Earl Kitchener Home: Before & After

I had no idea when I first photographed the vacant interior of Earl Kitchener School that it would lead to one of the most successful photo sets that I've ever shared on this site. Earlier this year, after renovations transformed this former school into a luxurious private residence, I had the opportunity to return and capture this amazing space for my Around the Hat series.  

What's been so interesting about this project from my perspective, is that I was able to professionally photograph this property at two very distinct times - right before and after the renovations took place. Playing on the success of my previous photo set of the interior, I thought some might also enjoy seeing direct comparisons of Earl Kitchener in these two states of progress, side by side. I also opted to ghost several of the spaces, meaning that I merged two of my photographs together to show the before and after combined into a single shot. 

The resulting images not only emphasize the dramatic changes that the renovation produced, but they also highlight the imagination that went into making it happen. For me, it's been fascinating subject matter to photograph, edit, and share. Everyone loves a good reveal. 

See more from this series here.

Main hallway. Ghosted image showing before and after together.

Main hallway. Before and after one year apart.

TV Room / Bar. Ghosted image.

TV Room / Bar. One year apart.

Living Room. Ghosted.

Living Room. Before and after.

Kitchen. Ghosted image.

The space in the before image is the dining room now. The kitchen is in front of that.

Another view of the living room. Ghosted.

Before and after.

Ghosted image of the main hallway doors to the living room.

Ghosting a completed piece of the living room (left) with the unfinished (right).

Around the Hat: Ghosting Images 3

Merging archival images with modern day photography is a really cool way of showcasing history. I've had a lot of success with my previous posts where I've ghosted my Medicine Hat, Alberta images from my Around the Hat series - see PART 1 and PART 2. Have a look at my latest additions below. How many of these locations do you recognize?

1. The above image shows 2nd Street, featuring the Beveridge Block and a ghosted facade of the Station Coffee Co. (1910s merged with 2014).

2. This is a ghosted image of the Flat Iron Building located across the street from Alexandra Junior High School. (1970s merged with 2013).

3. I love the horse-drawn carts in this ghosted image of 2nd Street. The Central Block and neighbouring building burnt down and revealed the red painted wall ad seen in the background. (1910s merged with 2014).

4. Swirls Ice Cream. (1980s merged with 2014).

5. This is one of my favourite ghosting images that I've done, showing a passenger train arriving at the train station. (1970s merged with 2014).

6. The demolition of Medicine Hat's original city hall is shown merged with the modern day BATUS Park (hence all the pine trees) in this ghosted image. (1980s merged with 2013).

7. Another view of 2nd Street. (1910s merged with 2014).

8. 3rd Street. (1930s merged with 2013).

9. Another view of 3rd Street after a blizzard. (1938 merged with 2014).

10. The refurbished Station Coffee Co. (Turpin Block) merged with the old store fronts. (1910s merged with 2014).

11. An early postcard of South Railway Street showing the Hargrave Sissons Block merged with a modern shot of the Assiniboia Inn at the other end of the block. (1900s merged with 2013).

12. Passengers boarding a train on one of the sidetracks at the train station. (1930s merged with 2013).

Around the Hat: Ghosting Images 2

After the popularity of my original ghosting images from my Around the Hat series, it was only a matter of time before I gave it another go. Using archival images from my hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta as inspiration, I set out to photograph these locations in 2013 from the same vantage points as their archival counterparts. 

By ghosting archival images the history is immediately made more dramatic. Specific changes become easy to recognize with a ghosted image creating a bridge between substantial periods of time. It's a really unique way of looking at a place like Medicine Hat, especially because it's a perspective that's seldom explored in this city.

Third Street Downtown - 2013 merged with 1940s

This scene shows the width of the street before the crosswalk flowerbeds had been installed - notice the car and modern truck on the left. 

Assiniboia Inn - 2013 merged with 1950

Here we have the pre-renovation hotel buildings merged with the current Assiniboia. The interesting thing is that this scene spans the time just before the hotel and with it as an abandoned location now.

BMO Bank construction - 2013 merged with 1960s

This scene shows the construction of the new bank following the demolition of the original post office. You can see the original Bank of Montreal building (now gone) on the right.

Fifth Avenue Church construction - 2013 merged with 1912

I loved creating this ghosted image. Here we see the framework of the church merged with the grown in trees and complete structure just over a century later.

Pingles Book and Drug Interior - 2013 merged with 1940s

The vacant storefront is merged with the original Pingle's interior here. A drop ceiling now covers the original tin ceiling seen here.

St. John's Church - 2013 merged with 1915

This ghosted image shows the original entrance to St. John's that was covered during a mid-century renovation and expansion. The chimney on the left is also no longer there.

Hargrave Sissons Block - 2013 merged with 1905

The contrast of the traffic light with the horse and buggy emphasizes the span of time. Also, the unpainted brick in 1905 with the modern day stripped paint shows just how many layers there have been over the decades.



City buses outside Cypress Club - 2013 merged with 1960s

The vintage buses are pretty cool, but this scene is made even more memorable by the ghosted city hall in the background which is no longer there.

Bus Depot - 2013 merged with 1940s

Today this building is the Ming Court restaurant, but this ghosted image shows that this art deco design was originally for the city's bus depot.

Train Station - 2013 merged with 1910s

It has been decades since the train station has seen a crowd like this. Here we have a vintage postcard merged with the modern station. 

Dreamland Theatre - 2013 merged with 1910s

This unassuming building next to the modern parkade used to house one of Medicine Hat's movie theatres. Here we see the original facade merged with the modern one.

Granada Building - 2013 merged with 1960s

This building once featured a beautiful art deco facade. Here we see some of the new sidings merged with this vintage street scene.



Beveridge Block - 2013 merged with 1950s

Most notable in this ghosted image is the loss of the original Bank of Montreal building after the new bank was constructed. 

Third Street Downtown - 2013 merged with 1940s

Here we have a WW2 rally merged with the modern street. 

Medalta Potteries - 2013 merged with 1910s

This scene shows the current facades of Medalta merged with the factory while it was under construction.

Gaslight Plaza - 2013 merged with 1970s

Here we have the corner of Gaslight Plaza merged with the vintage Eatons sign that no longer hangs there.



Sixth Avenue Downtown - 2013 merged with 1920s

Here's a glimpse at how vibrant the downtown once was. Notice the storefront canopies on the left and the Dreamland Theatre on the right. 

SEXSE at Medalta: Behind the Scenes

There are so many cool things happening with Medalta's artists in residence these days. SEXSE, which stands for Southeast by Southeast, is the name of the latest project I'm working on, featuring several Southeast Asian artists - Vipoo Srivilasa, Thomas Cheong, Krisaya Luenganantakul, Teo Huey Min, and Boon Kiat (James) Seet - and their short term residency here in Southeast Alberta.

Vipoo's spoons depicting the current artists in residence.

Much like the 3D printer video I did for Medalta this spring, this latest project has been an eye opening experience surrounding a variety of creative styles and experiments. In speaking with the artists it's been really interesting to see their work in progress, and document a part of the process that outsiders don't usually see. 

In addition to their main projects, the artists even took to competitive spoon making for an extra challenge. Collaborative ideas like this are what make the residency so special. I joined the group for a pancake breakfast on Sunday, and it's easy to see how the group becomes like a family while they're here. I can't wait to see how this video pans out. Much like the artists who are experimenting with their work, I'm also really excited to sculpt my story from the hours of raw footage I've shot this month.