Our final day in South Dakota was filled with a rainy trip to the Cosmos Mystery Area and a visit to the Berlin Wall display in Rapid City, but what we really had in mind to do was visit Mount Rushmore one last time before leaving. With heavy rain blanketing most of the Black Hills, it would prove to be a different experience than our first visit to the site.
On the plus side, hardly anyone else was out exploring that day. We arrived at Mount Rushmore and almost had the place entirely to ourselves. Of course, once you looked up it was easy to see (or not see rather) why most people didn't bother. A low lying fog was rolling through, and in only brief moments could the actual landmark be seen. On one hand, I would've been disappointed if this had been our only visit, but on the other hand, because we got in a sunny visit earlier it was actually kind of cool to see the site in such a different context.
We made the most of our afternoon there and also spent some time in Keystone taking pictures with the various statues. I posted a few that Andrea snapped of me below. Sometimes rainy days are a lot better than they're cracked up to be.
It struck me recently after seeing a series of vintage postcards and images from around Medicine Hat (my hometown) that this city in Southern Alberta has far more history than most of us give it credit for. What's also commendable is that a lot of it is still around to explore. Granted our history is relative to other parts of the world, but many local sites have just recently had centennial celebrations and I have to admit, it's the fact that these places are not necessarily well-known that has really hooked me. In some ways I feel it speaks to North American history in general, especially in the west, where so much was built upon, developed, torn down, and modernized as quickly as communities could possibly grow during the 20th century.
Starting next week, and for several months to follow, I'll begin posting brand new photo sets that I've shot of some of Medicine Hat's most notable areas, buildings, and landmarks. Along with these I'll be including (when possible) some of the original photos and postcards that inspired me. I've already begun experimenting with comparison shots, trying to match up old photos with their modern equivalents.
There are several reasons I'm really excited about this project. It makes for great blog content for starters, but more so it's an ambitious and theme-based creative exercise that allows me to experiment and try new things with my photography - especially in how I edit my images. Secondly, I feel like this kind of shooting hasn't really been done much around the Hat. In searching for images online, so many pictures are nothing more than point and shoot snapshots. Of the best images by photographers, there are mostly just one-offs with no detail shots. I want to improve on that.
My goal with this project is not to just feature locations, but to give you a sense of the atmosphere that surrounds them. There's something cinematic about the challenge in that it becomes more about the combination of elements to create a complete photo set over just a single image. I've already completed around 8 unique photo sets so far and the pictures have surpassed my expectations. I think this is going to be a lot of fun and if you're familiar with Medicine Hat at all, I think you'll see some of the landmarks in a new light. I hope you check back to watch the series unfold.
The day I got the idea to do this project I started snapping instagram pics on my way home. Things kind of snowballed from there, going from iPod snapshots to calculated angles for some of the historic photo recreations. Yeah, I'm addicted now.
The unfortunate reality is that planning to take a vacation actually takes a lot of effort. After coordinating our schedules though, things are looking promising for a Vegas vacation with a few of my friends this September. Should things go to plan, this would mark my 5th trip to Sin City since my first visit after turning 21 in 2005. I love kicking back in a place where the potential to win money is waved in your face almost as shamelessly as the cheap booze and scantly clad women. What can I say, I'm a romantic at heart.
Honestly, it's just a change of pace. Going with a small group will provide a different vibe than my previous visits, and I'm keen to check out a few new sites and rediscover Vegas with people who haven't been before. There's a lot to get excited about, and now that the ball is rolling I can't help but have it on my mind. It's going to provide a great finale to what is sure to be a pretty hectic summer. Check out a few of my previous Vegas adventures here - 2010, 2008, 2005.
