Records broken, personal milestones achieved, and some of the most ambitious photography and video projects produced by Editing Luke to date - 2018 was a formative year in the growth of this brand / company. I won't bore you with every single project, edit, brand deal, or shoot - instead, here's a sampling of some of my year's most memorable online moments:
January 2018 - As the Editing Luke Instagram following doubled in size through 2018 there was a sharp increase in collaborative / influencer opportunities presented. This included creating content for watch companies, men's clothing brands, brewing companies, travel partners, and a renewed year long contract with McDonald's Canada.
January 26, 2018 - I posted a new photo set on Medicine Hat's historic train station. This was January's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
February 2018 - Expanding on a concept that began the following year, I released over 100 new images of Medicine Hat, Alberta over the course of 2018 on the Editing Luke facebook page. Not only did this attract several thousand new followers, but it provided some great highlights through Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.
February 18, 2018 - New images of the modernized Medicine Hat High School were released. This was February's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
March 6, 2018 - Exploring Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta. This was March's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
March 10, 2018 - Around the Hat was largely reworked with new edits and additions made, as well as a new promo for the photo series released.
March 2018 - One of the year's most ambitious travel shoots took place behind the wheel of a muscle car through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico. More here.
April 6, 2018 - The first video in the series I'd shot and edited for the Canadian Badlands (Spirit of the Badlands) travel campaign was released.
April 29, 2018 - Exploring the otherworldly Red Rock Coulee in Alberta. This was April's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
May 3, 2018 - After over a year in production, the first clips from my schoolwide documentary were finally released. Here's the story of a how a schoolwide documentary changed everything. This was also May's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
May 16, 2018 - I worked with the Medicine Hat Fire Department to produce a river safety video that was released later in the summer. The opportunity provided an opportunity to shoot some amazing views from the water.
May 31, 2018 - I reflected on the 11 year anniversary of launching Editing Luke.
June 16, 2018 - Production was in full swing on a new documentary project, still unreleased, but set to be completed in 2019.
June 23, 2018 - A new series of 15 prints went on display in my hometown. This was June's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
July 1, 2018 - I released two new edits of the Canada Day 151 fireworks.
July 18, 2018 - Exploring Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. This was July's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
August 12, 2018 - I launched a new postcard series, taking a closer look at the stories behind vintage Alberta postcards that I'd collected over the years.
August 19, 2018 - After filming in the area, I was invited to come for a private tour of the former Manyberries Train Station. This was August's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
September 1, 2018 - I compiled some of my most popular Alberta travel photography sets into the 7 Natural Wonders of Alberta. This was September's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
September 2018 - Another major travel shoot this year took place through the American Midwest - notably Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. More here. Editing Luke's Day Off.
October 12, 2018 - Exploring the historic Craigdarroch Castle on Vancouver Island. This was October's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
October 2018 - By October the third party features of my work had reached a new high on Instagram. In 2018 this included features in Nashville, Memphis, Toronto, Victoria, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit, Orlando, Dallas, Galveston, Austin, Houston, and Palm Springs. Of these some notable landmark features included O'Hare in Chicago, Beale Street in Memphis, and the CN Tower in Toronto.
November 8, 2018 - I had the largest canvas prints of my photography produced to date.
November 12, 2018 - I recapped 9 places where my work can be seen in my hometown.
November 18, 2018 - I hosted my first ever Q & A on Instagram. Highlights here.
November 30, 2018 - After weeks of build up my documentary short about 2nd Street, On 2nd officially debuted. This was November's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
December 3, 2018 - I shared a bit of novelty with a visit to the Home Alone house in Illinois. This was December's most viewed new post on the Editing Luke website.
December 2018 - With just enough time for a whirlwind Christmas adventure, my last major travel shoot of the year took place around Ontario and Quebec. More here.
This was a year of significant growth, brand new (and often unexpected) opportunities, and some of the most diverse projects that my company and website, Editing Luke has ever produced. From travel and video shoots around North America to releasing a successful photo book to collaborating with some amazing partners (both locally and abroad), I'm especially proud of what was accomplished in 2017. Here are some of the moments that really stood out:
January 12, 2017 - In a year where the traffic multiplied and broke most of my previous records on the Editing Luke website, it was fitting that it kicked off with this milestone.
January 2017 - I was off on another incredible travel shoot / road trip through Nevada, California, and Arizona to add to the series I started in 2016. I shared a few initial highlights in the post: Snow Drifts, Sand Dunes, and the Open Road.
February 8, 2017 - I was hired to shoot architectural photography for The Keg.
February 16, 2017 - I had the pleasure of being 1 of 150 people from around Alberta invited to "Meet in the Middle" for this unique event that took place in Olds.
March 5, 2017 - I photographed Rogers Hometown Hockey in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
March 9, 2017 - I photographed Tom Cochrane on his Mad Mad World Tour.
March 14, 2017 - This photo series unexpectedly went viral locally when I was invited to shoot some of the final images of the century old Riverside School before it closed in June.
April 26, 2017 - The initial proof for what would become my MHHS AS IT WAS photo book was completed and I finalized my decision to move forward with the project. I seemed to be generating some buzz, but I still had no idea if any copies would actually sell.
May 3, 2017 - I signed a contract with McDonalds Canada to work as a brand influencer / content creator on several of their social media campaigns in 2017.
May 31, 2017 - Editing Luke celebrated its 10 year anniversary!
June 5, 2017 - After over a year of filming and months of editing, the rough cut of my schoolwide documentary finally debuted. Despite several small screenings and an overwhelmingly positive initial response, the documentary (unfortunately) has still not been approved for a public online release. I'm still hopeful. Here's what the project is about.
June 2017 - I began shooting a new series in Medicine Hat, Alberta titled "Then & Now". I photographed comparisons between archival images and the same locations in 2017. The shots became viral hits on the Editing Luke facebook page. Here is a recap of Part 1.
June 2017 - A lot of late nights / early mornings spawned a collection of summer sunrise images in Medicine Hat, Alberta. This impromptu series also exploded in popularity, receiving thousands of likes & shares on facebook and even a feature from Travel Alberta. Here is Part 1.
July 1, 2017 - The video I shot of the Canada 150 fireworks went over pretty well.
July 9, 2017 - I hiked to the top of Medicine Hat's cliffs to capture the view.
July 25, 2017 - I recapped the epic road trip / photo series I shot while driving the length of the Pacific Coast from Seattle to San Diego in 100 images.
August 2017 - I spent two weeks filming in the Canadian Badlands for a really exciting Alberta travel project with Canadian icon Tom Jackson. From dinosaur digs to aerial photography, there were a ton of visual highlights over the course of the shoot.
September 17, 2017 - The Editing Luke edit suite underwent a major upgrade.
September 2017 - Click the link to see the most popular image I shared on the Editing Luke facebook page this year which reached over 50K people through organic shares.
September 30, 2017 - Partners were on-board, funding was approved, and production officially got underway on my 2nd Street documentary project.
October 6, 2017 - After months of pre-orders, publishing, and organization, my photo book MHHS AS IT WAS was officially released over this weekend after selling over 1000 copies. More about the book and release here.
October 2017 - I spent the majority of the month road tripping / travel shooting around Florida and up the Gulf Coast of the United States through Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Capturing thousands of images over the three week adventure, I shared a few early highlights here.
October 31, 2017 - AFAR (a popular travel magazine) featured an image from my Roadside California series.
November 29, 2017 - I was in Montana for another memorable travel shoot.
December 17, 2017 - Bringing the project with my former high school full circle, I was hired to shoot the architectural photography of the brand new MHHS.
December 2017 - For their December issue, my travel photography of Waikiki in Hawaii was featured on the cover and in a 7 page spread in Jetstar Magazine out of Australia. Full story and images of the publication here.
A continuation of my "Then & Now" photo series of Medicine Hat, Alberta featuring archival and modern day images in side by side comparisons.
1950 & 2017 - Alexandra School
The original school is seen here in 1950. It was later demolished in 1970 following a fire and Alexandra was expanded to how it looks now. The original sandstone block that used to sit above the door of the old building can still be seen out front of the school today.
1912 & 2017 - 2nd Street
New cars line 2nd Street after arriving in Medicine Hat, Alberta in 1912. A lot of the historic buildings can still be seen here in 2017.
1960s & 2017 - 3rd Street
Here we see 3rd Street in the 1960s and in 2017. I heard Kresge's was kind of a big deal back in the day. And how about those cars?
1912 & 2017 - St. Barnabas Church
Here we see the construction of St. Barnabas in 1912 contrasted against the same view in 2017. This church is still looking great a century on.
1929 & 2017 - Riverside Park
Boy scouts sit around the cenotaph in Riverside Park in 1929. The 2017 image shows just how much the park has been developed over the decades with pathways, a band stand, monuments, landscaping, etc. More profoundly, it's worth noting that more names have also been added to the cenotaph following WWII, Korea, and Afghanistan.
What immediately came to mind after seeing the archival image was that these boys would have been prime fighting age when WWII broke out 10 years after this was taken.
1912 & 2017 - South Railway Street
South Railway Street has come a long way since people were parking their horse and buggy here in 1912. The Hargrave Block (now Inspire Cafe) is a notable landmark. Also, the Hooper-Huckvale Block (which would go on to become the Assiniboia Hotel in the 1950s) was built the year after this picture was taken in 1913.
1910s & 2017 - 2nd Street
Cars along 2nd Street in the 1910s contrasted against cars on 2nd Street in 2017.
1970 & 2017 - Alexandra School
The old Alexandra is seen here in the early stages of demolition in 1970 (following a fire / water damage). Contrasted with the same view of the school in 2017, it's easy to see what a remarkable structure it was.
1968 & 2017 - 3rd Street
Christmas decorations on 3rd Street in December 1968 meet a much more subdued 3rd Street in December 2017.
Autumn is a very short season in Medicine Hat, Alberta. However, there is a brief window before the overnight frost starts to arrive, where the changing leaves become a diverse and vibrant array of orange, red, yellow, and green. Most of these images were shot in late September just before snow arrived and changed these autumn scenes into winter practically overnight.
