Aerial Photography in the Canadian Badlands

I have to say, the workdays where I get to play tourist are pretty amazing. Last Monday I was contracted by SPECTACLE Bureau for Architecture and Urbanism Inc. (who I collaborated with on our Thinking Hat exhibit) to shoot some aerial photography for a development project they're working on outside of Drumheller, Alberta. 

We chartered a helicopter from Horseshoe Canyon, and as beautiful as the views were from the ground, seeing the badlands from the air was absolutely spectacular. Coincidentally, I had just been in the area a couple weeks prior exploring Rosebud and the Hoo Doos near Drumheller.

I was sat in the back of the helicopter with the side door removed so that my view would be unobstructed. It was a flashback to the last time I shot aerial photography when I first started with Stream Media back in 2008 - that was quite the adventure too. After our flight, Phil and I were both buzzing about the experience. Despite all of the collaboration on our exhibition, this was a pretty amazing way to kick off our first time working together professionally.

Aerial Photography, Alberta Badlands
A helicopter, Alberta badlands, and CCR. http://goo.gl/3AS0U6
Posted by Editing Luke on Sunday, March 20, 2016

And while it is incredibly cliche, I can't deny that this is how the experience played out in my mind. I've maybe watched a few too many Vietnam war movies.

Philip Vandermey

A rare snap of me in action.

Side door off.

Bar U Ranch Historic Site: Part 1

Established as an open range cattle ranch back in 1881, today the Bar U Ranch is a National Historic Site that preserves the ranching heritage of Alberta. This was one stop on my Rocky Mountain road trip that absolutely blew me away. The stunning location in the foothills, the presentation of the buildings, the attention to detail in how the artifacts were incorporated, and the incredible staff all made for a truly memorable visit.

If I'm honest, I really had no idea what to expect at the Bar U Ranch, so perhaps that's why I enjoyed being surprised by it so much. With the exception of a school group that was finishing up as I arrived, I almost had the entire location to myself. I loved exploring each building and photographing the scenes presented. 

The Bar U Ranch is like a museum, but there's something far more genuine about how the history is showcased here. I walked into the cookhouse thinking a meal was being prepared only to realize after closer inspection that the realistic looking food was fake. And that's my point, you'll find yourself appreciating the details of a display here before you realize that you're actually standing in the middle of a much larger one. 

My visit was capped by an engrossing and lively conversation around a campfire. A staff member took an interest in my passion for history and photography, and was all too happy to share her stories about the Bar U Ranch and her own travels. In my mind it was just one more bit of authenticity that made my trip resonate.  

There's simply too much to summarize, but as you'd expect I shot hundreds of images during my visit. I've divided my favorite shots into four separate posts highlighting different areas of the Bar U Ranch: the hay shed, chop house, ranch office / post office, tractor shed, cookhouse, blacksmith's shop, leather shop, and barns. The Bar U Ranch is well worth your time and an amazing place to explore!