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.
May 27, 2022
First Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Medicine Hat, Alberta
Mar 29, 2022
Around the Hat: 10 Year Anniversary
It was 10 years ago today that I launched a series called Around the Hat (aka the Hometown Series) featuring scenes around Medicine Hat, Alberta. I couldn't have predicted how much would've have snowballed from this self motivated project, but from prints to production agreements to the hundreds of photo essays from around the world that eventually followed, a lot of that momentum started right here with this series.
Before the Editing Luke production company became a full-time operation I was looking for ways to create content to drive visitors to my website. I had an interest in exploration, history, and expanding my business to include photography in addition to the video production I had already been doing. Medicine Hat, my hometown, felt untapped in terms of people going behind closed doors to show off what was there. So I began to think about what it would be like to contextualize the local history into compelling plot points and to develop character out of a sense of place in a way that felt fresh, energetic, and above all, visual.
Coming from a filmmaking background and education, this was all a deliberate exercise to get my feet wet and build an audience through storytelling. My first photo essays featured the most obvious historic sites and attractions, like - Medalta Potteries, St. Pat's Church, and the Cypress Club (all posts that have now been updated since their first release).
To be clear, the history was really just a jumping off point. I wanted people to feel like they were exploring with me and still have context for what they were seeing along the way. When the initial posts attracted thousands of hits in a matter of days I knew I was onto something.
Over the years the series continued to refine itself with regular social media posts on Facebook and Instagram, and into more elaborate photo essays on this site that featured glimpses into places that most people weren't able to see or had largely forgotten about. Recently I highlighted the renovation happening inside the former Cecil Hotel and put together a recap of the former Riverside Waterslide. While larger photo series' and projects continued to follow this one, after a decade of growth the Around the Hat series alone has been responsible for millions of hits.
While the collection isn't complete and continues to expand and deviate, the lesson here has been all about approach. Sometimes a simple change of perspective makes the familiar seem completely new again - I just chose to share it as I was doing it.
Explore the complete Around the Hat series here.
Feb 1, 2022
Inside the Cecil Hotel in Medicine Hat, Alberta
With new owners and an ambitious renovation plan now underway, I had the opportunity to take a look inside and document the former Cecil Hotel in Medicine Hat, Alberta. This long defunct hotel was built in 1912 to serve railway passengers from the nearby train station, but in recent decades its most notable asset has been the Cecil Bar. Often described as a friendly dive, the rest of the building was literally falling apart around it.
Looking beyond the garbage and crumbling walls, there are still some incredible treasures to be found here - but yes, it's rough lol. There are still sections of original tilework in the entryway, the old neon letters still sit atop the roof, and the massive Cecil Hotel safe is still in place. I can't wait to see what happens to these spaces in the months ahead.
Jan 11, 2022
Hometown Series: Winter Highlights
Originally debuting on the Editing Luke facebook page, these images are some of the latest winter highlights from the "Hometown Series" shot in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Dec 19, 2021
Then & Now Series in Medicine Hat, Alberta
Inspired by some of the earlier comparison shots I'd created from hometown archival materials, this month I rebooted my "Then & Now" series featuring locations around Medicine Hat, Alberta. With the new additions focusing on Christmas scenes this month, one of the biggest changes is that the latest work will all end up in this new album on the Editing Luke Facebook feed.
This should not only make the "Then & Now" series considerably easier to explore - it should also make it more enjoyable to reference the various perspectives at a glance. Click the link above to have a look at the new album as it continues to grow.
Oct 26, 2021
Limited Edition Postcards at Medalta: Vol. 2
These mini art print postcards were all photographed and designed by Editing Luke and are available exclusively in the gift shop at Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Stock has once again been limited on this collection, so please exit through the gift shop. Thanks once again to everyone who has snapped these up! I know for a fact they hold up really well in the mail and look great tacked on walls and fridge doors!
Oct 24, 2021
Hometown Series: Autumn Highlights
Originally debuting on the Editing Luke facebook page, these images are some of the autumn highlights from the "Hometown Series" shot in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Sep 9, 2021
Hometown Series: Late Summer Highlights
Aug 11, 2021
Hometown Series: Summer Highlights
Originally debuting on the Editing Luke facebook page, these images are some of the summer highlights from the "Hometown Series" shot in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Jul 11, 2021
Hometown Series: Early Summer Highlights
Originally debuting on the Editing Luke facebook page, these images are some of the early summer highlights from the "Hometown Series" shot in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Jun 11, 2021
New Releases, Flash Sales & Changes Ahead
After a year of the "Hometown Series" and now the newly launched "Surreal Alberta" - a lot of my time has been dedicated to prints and limited-run flash sales to make up for restricted travel shoots and limited productions. However, despite new launches, like the latest flash sale that just went up today, there are some big changes on the horizon.
One of the most frequent questions I've received over the last few months is whether the print sales will continue as things reopen. While print sales will always have a place in the business - and are probably what Editing Luke has been best known for this year - as other projects return the emphasis on new weekly prints and flash sales will diminish.The biggest shift is going to be that framed print options may no longer be available come this fall. Keeping large amounts of stock has made sense under these unique conditions, but the constant supply runs, deliveries, trips to the post office, etc. simply won't be possible with a return to the large scale media projects I was doing before the pandemic hit.
In short, this summer I'm planning on doing one more major push to release lots of new material to keep up the momentum - but if you've been on the fence about ordering an Editing Luke print, this is my heads up that the window is closing to get something from any of these collections released during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
Maybe have a little browse here. And as always, thank you so much to everyone who has kept the business thriving during these challenging times and for helping to fuel the creation of more local, independent, and Alberta based content than I've produced in years. Thank you!May 29, 2021
Hometown Series: Spring Highlights
Originally debuting on the Editing Luke facebook page, these images are some of the spring highlights from the "Hometown Series" shot in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
May 17, 2021
Limited Edition Postcards at Medalta Potteries
For the last couple years, particularly since the release of my documentary, I'd had a few discussions with Medalta Potteries, the National Historic Site and museum in Medicine Hat, Alberta, about releasing a collection of limited edition postcards inspired by the photo essays I'd shot around the clay district as part of my Around the Hat series.
Despite us both wanting to make it happen, it essentially took a year when everything else slowed down for us to finally find the time to pull it all together. The result is this brand new, 10 piece collection of mini art print postcards, designed and photographed by Editing Luke, and available exclusively through Medalta in the Historic Clay District.
These 4x6" premium postcards are Medalta and Editing Luke branded, and professionally printed on a thick cardstock with a soft matte laminate on the image side. The idea was to produce something brand new that felt like a vintage throwback. A uniquely local postcard that could be mailed, or simply a small souvenir print that could be collected or framed.
May 8, 2021
16 Doors: A 3-Part Collection of Prints
- Medicine Hat Brick and Tile
- Medicine Hat Public Library
- St. Patrick's Church
- Courthouse
- Former Towne Theatre
- Dominion / Railyard Warehouse
- Medalta Potteries
- Cecil Hotel
- Connaught School
- Cypress Club
- Former Canadian Bank of Commerce
- Elm Street School
- Corona Tavern / Hotel
- Athletic Park
- Assiniboia Hotel
- Ewart-Duggan House
- Former Five Roses Mill
- Canalta Centre / Coop Place
- Train Station
- Ranchmen Motel
- Former Riverside School
- Former Imperial Bank
- Medicine Hat City Hall
- St. Patrick's Church
- Echo Dale Barn
- The Canadian Train / Riverside
- St. Barnabas Church
- Old Arena
- Hycroft China Factory
- Monarch Theatre
- Alberta Clay Products Kiln
- Hargrave Sissons Block / Inspire Cafe
- Medicine Hat High School Garage Door
- Courthouse
- Kensington Pedestrian Bridge
- Hycroft China Factory
- Alberta Clay Products Kiln
- Connaught School
- Alexandra School
- St. John's Church
- I-XL Kiln
- Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre
- Fifth Avenue Church
- Medicine Hat Mall
- The Royal
- Dominion / Railyard Warehouse
- Echo Dale Farmhouse
- The Medicine Hat News