Dec 30, 2022

What Difference Does A Trailer Make?

A week ago I had anticipated some public response when the preview for "Your Cinema Needs You" finally dropped. What followed ... thousands of fresh eyes on what I'd been up to this year, renewed public interest, HUNDREDS of messages, media coverage, a rally of support to see the film premiere in the Monarch, and so so so many questions. 

All amazing - but also, exactly what you'd hope a solid trailer would do.

Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich


What I wasn't prepared for was the trailer for "Your Cinema Needs You" inspiring a few tip-offs about the potential future of the Monarch Theatre, and the preview convincing the only hold out interview of the entire documentary to finally request a sit down.

Earlier this week production resumed for a single day inside the Monarch, and as a result of this final interviewee's involvement even more unreleased archival material has been secured for the documentary. On what in any other year would be the sleepy haze between Christmas and New Years, I feel like I've been racing. I've just created more work for myself, but I suppose this is the hectic reality of capturing a story that's still being written. 

This new year should be very interesting.

Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich

Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich


Dec 28, 2022

2022: Medicine Hat, Alberta Images of the Year

On the local front, 2022 marked the 10 year anniversary since I began photographing Medicine Hat, Alberta as part of my Around the Hat / Hometown Series.


On one hand I started the year feeling like maybe the series had run its course, and on the other hand quickly saw that engagement had never been higher

As it turned out there were quite a few surprises that followed - some high-profile features, notable print installations, and even a couple of new experiences to boot. With enough encouragement, it's safe to say the series isn't going anywhere. Here are just a few of the "hometown hits" that received the most engagement in 2022.

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich

Medicine Hat Photographer Luke Fandrich


Dec 23, 2022

Monarch Documentary Trailer on Chat News

My thanks to Chat News for featuring the trailer for my new documentary "Your Cinema Needs You" on their broadcast today. See the trailer featuring the Monarch Theatre below.

Monarch Theatre Editing Luke Chat News TV


Dec 21, 2022

Monarch Documentary: Teaser Trailer

Let's go to the movies!
Opened 111 years ago today on December 21, 1911, the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta is a cinema that's been hiding an incredible story. Here's your first look at the new documentary "Your Cinema Needs You" directed by Luke Fandrich. Coming 2023.

For more updates on the release of this documentary follow @editingluke

Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich





Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich

Luke Fandrich Monarch Documentary


Dec 15, 2022

2022 Instagram Travel Features @editingluke

As we roll into the yearly recaps for 2022, I was feeling like I hadn't done that much outside of work on a documentary all year - which granted, has been a lot. But when I dug up all of the "official reshares" on my travel content this year it was ... well, awesome lol ... New York, Berlin, Miami, Brussels, Dallas, Winnipeg, Seattle, Calgary, Paris, Los Angeles, Montreal, Victoria, Honolulu, Osaka, Edinburgh, Ottawa, and on and on.

Editing Luke Fandrich Travel Photographer


I did a lot of experimenting in 2022 to get my work seen by travel partners while being very strategic about not just building a profile to be mined for content. It's a complicated trade-off, but it seems to be working. The variety of locations in these features is a solid achievement given how competitive this is - and for that, let me say thank you and express how grateful I am to have found eyes for what I share here and on the Editing Luke site. 

Now the real question - where to next? 

Editing Luke Fandrich Travel Photographer


Dec 12, 2022

New Artwork in Medicine Hat Brewing Company

I want take a moment to shoutout Medicine Hat Brewing Company here in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Last week I had the pleasure of delivering a large order of custom canvases from my "Hometown Series" to be utilized in one of their new spaces.

Medicine Hat Brewing Company MH Brew Co


While it never gets old to see your work appreciated, there's really nothing quite like when it's at home. I've always tried to be vocal and engaged in promoting my community to a wider audience, so anytime a local business goes out of their way to work with me I want to show them some love too - particularly when I'm also a frequent customer lol.

Thank you MH Brew Co. for the patronage and for another unique opportunity to see my work on display in my hometown. Let's do it again sometime.

Medicine Hat Brewing Company MH Brew Co

Medicine Hat Brewing Company MH Brew Co


Dec 9, 2022

Experimenting With A.I. Generated Images on Lensa

Have you seen these A.I. generated images popping up on your feed this week too?

I took the bait and played around on Lensa A.I. this week. For those unfamiliar, it's a paid app where you upload 10-20 selfies and then its A.I. generates a series of images using your likeness. These aren't filters on existing images, they are all part of a batch that is generated randomly with A.I. based only on images of your face.

It's not without glitches and errors, but the technology is pretty incredible - not least of which, because sometimes it turned me into an action-hero Ken doll. While the topic of A.I. imagery and artwork hits close to home in terms of content creation, I can't help but feel this is transformative tech we're going to have to learn about and monitor.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried it? Here are some of my results.

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker

Luke Fandrich Photographer Filmmaker


Dec 8, 2022

Documentary Sneak Peek, Trailer Release Date

Thank you to the Medicine Hat News and Kendall King for this feature on my latest documentary "Your Cinema Needs You" in today's newspaper. 

Following the incredible response online last week I can finally share that a trailer for the film will be released on December 21 - marking the 111th anniversary of when the Monarch Theatre first opened her doors to the public back in 1911. More updates to come soon.

Luke Fandrich Filmmaker Documentary Monarch


Dec 4, 2022

Exploring An Empty Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

It's always a thrill to capture really distinct locations on travel shoots, but there's really no beating those few rare experiences when you end up with an otherwise incredibly busy location almost entirely to yourself. Here's a look at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World in Florida during an after hours shoot with absolutely no crowds in the park. 

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours Walt Disney World


Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours

Empty Galaxys Edge After Hours