I scribbled out my rough thank you letter, but I thought I'd give it another go now. With the Stream office closing last year, and the business taking a more casual approach for the time being, it's hard to say what my involvement may be like moving forward. It's kind of what makes this feel like the right time to get these thoughts out. So here it goes.

Barb and Julie,

Thank you. For as often as we've joked around, shared stories, caught each other up on what everyone was watching, or what clever ideas we were inspired by, I'm not sure that I've said thank you enough times for the experiences you've given me while working at Stream Media.

I remember my interview with you both. I remember how much you pushed to get me hired, Julie. I remember how you were the one I had to win over, Barb. It was the start of a new chapter for all of us, and when things kicked off that summer in 2008, I can't tell you how proud I was to be a part of the team.

I loved that only a week after being hired you gave me the opportunity to shoot aerial photography from a helicopter. I loved that you handed me footage from the college and let me show you what I could do with it. I loved that there was no delay in letting me shoot for you, edit for you, and brainstorm about concepts. Really, I loved that you were both willing to take creative risks, and at the end of the day, that it was always about making something that we could all be proud of - even if the project was basic.

The things I learnt from both of you in my first year became tremendous building blocks that really allowed me to grow creatively. I continued to gain more confidence as you gave me the freedom to make mistakes, experiment, and bring ideas to the table. In general, the work I did with both of you made me a stronger filmmaker, editor, and photographer.

In addition to this, I feel like the support you showed me came at a time when I really needed someone to give me a chance. You were both influential in nurturing my style, while also offering constructive advice to help me improve. When I look back at 2008, I can't help but think about what a diverse amount of work we did and the unique experiences that I had behind the camera and in the edit suite in a matter of months. It was the education I wished I would've received more of in film school. In retrospect, the only upset is that it didn't last longer.

So, let this message be a reminder and formal declaration of just how much I appreciate you guys and what you did for me. You're both amazing in my books, and I hope the final chapter hasn't been written on our time working and collaborating together. You know where to reach me. Stay awesome.

All my best,
Luke

Towne Theatre Interior: Upper Cinemas

2013-06-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

To wrap up my look inside the abandoned Towne Theatre, I checked out the two small upstairs cinemas. These two rooms were actually in pretty nice shape, and were the one part of the building that didn't look much different than I remembered them. The seats were redone only a year or two before the theatre closed, so without much use they still looked new. Even the fairy lights on the stairs still worked.

Further back in the building the main office of theatre was now empty. Just a few random stickers and magnets from several decades of movies were left covering the filing cabinet drawers. What better way to end a tour of an old movie theatre than with a nostalgia kick? I'm glad I had the chance to see it all up close again.

6 Years of Editing Luke

2013-05-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

Every year that I write one of these anniversary posts it reminds me of just how much can happen in 365 days. If hitting my five year milestone last year clued me into anything, it was that the success of this site has come from the continued pursuit of achieving the creative goals I've set out for myself. Each year has been a learning experience, and year six of Editing Luke was especially incredible in that respect.

Photography and video have always been the backbone of this online project, but it was the focus that came from turning the lens on my hometown that really kicked off a new chapter in year six. Around the Hat has not only allowed me to showcase the passion I have for what I do, but it's connected me with a lot of amazing people in my community. From contract offers to image sales, the ripple effect has stirred up a lot of excitement, and once again, has redefined the influence and impact of my site.

After six years it's amazing to look back at the stories I've documented and shared. Everything has been a stepping stone to something bigger and better, and it's been a thrill to top my past achievements - like when I raved about first hitting 10,000 video views back in 2007 for instance. It's these things that remind me of just how far I've come. Now with over 1.38 million online video views, I'm still shocked that all of this grew out of a simple desire to make my work seem more relevant as I was preparing to leave film school. The numbers aren't what make this special though, it's the fact that I can see how my work is resonating and connecting with more and more people each year. The persistence of keeping this project alive has allowed me to build momentum, and it's amazing how much has happened on the back of that.

It's like I said last year, "I don't go a month without sharing something I've created, shot, or edited. The upkeep of this project has resulted in a personal obligation to live by my words, to dream out-loud, and to build some form of context while doing so". If there was any advice I could pass on, it's that you should pursue your ambitions with key goals in mind. Nothing pans out all at once, but you'll be amazed how much ground you've gained just because you've given yourself things to aim for. Six years in, and not only is this still fun for me to do, but it's become a lightning rod for new opportunities and contacts. I can't wait to see what another year brings.

Stats After 6 Years - 1394 Blog Posts - 271,135 Blog Views - 1.38 Million Video Views

North Railway Street: Part 2

2013-05-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

A continuation of my photo set from North Railway Street.

North Railway Street ca. 1953

North Railway Street ca. 1919

North Railway Street ca. 1920s

Around the Hat: Ghosting Images

2013-05-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

Before my Around the Hat series was even an idea, I had seen a number of archival images blended together with modern shots of various locations from around the world. The technique is often referred to as ghosting, and it was this style that originally had me browsing archives of Medicine Hat, Alberta and the surrounding area. Undoubtedly, this influenced my local photo series when it eventually kicked off in 2012.

Some of the most common compliments I receive about my series come from when I update archival images and show how a location has changed over the years from the same vantage point. One of my first posts like this was of an old postcard from the hill. It's something that not only appeals to locals, but it appeals to those interested in history in general. I figured it was about time I took some of those pictures I'd shot and blended them together with those archival ones for some of my first ever attempts at ghosting. I think they turned out rather well, but I'll let you be the judge.

Canadian Bank of Commerce -1915 merged with 2012

This shot was cool to merge as the lighting appeared to be the same in the archival image and the one I shot. I love the awnings on the windows and the man standing out front of the bank. I also love the contrast between the classic, albeit modern gas lamp on the left, and the original lamp in the archival image. The presence of the Telus tower in the background only emphasizes the evolution.

St. Patrick's Church - 1940s merged with 2012

While the church itself hasn't changed much over the decades, this ghosted image shows the large trees that used to cover most of the entrance (they're gone now). I added a bit of opacity to show just what was being hidden, while still preserving the effect. Notice the two people standing out front that appear to be posing for the camera.

Hargrave Sisson Block - 1920s merged with 2012

The large old cars are pretty impressive to see parked along the curb at this historic location. With the years of paint now stripped off of the building, it's cool to get a glimpse of how the original facade really looked in this ghosted image.

Cecil Hotel - 1965 merged with 2012

Not a whole lot has actually changed in this area, but the original Cecil neon sign on the side of the building is the standout. Also, a single power line now stands where a double posted power line platform used to be.

Alberta Foundry & Machine Co. - 1940s merged with 2012

This wartime image of the foundry looks especially cool because of the old car merged with my Jag. You can also notice how the windows are now covered, and the vintage signage seems especially fresh.

North Railway Street - 1946 merged with 2013

WW2 soldiers are welcomed home, walking down a modern North Railway Street in this ghosted image. It's difficult to imagine seeing this many people lined along this street today, just out front of the train station.

Gaslight Plaza / Eaton's - 1970s merged with 2012

The vintage cars contrast with the modern street light and updated office windows of the Gaslight Plaza in this ghosted image. Once Eaton's department store, the area isn't usually surrounded with so many pedestrians these days.

Elizabeth Street School - 1912 merged with 2012

This image is cool because it represents a hundred year span. The workers and stacks of brick are seemingly dwarfed by the massive trees that now surround this old building. It's a fascinating way of demonstrating just how much time has passed.

Hutchinson Block - 1963 merged with 2013

This ghosted image is a bit of a reverse, as it shows the building today with the archival background instead of the other way around. Notice fairy lights hanging from across the street. Also, the small building on the right, the street light, and the parking meter - all of these things are gone. A tree now stands where the street light was, and the vacant lot next door is a small park space.

Canadian Bank of Commerce - 1910s merged with 2012

This image was cool to edit because of the buggies and pedestrians. I used the bank as my anchor point and matched up my shot to where the old city hall was standing. To emphasize that it is no longer there I faded the edge of the picture to reveal the large pine tree that stands at the edge of the park. This one really has a ghost like feeling.

Monarch Theatre - 1948 merged with 2012

I love the starkness of this ghosted image. I kept the bikes, original signage, and the banner from 1948, but blended half of the entrance with the modern handicapped parking sign and a poster of the Hunger Games on the other side.

Five Roses Mill - 1920s merged with 2012

I really like the detail in blending these two shots. The archival image reveals the original height of the mill, however I left a bit of opacity to show the line of how tall the building is today. Also, the archival image of the mill is contrasted by the signage for the Silver Buckle bar on each side, the overpass in the background, and the min-van in the parking lot.

Salt Kiln Firing at Medalta: Part 2

2013-05-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of witnessing a salt kiln firing down at Medalta Potteries, and I took some pictures of the experience. With a lot of time spent down there these days, I had the opportunity to follow up with Rob Froese and he was kind enough to show me the outcome from the firing. He explained how the salt created a texture and glaze, and pointed out how the results varied on several pieces.

I've really loved having the opportunity to learn more about ceramics and pottery over the last few weeks, not to mention, getting a glimpse into other artist's process and craft. The Artists in Residence down at Medalta is a pretty amazing place, and I seem to stumble onto something cool every time I'm down there.

Towne Theatre Interior: Projection Rooms

2013-05-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

Not unlike the projection room of the Monarch Theatre, the projection rooms of the Towne were a blast to explore. This set includes the main floor projection room and the larger room upstairs that had two projectors for the smaller cinemas. From trivia slides, Landmark Cinema strips of film leader, old bulbs, and whiteboards with screening times still written on them, it was amazing to get a behind the scenes look at a part of the theatre that I'd never seen when it was open.

3D Ceramic Printer at Medalta

2013-05-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

Between my full time gig and the contract work I have on the go, it's been a busy and entertaining week. Over the last few days I've been fortunate to witness a lot of the excitement around the new 3D ceramic printer at Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat. It's only here for a couple weeks to give the Artists in Residence a chance to experiment with the technology and give a first hand demo to others in the community. Meanwhile, I've been snapping pictures and shooting footage for a promotional video I'm doing for Medalta about the potential of this new technology and what the artists can do with it.

What's amazing about this printer is how it turns a clay powder into a fully formed 3D object over a few hours. It's a bit complicated to explain (for me that is), but the visuals are pretty cool and more of the specifics will come out when the video is complete. The objects are then fired, and the results are amazingly intricate and detailed. A snake like object was printed earlier and it's been an amazing demo to show just what's possible. By the end of next week they predict they should have around 100 different objects from the machine as a result of the artist's experiments and designs. I can't wait to share more as this video comes together.

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.

Ghosting image of my 2013 shot merged with an archival one from 1946.

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.