Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival 2023

A few visual highlights from this year's Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival in Medicine Hat, Alberta. These images were captured across 4 days around various launch sites within the city. 

Finlay Bridge in Medicine Hat, Alberta

On May 14, 1908 Finlay Bridge officially opened. The green truss bridge that spans the South Saskatchewan River in Medicine Hat, Alberta is a locally recognized heritage site, and since it was completed over a century ago, it has remained a symbol of the city. At 277 metres long and 10 metres wide, it was the largest bridge in Western Canada when it was built. Few local landmarks have maintained their practical significance and usage for the entirety of their lifetimes, but Finlay Bridge remains an artery to Medicine Hat's downtown core to this day.

Finlay Bridge was named after William T. Finlay who was one of Medicine Hat's early mayors from 1900-1902. Finlay was also Medicine Hat's first MLA when the province of Alberta was formed in 1905 and became Alberta's first Minister of Agriculture at that time.

Over the years Finlay Bridge has undergone refurbishment, including a complete deck and paint rehabilitation in 2009. The installation of brand new decorative LED lighting above the bridge and along the piers was also completed in 2011. Finlay Bridge is the support structure for the main Shaw Cross Canada fibre optic cable, proving that while the requirements for the bridge have evolved over the years, it is no less relevant today.

Construction of Finlay Bridge in 1908.

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.