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).

Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California

Arguably one of the most iconic buildings in California, Gramaun's Chinese Theatre (now the TCL Chinese Theatre) broke ground in Los Angeles in 1926. In a partnership lead by Sid Grauman, the theatre was commissioned following the success of Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, which like this one, is a notable landmark also found on Hollywood Boulevard. 

The Chinese Theatre is perhaps best known for its tradition of immortalizing celebrities' handprints, footprints, and signatures in cement. This is not to be confused with the Walk of Fame along the sidewalk - the courtyard out front of Grauman's features less than 200 celebrities and is a far more exclusive honor. That's not to say the location isn't a tourist trap. Nearly 4 million people visit this movie theatre every year.  

In 2013 the TCL corporation purchased naming rights for the Chinese Theatre, and it underwent a massive renovation to house the largest IMAX auditorium in the world (932 seats). Since its construction, the Chinese Theatre has been a hot spot for world film premieres, and to this day it still operates as a first-run commercial movie theatre. 

Ghosting image of Chinese Theatre. 1950s merged with 2014.

Around the Hat: Ghosting Collage #1

Following the success of my ghosting images from my Around the Hat series last year, I thought it was about time I tried to put a print together. The challenge here was that the archival images that I merged my modern photographs with were very small. This meant that creating prints of them individually simply didn't work without distorting them. So, creating this collage was the next best thing.

Each collage features 23 of my original ghosting images on a 8x12" print. The result is a captivating look at the history of Medicine Hat, Alberta and the evolution of our city. Click here to check out this print in my online shop.