New Artwork at River Bee Books

In news that surprises no one, I have a real soft spot for unique, local businesses (particularly those in beautifully restored downtown buildings) who also happen to be supporters of my original "Hometown Series" in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Over the last few months I've delivered a collection of custom framed canvases to Bridget at River Bee Books with this shot overlooking the cliffs ending up in the new shop scheduled to open this spring. I do love a good bookstore, and can't wait to see all this hardwork come together for their grand opening. Check out those tin ceilings!

Professional Photographers Already Know This

Everyone thinks the prerequisite to becoming a professional photographer is the ability to take a "good" image, but if we're digging for specifics I'd argue that it's always been bigger than that.

The real secret is timing.

It's recognizing when you can capture something rare. It's storytelling in choices. It's bringing people into your work by sharing a perspective often easily missed.

Case in point, last night around midnight an ice fog had decended over Medicine Hat. I was on my way home and while passing the Saamis Teepee on the highway the fog was so thick that I thought the lights on it had been turned off.

I pulled off to have a look and only as I rounded the corner did it begin to reveal itself. The fog was causing the lights on this familiar landmark to bleed into the haze and I immediately recognized in that moment, that even after all the teepee shots I'd grabbed over the years, here was one that I didn't have.

Needless to say when the image went up this morning on the Editing Luke page it began to spread quickly. Timing gave it purpose. Timing made the shot more interesting. It had a story. My point is that when you're really playing the game, this is what actually makes the difference.

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.

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.

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? 

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.

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.

Midnight Madness in Downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta

Last night was Midnight Madness around downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta and the perfect excuse to tour, shop, and graze our way through local hotspots with a reminder of the beer, cookies, bagels, coffee (and more) on offer!

The sidewalks were buzzing, music was playing, and even the Monarch Theatre (the subject of my now year-long documentary) was temporarily back and lit up for the night with a few screenings running. But, the deal of the night had to be the vintage projector and the stack of kitschy vinyl I snagged from one of the downtown thrift shops for a whopping $9.75. 

I already cleaned her up she looks (and works) like brand new!

Congrats to all the vendors, organizers, and businesses who pulled this off - a great evening all around, and a really fun way to support lots of great local shops!

Additional shout out to the businesses in these pics - Local Medicine Hat, King Bagel, the Mezz, Madhatter Coffee Roastery, and Redcliff Bakery.

The Deep Dark Art Installation in Police Point Park

The Deep Dark is an art installation in Medicine Hat, Alberta (hosted by the Esplanade) that will run through October 2022 within Police Point Park from 7 to 9pm each night. Show your support for unique installations like this by checking this artwork out while you can this month.

 

Monarch Documentary Enters Post-Production

That's a wrap! After months of filming this is where it all comes together now. The Monarch documentary is officially in post-production with the release planned for late 2022. 

Finlay Bridge: Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacon

From June 2 to 7, 2022 landmarks throughout the United Kingdom and commonwealth countries were lit purple to become beacons in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. In Medicine Hat, Alberta the historic Finlay Bridge was specially lit to mark the occasion.  

 

Rise Up YXH Hot Air Balloon Festival 2022

A few visual highlights from my weekend of shoots as the official photographer for the inaugural Rise Up YXH Hot Air Balloon Festival hosted in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

 

First Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Medicine Hat, Alberta

Last night's shoot from the air was a long standing bucket list experience checked off my list. I'm proud to share that the Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival in Medicine Hat has hired Editing Luke as their official photographer for this first of its kind event in Southeastern Alberta.

 

Documentary Production Continues

Production on the Monarch documentary has been ongoing this month. 

This week I've been following up on rumors about several artifacts / stories surrounding the Monarch Theatre. I literally examined screw placements on vintage chairs over the weekend lol. I crawled on my hands and knees through a century of basement cobwebs in search of another secret hatch. And, perhaps best of all, yesterday I successfully acquired an untapped collection of images featuring the former neon marquees lit up two decades ago.

Piece by piece we're pulling this thing together. Post-production is on the horizon. Now, how cool would it be if we could invite everyone back and premiere this in the old Monarch?

Talk of the Towne: Theatre Memories

This weekend I posed a question on my socials targeted at Medicine Hat, Alberta locals to share their movie memories from the former Towne Theatre. Closed in 2007, this was once the spot to see all of the biggest flicks when they came to the Hat. The responses were excellent.

Production on the documentary briefly moved into the Towne last month to capture some new footage of the abandoned movie theatre. You can expect new interviews, images, and the history of this former landmark theatre to appear in the finished film. 

Hawthorn Dining Room & Bar at the Palliser

Seamlessly blending the weight and heritage of the Palliser Hotel with a fresh and thoughtfully modern aesthetic, the Hawthorn Dining Room & Bar is the ideal spot for a late night drink or morning coffee. The comfortable and eclectic styling of this grand lobby bar is effortlessly cool, inviting, and enough to warrant a visit on your next visit to Calgary, Alberta.

Sky 360 Restaurant in the Calgary Tower

Offering incredible views of downtown Calgary, Alberta, Sky 360 is the revolving restaurant located at the top of the Calgary Tower. With the restaurant taking 60 minutes to complete one rotation, we made a sunset reservation and marked the occasion by sharing a bottle of sparking wine, the grilled house foccacia, sky burger, and butterscotch crème brulée.