Earl Kitchener School Interior: Part 1

Before Christmas I was contacted by a man who was interested in purchasing a few of my prints that I shot of the former Earl Kitchener School. His interest in the images lead me to question whether he was the one who had bought the building, and when it turned out he was, I asked if I could take some shots of the interior. It's funny how things work out like that sometimes.

The building is currently in the process of being renovated to become a residence. Much of the former school has already been stripped back. Chalkboards have been taken down, old flooring removed, etc. It's exciting to see the building at this stage as the original bones and materials of the structure are visible in some cases. One thing is certain, this will be an incredible place to live once it's complete. 

For now the family intends to renovate the main floor, and tackle the basement down the road. I think their investment in the property will pay off handsomely in the long run. It's a wonder that more people in Medicine Hat don't have the vision to tackle and revitalize some of these amazing old structures in our city's core. 

There are a handful of buildings downtown that have just as much potential as this does, and I really hope it becomes an example to encourage others. There's certainly enough money in this city for others to follow suit. And look at this place! What a waste it would've been if it was just left to collect dust. And on that note, I want to thank the Anderson family for giving me the opportunity to have a look inside their future home and capture part of the transition. It's going to be an amazing place to call home!  

Click here to see the renovated interior - one year later.

Calendar Success

I can't help but be pleased with how well everything went with the Around the Hat calendar that was sponsored by realtor Matt Teel. Earlier this month I sold the final calendar in my Etsy shop, and gave away tons more to clients and co-workers. In short, there should be hundreds of calendars up around the city this year - a plus for Matt, myself, and promotion of what a great city this really is. 

The feedback has been fantastic, and getting to share my images this way was a nice addition to the variety I experienced over the last year. It has me excited about the potential of doing something like this again, especially because we didn't get around to releasing the calendar until we were already in December - it's too early to make promises though. 

It was a great experience nonetheless, and I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who bought one and to everyone who is hanging it up. Seeing my series thrive in so many unique ways has been incredible and absolutely humbling. It really means a lot. 

Esplanade Interior: Fly Tower 1

The fly tower is a theatrical rigging system that allows for a crew to move everything from lights to set pieces from above the stage. During my exploration of the Esplanade's theatre, this was the area that I was most excited to get access to. 

After a few staircases, there was one more ladder up to the top of the fly tower and from there I was standing 80 feet above the main stage. The experience was made slightly more nerve wracking by the fact that I could see all the way down through the metal slats in the floor. I'm not really afraid of heights, but the vantage point did give me a rush from certain angles.  

This perspective of the Esplanade is one that most people never get to see, which is why I was so excited to be able to include it in my Around the Hat series. For a structure that I felt quite familiar with, this was a pleasant surprise that had me thinking about the hidden potential of some of the other locations that I've photographed. The lines and shadows created by the rigging were actually quite stunning in some cases, and it struck me in that moment what a unique opportunity I was given to be able to capture it.  

A good place for a shot of my feet.