Stuart Gradon - visual journalist

Classrooms and ghosts

2012-02-16T21:15:00.003-07:00

Reid Henry, President and CEO, CSPACE Projects, in an upstairs hallway of the old King Edward School.

It's been a while since I've smelled chalk dust - a scent most of today's children probably aren't too familiar with.

The dusty fragrance still hangs heavy in some corners of Calgary's old King Edward School, despite not having seen a student in over a decade.

The 100 year-old sandstone building closed its doors to students and teachers in 2001, but is now to be converted into a mixed-use arts hub by cSPACE Projects in partnership with The Calgary Foundation and Calgary Arts Development.

Calgary has a bit of a reputation for discarding old buildings. It's good to see efforts like this being made to adapt and utilize historical spaces.

The development was officially announced Thursday, but the Herald was invited along to meet and talk to those involved last week.

Between the interviews and the photos we were free to explore the sleeping school's silent hallways and dark stairways.

King Edward School.

Far from empty, the building was full of evidence of a past life. A lone piano, a forgotten record player, and messages left on chalkboards were some of the discoveries.

When I was younger, I thought about heading into the archaeology field. I took a few courses at university but eventually opted for a, somewhat, more secure career - any newspaper photographers, or anyone in the newspaper industry for that matter, reading this will likely be laughing their heads off right now.

History is still a big reason I do what I do today.

Hardly the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, the hour or so spent in the school spotting artifacts went a little way to the reawakening of any dormant archaeological urge.

Wonder what Maria did.

While not haunted, the school was full of ghosts.

Did Maria really have detention, or was it a joke left by a student from the school's final year? Who is Adam? Where does he hang his coat today? Whose fingers last touched the piano's keys? When was the last time the record player was used?

And contrary to one of the chalkboard notes, I thankfully did not see any dead people.

King Edward School.

Hallway coat hook.

A warning?

Stairway.

Old school mp3 player.

Music class

Reid Henry, President and CEO, CSPACE Projects.

One of two cast iron boilers, originally coal fired.

Drinking fountain.

Deeter Schurig, cSPACE, Project coordinator.

Chalkboard.

I didn't see any.

And in a Media Moment:

Herald entertainment writer Steve Hunt picks an interesting location to jot down some notes at King Edward School.

Follow Stuart Gradon on Twitter - @StuGradonPhoto

2 weeks of work: Jan. 30 - Feb. 10

2012-02-14T08:18:00.000-07:00

A concert, cocktails, drugs and an 85 year-old cellist - here's some work from the last couple weeks.

MONDAY, JAN. 30, 2012

This week was chalk full of environmental portraits, as you'll see.

Jarome Pinsonneault's third level home above his salon Jarome hair salon in Calgary Monday, January 30, 2012.

From left, Tod Peterson and Mark Lawes of Theatre Junction at The Grand Theatre, which was marking it's 100 anniversary, in Calgary Monday, January 30, 2012.

Here's a short video I produced to go along with the 100 anniversary of the Grand Theatre story:

TUESDAY, JAN. 31, 2012

This portrait photo of an 85 year-old cellist was one of many taken during a particularly pleasing assignment. I felt it warranted a blog post of its own - click here to see it.

Don Palmer, an 85 year-old cellist, in Calgary Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Palmer performed at The Grand Theatre, which was marking it's 100 anniversary that week. (See blog post on this story - click here)

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1, 2012

John Manes, president and CEO of Spalding Hardware Systems, in Calgary Tuesday, February 1, 2012.

MONDAY, FEB. 6, 2012

It's a bit of a cliche, but a newspaper photographer rarely knows where they'll end up during the day. This Monday had me go from cocktails at a downtown bar, to the optometrist, to court for a high profile torture/abuse case.

A Nectarini cocktail, a house special at Yellow Nectarine lounge, in Calgary, Alberta Monday, February 6, 2012.

Dr. Robert Burke, an optometrist, with Topcon 30 OCT at Calgary Vision Centre in Calgary, Alberta Monday, February 6, 2012.

Joe Mercier, crown prosecutor, speaks to the media following the verdict in the Justin Paxton case, at the Calgary Courts Centre in Calgary, Alberta Monday, February 6, 2012.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7, 2012

I'll admit that occasionally the opening three song limit placed on photographers for big concerts can be disappointing. There have been times when I'd have loved to stick around for the whole show.

The LMFAO concert on Tuesday was not one of those instances. It was, however, the first time I've ever seen a flying inflatable zebra.

RedFoo, one half of LMFAO, performs at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

LMFAO performance at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

RedFoo, one half of LMFAO, performs at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

Fans at the LMFAO performance at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7, 2012

Calgary's NHL team was on the road during my week of night shifts, but my hockey image quota was met thanks to Calgary's WHL junior team, the Calgary Hitmen.

The Calgary Hitmen's Rob Trzonkowski, right, and the Edmonton Oil Kings' Mitchell Moroz battle along the boards during the first period of their WHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Wednesday, February 8, 2012.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8, 2012

An ongoing story of note in Calgary at the moment regards some recent deaths due to ecstasy laced with a toxic chemical. Calgary police announced Wednesday making a couple of arrests and seized some of the tainted drug.

The Calgary Police Service's Staff Sergeant Mike Bossley, with seized ecstasy, at police headquarters in Calgary, Alberta Wednesday, February 8, 2012.

THURSDAY, FEB. 9, 2012

Huban Nath's pre-school class, including Ehsan Ahmed Shaikh, left, in dress-rehearsal for a performance to be shown at the Kiwanis Festival, in Calgary, Alberta Thursday, February 9, 2012.

FRIDAY, FEB. 10, 2012

Friday saw one period of Hitmen hockey before a late night food shoot for Swerve magazine at a relatively new Calgary restaurant.

The Calgary Hitmen's Spencer Humphries, top, is met along the boards by the Moose Jaw Warriors' Tanner Eberle, during their WHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Friday, February 10, 2012.

Fusilli Alla Toscana, Filetto Al Banolo, Verdura Mista, at Franca's Italian Specialities in Calgary, Alberta Friday, February 10, 2012.

Follow Stuart Gradon on Twitter - @StuGradonPhoto

A man and his cello

2012-02-02T07:00:00.006-07:00

The Calgary Herald recently produced a package marking the 100th birthday of Calgary's Grand Theatre, written by Herald entertainment reporter Stephen Hunt.

For one of the stories I was dispatched to take photos of Don Palmer, an 85 year-old cellist who performed at the theatre as far back as the 1940s.

Upon arriving, the first half hour or so was spent receiving a tour of his southwest Calgary home. Dressed in his best formal attire he pointed out various photographs and programs from his life as a concert cellist. (I've included a couple of those images below)

He was noticeably very proud. And well he should be, considering his talent and accomplishments. Don has definitely lived a life. But also has a lot of life left in him, if our short time together is anything to go by. He didn't hesitate for a second when the thought of us carrying a chair and his cello across the street to a small ridge so we could get some shots outside was presented.

Once we got set up and started with the photos, it didn't take long for Don to do what comes naturally to him. He started playing his cello, for both the inside and outside sessions.

I don't usually tell the musicians I'm shooting to play their instruments for portraits.

But who am I to decline when an 85 year-old cellist, who has invited me into their home and been very gracious with my requests, decides to provide some musical accompaniment to the photo gathering process. The photos turned out alright.

It was an all around enjoyable mid-afternoon assignment, for both of us I believe.

Thank you Don. You're a true gentleman in the purest sense.

On a technical note, the photos taken in his living room were captured with a wide angle lens, a 16-35mm, and were lit with a single off-camera flash fired into a reflecting umbrella aimed from Don's left.

With the freedom of space outside a longer lens was allowed to be used. The length floated between 110mm and 130mm, allowing me to back off of Don a bit and isolate in him in the frame. Again, an off-camera flash was used on a light stand, but without the use of an umbrella. The outside ambient light forced a larger aperture number to be set - f13 or so. Because of this the basic flash unit wouldn't have enough power to light Don if bounced into an umbrella. So the light was aimed directly at him - again from the side.

A photo of Don Palmer, with orchestra, at the Grand Theatre taken circa 1949. Palmer is in the very front, left of the conductor.

A program from 1949 for a performance at the Grand Theatre in which Don Palmer (bottom photo) was headlining.

Calgary Herald front page - Wednesday Feb. 1, 2012

Follow Stuart Gradon on Twitter - @StuGradonPhoto

2 weeks of work: Jan. 17 - Jan. 27

2012-02-01T07:00:00.005-07:00

Actors. Homeless. Business executives. Scientists. Lacrosse. Chinese New Year. Cold weather.

Just some of the subjects I had to shoot over the past couple weeks. Here are a few of the photos. Thanks for viewing.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17, 2012

On Tuesday the call went out to the Herald's photographers to find weather related images, as Calgary's temperature dropped to -40°C, with the wind chill.

A pedestrian braves the extreme cold while walking past a movie poster for the film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close in the 1300 block of 4 St. S.W. in Calgary Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

A pedestrian covers her face to shield it from the extreme cold while walking along the 1100 block of 2 St. S.W. in Calgary Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18, 2012

Universities always seem to have something going on.

A portion of my Wednesday, spent at the University of Calgary, involved shaking hands with a professor/researcher and then a television actor - very different stories.

One was about a university researcher who has discovered that a protein that lubricates knee joints can work as a highly effective lubricant for dry eyes...

Tannin Schmidt, assistant professor at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Centre for Bioengineering, Research and Education, demonstrates the application of artificial tear/test lubricant on a human cornea for friction/lubrication testing at the University of Calgary in Calgary Wednesday, January 18, 2012.

Calgary Herald City section front page - Thursday, January 19, 2012.

...The other was an entertainment section piece about a well known Canadian television actor who was co-hosting an actors' workshop for university drama students.

Actor Allan Hawco, from the CBC television program Republic of Doyle, at the University of Calgary in Calgary Wednesday, January 18, 2012. Hawco was with fellow actor Mark O'Brien hosting an actors workshop for students.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19, 2012

This simple business portrait made it on to the front of the business section, with the help of a reflection in the table.

From left, Mac Van Wielingen, Chairman ARC Resources Ltd., Co-Chairman ARC Financial Corp., John Dielwart, CEO, ARC Resources Ltd., Kevin Brown, CEO, ARC Financial Corp., in Calgary Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Calgary Herald City section front page - Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

FRIDAY, JAN. 20, 2012

There were a couple Chinese New Year related assignments Friday afternoon, in preparation for the weekend's main festivities. One was an event organized by the High Performance Rodeo, an art's festival, in downtown Calgary.

A costume dragon is guided down the escalator at Sun Life Plaza in downtown Calgary Friday, January 20, 2012. The dragon was part of the High Performance Rodeo, Year of the Dragon +15 Parade, in downtown Calgary.

A stilt walker has their picture taken with a mobile phone in an elevator at Sun Life Plaza in downtown Calgary Friday, January 20, 2012. The stilt walker was part of the High Performance Rodeo, Year of the Dragon +15 Parade, in downtown Calgary.

The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre began it's weekend-long celebration with some local dance group performances.

A member of the Tundra Swan Dance School perform during the 2012 Chinese New Year Carnival at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre in Calgary Friday, January 20, 2012.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21, 2012

Working weekend night shifts at the Herald often means sports, sports and more sports.

This time it was ladies' ringette...

Calgary U19AA's Shaundra Bruvall, right, and the Central Alberta Sting's Jamie Bell battle during their ESSO Golden Ring ringette tournament match at Stew Henry Arena in Calgary Saturday, January 21, 2012.

... NLL lacrosse...

The Calgary Roughnecks' Shawn Evans, left, battles the Colorado Mammoth's Rory Smith during the second quarter of their NLL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Saturday, January 21, 2012.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22, 2012

...and then on Sunday WHL hockey.

The Calgary Hitmen's Chris Dredger, right, keeps an eye on the puck as the Red Deer Rebels' Tyson Ness attempts to corral the puck during the first period of their WHL game in Calgary Sunday, January 22, 2012

The weekend ended with an evening visit to a chapel to grab some images of a well known Christian preacher who was celebrating his 80th birthday by leading a hymn sing.

Bernie Smith leads hymn singing at Bethany Chapel in Calgary Sunday, January 22, 2012. The Sunday evening service also served as Smith's 80th birthday party.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24, 2012

One of my assignments Tuesday turned out to be a fairly popular story on a couple of homeless friends who are hoping that the delivery service they've started can get them back on their feet, by reporter Sean Myers. The story got quite a bit of positive feedback. A lot of people seem to be rooting for the two budding entrepreneurs.

If you're in downtown Calgary, they can be reached at 403-465-5232. They seem to be on the up and up.

Tim Barber and Chris Morris, both homeless, have started up a food delivery service in downtown Calgary, Tuesday, January 24, 2012. The pair see the venture as an opportunity to improve their lives.Calgary Herald A section front page - Thursday, January 26, 2012.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25, 2012

Midweek brought me to a media call for Vertigo Mystery Theatre's most recent film noir inspired production.

From left, Karen Johnson-Diamond as Helen Thorne and Laura Parken as Martine Salamanca, in Vertigo Mystery Theatre's production of When Girls Collide, in Calgary Wednesday, January 25, 2012.

Follow Stuart Gradon on Twitter - @StuGradonPhoto

2 weeks of work: Jan. 1 - Jan. 14

2012-01-16T15:30:00.002-07:00

We'll see how it goes, but in an effort to apply some personal reflection on photos that I've gathered, I'm going to start throwing some images up on the blog from the previous two weeks (or so).

I haven't had much success in scheduled retrospectives in the past - I suffer from a severe case of PADD or Photographers' Attention Deficit Disorder. But hopefully a 14-day time period will give me enough time to get my lazy-self in line and publish routinely.

Here are some images from first two weeks of January - with the occasional insight and accompanying pages worth showing.

TUESDAY, JAN. 3, 2012

Was sent out to a mobile home park to meet reporter Tony Seskus for a story he was working on about tax adjustments being made to mobile home properties. By the time I arrived Tony had found Ivan Clendenan, a mobile home resident.

Personally I liked the closer horizontal image compared to the farther vertical which ended up in the paper. But due to the preferred layout format used by the Herald, vertical, or square images, will always trump horizontal images when it comes to section fronts. (As you'll see farther down the post)

Ivan Clendenan, 88, in Mountview Mobile Home Park in the community of Red Carpet in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Calgary Herald City section front page - Wednesday, January 4, 2012.

THURSDAY, JAN. 5, 2012

Here's another example of how publishing space dictates how photos are run. The published version of this photo of the executive director of the Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta, taken at the Calgary Energy Centre, was adjusted to fit the section front that it was printed on.

Even while shooting it I knew there was little chance of it running as is, but sometimes you gotta satisfy your artistic urge.

Evan Bahry, executive director of the Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta, at the Calgary Energy Centre north of Calgary, Alberta Thursday, January 5, 2012.

Calgary Herald Context section front page - Sunday, January 8, 2012.

Later in the day I covered the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship final between Sweden and Russia. The photo of the Swedish player celebrating his overtime winning goal is a personal favourite from the night.

Click Here to see earlier blog post on 2012 IIHF World Junior Final

Sweden's Mika Zibanejad, right, celebrates scoring the overtime winner against Russia with Petter Granberg in sudden death overtime of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Thursday January 5, 2012.

FRIDAY, JAN. 6, 2012

Friday was a somewhat slower day. In the end my images leaned towards the daily goings on of Calgary.

The Islamic Supreme Council of Canada offers Fateha, for the victims of Chinese aggression after Chinese police demolished a mosque in northern China, during Friday prayers at the Magnolia Banquette Hall in Calgary, Alberta Friday January 6, 2012.

Dog walkers walk along a ridge at a dog park east of Bridgeland in northeast Calgary, Alberta in the early evening Friday January 6, 2012.

MONDAY, JAN. 9, 2012

A simple portrait. This time the subject was allowed to carry on with the interview as snaps were taken and the hanging light gives something a little different to the resulting image.

Bob Dhillion, of Mainstreet Equities, in Calgary Monday, January 9, 2012.

TUESDAY, JAN. 10, 2012

On Tuesday I had a couple jobs, one for business and one for sports, squeezed into the schedule prior to getting to the Saddledome for that night's Flames vs Devils NHL game.

Peter Flynn, Balancing Pool president, with analyst Jordan Persaud, right, at the Balancing Pool headquarters in Calgary Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Megan Lang, of the University of Calgary women's basketball team, in Calgary Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

This isn't a great hockey fight photo - can't really see their faces, don't see any fist contact. But the body language and the fact that it's Jarome Iginla, 'Captain Calgary', helped it on to Sports front page, I suspect.

The Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla drops the gloves with the New Jersey Devils' Adam Henrique during the first period of their NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Calgary Herald Sports section front page - Wednesday, January 11. 2012

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2012

Needed some photos to accompany a story on a young girl who was adopted by a Calgary family after the Haiti earthquake of 2010. The young girl has adapted well and loves nothing more than to play with her big sister, whom she apparently idolizes.

At first the photos looked a little too formal family portrait like. So I took the girls aside and suggested, in a whisper, that,"when I say 'Go', spin around and jump on daddy's back." They seemed to take well to the idea.

The result was some genuine joy, if a little coerced.

Robin Bauer with his children Kaiya, 7, and Betchilove, 5, in Calgary Thursday, January 12, 2012. The Bauer's adopted Betchilove from Haiti two years ago shortly after a 7.0 earthquake hit the country.

Calgary Herald A section front page - Friday, January 13, 2012

It was then off to the Dome for some more hockey. The game coverage had to take a quick backseat as Calgary forward Rene Bourque was traded to the Montreal Canadiens - the announcement coming in the first period.

This was the first time I've ever covered a media conference during a game.

The Calgary Flames' Miikka Kiprusoff, left, has to deal with the Anaheim Ducks' Corey Perry during the third period of their NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Rene Bourque speaks to the media regarding his being traded from the Calgary Flames to the Montreal Canadiens during the Flames' game against the Anaheim Ducks at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Thursday, January 12, 2012.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13, 2012

Occasionally you don't need to apply the precise timing needed for sports images or the creativity needed for well lit portraits to get an image that's going to get good play.

Anyone can do it - put your flash on the camera, point your camera at your subject and press the button. Click, instant front page. As in the case of this photo of reacquired Flame Michael Cammalleri.

The Calgary Flames' Michael Cammalleri, who was traded from the Montreal Canadiens, holds a jersey with his new number during a media availability at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Friday, January 13, 2012.

Calgary Herald A section front page - Saturday, January 14, 2012.

And in a Media Moment: For the ten to fifteen minutes prior to Cammalleri's arrival, the gathered media provided themselves with some chuckles while scrambling for positions and realizing that it appeared that we were there to interview an empty jersey.

Calgary Sun photographer/videographer Mike (The Dude) Drew, left, appears to direct traffic while media await the arrival of the Calgary Flames' Michael Cammalleri for a media availability at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Friday, January 13, 2012.

2012 World Junior Hockey Final

2012-01-08T09:00:00.001-07:00

Sweden celebrate their gold medal game win in overtime against Russia at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Thursday January 5, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship wrapped up this past week in Calgary.

In the end I only made it to a couple games of the annual two week hockey-fest, despite originally having been allocated more - the unpredictability of the newspaper photo schedule striking again.

Still, I made it to the gold medal final between Sweden and Russia in which Sweden triumphed 1-0 in an overtime thriller in front of 19,000+ in Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome.

Sweden's Mika Zibanejad, right, celebrates scoring the overtime winner against Russia with Petter Granberg in the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Personally, the first two periods of the game weren't very memorable. I had been floating between a few unappealing vantage points - never really finding a good position. The Herald had three shooters at the game and there were only two decent positions for us - the gold medal game, of course, attracting many photogs. Each desperate for a good spot. So I had volunteered to wander for the first two periods.

A more central position opened up during the third period - providing better angles on the action and on what turned out to be the overtime goal celebrations and trophy presentation.

Russia's goalie Andrei Makarov loses his face mask after a collision during the third period of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Canada.

(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Prior to the game Todd Korol, a Reuters shooter based in Calgary, and I had had a brief conversation about covering sports events like this. After graciously accepting a compliment I gave him about some of his work during the tournament, Todd was quick to admit to something most honest photographers should readily concede - all you can do when being assigned shooting positions in competitions like this is make sure you're ready for anything and see how it goes.

Here are the next day's special World Junior section front pages of the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald with my image:

See more of my images below, or click on any image to view in gallery view.

Fellow Calgary Herald photographer Leah Hennel also had a successful couple weeks covering many of the Calgary games. Click here to see some of her World Junior images.

Click here to see one of Todd Korol's best from the competition.

Sweden's Mika Zibanejad celebrates scoring the overtime winning goal against Russia in the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship Calgary, Canada.

(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Russia's Andrei Makarov, left, and Sweden's Erik Thorell compete over an airborne puck during the third period of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Russia Viktor Antipin, bottom, and Andrei Makarov, right, have to deal with Sweden's Johan Sundstrum in front of their net during overtime of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Russia's Andrei Makarov, left, is hit by Sweden's Rickard Rakell during the third period of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Sweden's Mika Zibanejad, right, and Russia's Nikita Nesterov collide during the third period of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Sweden's Johan Gustafsson keeps a close eye on the puck against Russia during overtime of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Russia's Danil Apalkov, right, and Sweden's Johan Larsson battle for the puck during the first period of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Russia's Andrei Makarov left, and Danil Apalkov combine to deal with Sweden's Rickard Rakell during the first period of the gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Russia are left dejected after an overtime loss to Sweden in gold medal game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Canada.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

2011 - My Photo Year

2012-01-03T00:00:00.002-07:00

Here are some of the photos from my 2011.

Some are included because they are one of my faves. Some are included because I consider them as my best. Some are included because they were a notable story. And some are included just for the hell of it.

On a side note: While scanning my images from the year, I did notice that there were more than a few images of people wearing cowboy hats this year - an occupational hazard for 'Cowtown' photographers, I suppose. My lens found its fair share of stetsons this year - whether it was a mounted police officer doing his rounds, a good Samaritan helping out during a flood, an artist working on a window, a cowboy getting tossed from his bucking bronco during the Stampede.

Even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge opted for the western look during their Calgary portion of their Royal Tour.

This was my 2011. And here's to a great 2012.

(Click on an image for a gallery view)

The Old West meets the New West, The Calgary Police Service's Constable Scott Campbell, atop police service horse Buddy, interviews two underage youths he found to be acting suspiciously on Edmonton Trail in Bridgeland in Calgary, Alberta Wednesday, May 18, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Friends Nini Li, left, and Cheolmin Jung walk along a pathway at Eau Claire Market during a wet afternoon in Calgary, Alberta Monday, May 23, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Calgary Flames President Ken King listens in as Craig Conroy speaks to the media at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Thursday, January 27, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

A window artist gets a plus-15 above 3 Ave. S.W. ready for the Stampede season in Calgary Alberta Friday, June 24, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Dylan Rose, 4, creeps up to her own ski jump at Canada Olympic Park, with ski jumps used in the 1988 Winter Olympics in the background, in Calgary, Alberta in Calgary Wednesday, March 30, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

BCBG fashions at the Fall Luxury Fashion show displaying fall/winter fashion at The CORE in Calgary Tuesday, October 4, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Members of the public observe a prayer during Remembrance Day services at the Military Museums in Calgary Friday, November 11, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

From left, Anna Calabrese, Giselle Gerlitz, who is attempting to coax a ball roll, Nicoletta Dal Cin, Lisa Cook and Gulia Sorrento play bocce ball at the Calgary Italian Club in Calgary Thursday, November 24, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Liberal Party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff at the Central Grand Restaurant in Calgary Friday, February 4, 2011. The Chinese characters translate roughly to - A place to respect your guest.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

A "fan" is greeted by stadium security after running on the the field during the second half of the CFL game between the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Alberta Friday, July 1, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch a rodeo demonstration at the BMO Centre at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary Alberta Thursday, July 7, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Sand baggers leave to pick up another load of sand bags for the Wallaceville area of High River, Alberta Wednesday, May 27, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

An Occupy Calgary protestor confronts Calgary by-law official Bill Bruce about signs that had been taken down at the site of Occupy Calgary at Olympic Plaza in Calgary Friday, December 9, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, left, and aldermen Gord Lowe comment on the new city budget at City Hall in Calgary Wednesday, November 9, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Calgary police with a distraught man at the scene of an incident involving a truck and trailer that left one man dead on Stoney Trail between Metis Trail and Deerfoot Trail in northeast Calgary, Alberta Monday, August 22, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The girlfriend, wearing a white hood, of a dead man is comforted at the shore of Lake Chestermere in Chestermere east of Calgary, Alberta Sunday, August 7, 2011. The man went missing Saturday after falling, and presumably drowned, in the water while tubing.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

David Dominic reacts at the scene of a fire on Coventry Hills Way in Calgary Friday, January 28, 2011. His home was damaged in the blaze.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Chip McCullough at the Barrier fire lookout tower in the Kananaskis valley west of Calgary, Alberta Wednesday, August 3, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Barrier fire lookout tower in the Kananaskis valley west of Calgary, Alberta Wednesday, August 3, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Josh Rose on the frozen pond he keeps clear to skate on in Calgary Friday, February 11, 2011. Rose uses a home made Zamboni to fill in some cracks in the ice.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Searchers scour the area near where a three year-old boy, Kienan Hebert, went missing in Sparwood, British Columbia Saturday, September 10, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The backyard of the home in which a three year-old boy, Kienan Hebert, was last seen before going missing, in Sparwood, British Columbia Thursday, September 8, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Kienan Hebert tosses a frisbee with his father Paul Hebert in Sparwood, British Columbia Sunday, September 11, 2011. Kienan Hebert, 3, was returned to his home early Sunday morning after going missing Wednesday. Randall Peter Hopley, 46, is being sought as a suspect in the abduction.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Calgary Flames' TJ Brodie takes a tumble against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period of their NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Thursday, December 1, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Members of the Dr. E.P. Scarlett Lancers men's volleyball team celebrate winning the ASAA provincials final against Bev Facey Falcons at Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School in Calgary Saturday, November 26, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The UFA Bisons' Wilson Sproule, left, has to deal with the Beardy Blackhawks' Elliott Peterson during round-robin play at the Mac's Midget Hockey Tournament at Max Bell Centre in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, December 27, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

From right, Max Gagne, of Edmonton, is counted out against Brad Soanes, of Medicine Hat, at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Calgary Friday, January 14, 2011. Soanes won with a first round knock-out.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

A Calgary Flames fan gets a close encounter with the Nashville Predators' Shea Weber during the second period of their NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Calgary Flames' Rene Bourque leaps into the boards to celebrate a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period of their NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Thursday, December 1, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Sheamus, top, and Mark Henry in the WWE event at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Tuesday, August 23, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' Wes Cates, left, and the Calgary Stampeders' Brandon Smith during the second quarter of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Calgary Stampeders' Geoff Tisdale and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Bakari Grant contest a ball during the first quarter of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, August 6, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Cody Taton is thrown by from atop Stars Alive in the Saddle Bronc competition on day two of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo in Calgary Alberta Saturday, July 9, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Calgary Flames' Miikka Kiprusoff makes a save with his skate against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of their NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Monday, February 7, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Two participants in the youth event, the Wild Pony Race, attempt to control a pint-sized equine at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary July 9, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

From left, The University of Saskatchewan Huskies' Steven Dasilva and Kyle Ross bump into each other in action of the game 2 of the Canada West semi-final at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary Saturday, March 5, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Canada's Ian Millar is forced to control his excited mount, Dryden, as Jon Garner, a manager at Spruce Meadows runs clear, during the award's ceremony for the ATCO Midstream Challenge, Phase II, at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Friday June 10, 2011. Ian Millar placed third in the event.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Toronto Argonauts' Spencer Watt, #89, dives to try and catch a pass with the Calgary Stampeders' Keon Raymond, #25, chasing during the second half of their CFL football game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Alberta Friday, July 1, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Calgary Flames' Miikka Kiprusoff, centre, reacts to the thrid Vancouver Canucks goal during the first period of their NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Tuesday, November 1, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' James Patrick, left, can only watch as the Calgary Stampeders' Jabari Arthur dives for a reception during the second quarter of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Switzerland's Dean Kukan jumps in an attempt to control the puck with his hand against Sweden during the third period of their round-robin game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Wednesday, December 28, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

Sweden's Johan Gustafsson keeps his eye on the puck against Switzerland during the third period of their round-robin game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Wednesday, December 28, 2011.
(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald)

I Admit it - Football is Fun to Shoot

2011-10-05T10:00:00.009-06:00

The Calgary Stampeders' Jabari Arthur dives for a reception in front of the Saskatchewan Roughriders' James Patrick
during the second quarter of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.

Football isn't my sport. Or should I say north American football isn't my sport. I prefer my football of 'the beautiful game' variety. I'm a soccer fan.

I understand how the Canadian Football League game, and that of its even popular brother the NFL, is played. I appreciate the skills required. I can appreciate the athleticism needed to play it. I know the amount of effort put into the tactics, by players and coaching staff alike.

But football has too many things working against it to ever hold my interest as a spectator.

There are the 3 minute stoppages in play for television commercial breaks, in my eyes destroying any rhythm or flow to the game. A game can take around two and a half hours to play out despite the fact that it starts with one hour on the clock. That's an hour and a half of nothing happening - far too much wasted time for me. It's name even puzzles me - only one or two of the extremely specialized 40 odd players actually use a foot to do anything to the ball. The list goes on. I'm resigned to that fact that I'll never be a huge fan of the game.

But seen through the eyes of a photographer, the battles on the grid-iron become a different prospect.

The Calgary Stampeders' Jon Cornish, left, celebrates his touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders with Jabari Arthur
during the third quarter of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.

The access you get while covering a CFL game is second to none. With most other sports like hockey, baseball and soccer you stake out a shooting position and stick with it for a time. Not so with football.

You're constantly moving with the play along the sidelines - always trying to anticipate where you'll get the best shot from. In one minute a photographer might find themselves at the back of an end-zone hoping to get a touchdown photo, the next minute they're standing next to mammoth sized players on the sideline shooting a midfield interception. Football is often, despite my listed complaints, a fairly decent way for a photographer to spend their day.

I'll admit that football goes a long way to redeeming itself in my eyes with its access. It's almost as if as a photographer you're involved in the action - moving and interacting with the game.

But as is common with many things, great access comes with a certain level of risk.

And I had a close call with that risk during last weekend's CFL tilt between the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium, in which the Stamps destroyed the Riders 40-3.

Below are two photos taken of the moment. The first is the one I took with my wide angle lens as the action got close to the sidelines. The other is of me realizing that they're getting a little too close for comfort.

It was about at this moment when it occurred to me that I should probably reconsider my shooting position.

The horizon of my photo is tilted - betraying the certain level of, shall we say, anxiety that I felt as I realized how close the boys were getting.

The Stamps player ended up falling and sliding through where I had been kneeling. In the end the only result was a fairly dramatic increase to my blood pressure level that lasted around 30 seconds or so.

I concede, football is fun to shoot - despite the worry sketched across my face.

Making my exit

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' quarterback Darian Durant, left, loses the ball to the Calgary Stampeders' Charleston Hughes, right,
who eventually scored a touchdown on the play during the second quarter of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium
in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' Wes Cates, left, and the Calgary Stampeders' Brandon Smith during the second quarter of
their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.

The Calgary Stampeders' Demetrice Morley, right, puts his entire body into stopping the Saskatchewan Roughriders' Weston Dressler
during the fourth quarter of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.

The Calgary Stampeders' Jon Cornish, right, in action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders' James Patrick during the first quarter
of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.

The Calgary Stampeders' touchdown horse was busy during the team's CFL game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders game at
McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' Darian Durant pushes for an extra yard against the Calgary Stampeders during the second quarter
of their CFL game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary Saturday, October 1, 2011.

Stampede Chuckwagons

2011-07-15T19:13:00.022-06:00

Rounding the final corner on to the home stretch.

It's a scene right out of the film Ben-Hur - creaky chariots hurtling around a dirt track in a chaotic, thunderous mass of wheels and hooves.

Each year during the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon drivers push there teams of thoroughbreds around the 'half-mile of hell', in search of day money but with their eyes firmly set on the ultimate goal of collecting the $100,000 prize on the final day in the 'dash for the cash'

Along with the rodeo, the GMC Rangeland Derby is one of the show pieces of the ten day event, attracting an audience of tens of thousands each night.

It's not without it's perils of course. Two horses had to be euthanized as a result of accidents during this year’s races.

I ended up shooting three nights of the 'chucks' this year.

(Click images to view larger)

Kelly Sutherland drives his team to the finish line. (I imagine this is what the four horsemen of the apocalypse would look like, if one of them happened to be a chuckwagon driver)

Driving to the finish line.

Riding over a barrel, taking a time penalty.

Close finish.

Starting a race four wide.

Muddy ride.

Guiding team around the barrels.

Sprint to the finish.

Knocking over a barrel.

Racing down the backstretch.

Thundering to the finish line.

Stampede Rodeo

2011-07-10T10:33:00.017-06:00

Bull Riding

Being thrown, face first into the dirt would likely mean a bad day at the office for the vast majority of us. However, the image above is a photo of a successful bull ride.

Ryan McConnel (above photo) walked away from his ride atop 'Pop Evil' with Saturday's top prize money after staying on the bull for the allotted eight seconds. McConnel walked away with an extra $5,500 in his pockets for his day's work.

Such is life for the competitors at the Calgary Stampede rodeo - even the winners have to take their punishment.

(Click Image to view larger)

Bareback Riding

Bull Riding

Bull Fighter

Barrel Racing

Steer Wrestling

Bull Riding

Youngster in Wild Pony Race

Will and Kate hit Calgary

2011-07-08T21:07:00.027-06:00

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent two days in Calgary for the final leg of their Canadian Royal Tour. Their visit happened to coincide with the start of the Calgary Stampede - the city's annual exhibition and rodeo.

I made it to three of the royal couple's official events, including both Stampede related events, during the whirlwind visit.

Whether an obsessed royal watcher, a staunch anti-monarchist, or a 'can't be bothered either way', most people would probably agree that both Prince William and Princess Catherine wore their Smithbilt cowboy hats well.

(Click images to view larger)

From top to bottom

- Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge at the start of the Calgary Stampede Parade July 8, 2011.
- Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch a rodeo demonstration at the Calgary Stampede July 7, 2011.
- Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at the Calgary Stampede July 7, 2011.
- Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at the Calgary Stampede July 7, 2011.
- Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge watches a rodeo demonstration at the Calgary Stampede July 7, 2011.
- Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge at the start of the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary July 8, 2011.
- His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge at the start of the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary July 8, 2011.
- Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the official departure ceremony at Rotary Challenger Park in Calgary July 8, 2011.
- Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge attends the official departure ceremony at Rotary Challenger Park in Calgary July 8, 2011.
- His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge attends the official departure ceremony at Rotary Challenger Park in Calgary July 8, 2011.
- Their Royal Highness the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the official departure ceremony at Rotary Challenger Park in Calgary July 8, 2011.

iPhone camera = too much fun

2011-01-31T10:18:00.002-07:00

I used to turn my nose up at the idea of photos taken on mobile devices - it's not pure photography, it's too easy to turn a boring image into something 'cool'.

But with a little time I've since had to admit, it's way too much fun. All that blurring and vignetting of the corners is somewhat addicting.

Often my iPhone 4's tilt shift generator app finds itself used at photo assignments - only after the responsibilities for the paper are met of course, should any of my editors be reading this.

(click images to view larger)

Images from top:
-Saskatchewan Roughriders mascot at the CFL western final at McMahon Stadium Nov. 20, 2010.
-Calgary Stampeders touchdown horse prior to the CFL western final at McMahon Stadium Nov. 20, 2010.
-Saskatchewan Roughriders players in the players' tunnel during the CFL western final McMahon Stadium Nov. 20, 2010
-Media await a press conference at the McDougall Centre, the seat of the Alberta government in Calgary, Jan. 27, 2011.
-Minister Rob Renner press conference at the McDougall Centre, the seat of the Alberta government in Calgary, Jan. 26, 2011.
-A house fire in northeast Calgary Jan. 27, 2011.
-Calgary City Hall council chambers Jan. 26, 2011.

Stamps and shovels

2010-11-18T23:50:00.009-07:00

McMahon Stadium was busy Thursday morning as both the Calgary Stampeders and the stadium's staff prepared for Sunday's CFL West Final.

The Stampeders play the Saskatchewan Roughriders to see who progresses to the 2010 Grey Cup Final and were working their way through their playbooks during team practice.

The staff were working their way through the stadium's 35,500 seats, shoveling the snow that had accumulated during this week's sudden onset of winter.

Both the team and workers, as well as a few media, were attempting, in vein, to keep warm. Apparently game day isn't going to be any warmer.

The high for Sunday is expected to be around -15ºC - colder with wind chill. And considering how McMahon Stadium seems to work as a virtual wind tunnel, funneling any arctic wind through it's two grandstands, that wind chill will be considerable.

Good luck staying warm to all planning to attend. Hopefully the game will raise the temperature a little.

Images from top:
-A worker shovels snow from the stands at McMahon Stadium.
-The Calgary Stampeders' Henry Burris takes part in team training.
-Workers use snow blowers to clear the field at McMahon Stadium.
-Calgary Stampeders head coach John Hufnagel keeps his feet warm with an electric heater.

A matter of antimatter

2010-11-18T18:16:00.012-07:00

Editorial photographers are often sent to universities or colleges to get images for stories of a scientific discovery or milestones in research. Despite the significance of the story and their truly fascinating nature, assignments of this type often offer little in the way of an eye catching visual.

Newspapers and internet sites are awash with countless photos of university professors sitting at office desks, in front of shelves of textbooks, with an unrecognizable image or indecipherable research information on their laptops.

However, yesterday I walked away from one such job with a couple decent options for publication - without, I might add, the use of a single textbook.

I was sent to get an image of the University of Calgary head of physics and astronomy, who was among the group of scientists who have announced that they have captured antimatter for the first time. The discovery was made in Geneva, Switzerland, but is an international venture, including researchers from Canada.

Thanks to a large portrait of the father of modern physics - Albert Einstein - on the wall of the faculty's main office and a projection of an image of electron plasma that the researcher had on his laptop, we were able to come up with two relevant and visually interesting, yet completely different, images.Images from top:
-Rob Thompson, head of physics and astronomy at the University of Calgary, pictured with a projection of electron plasma in Calgary, Alberta November 17, 2010.
-Rob Thompson, head of physics and astronomy at the University of Calgary, pictured with a painting of Albert Einstein in Calgary, Alberta November 17, 2010.

Photo Labs

2010-10-31T16:00:00.005-06:00

As the old showbiz saying says, "never work with kids or animals."

Some photographers have a similar opinion.

A few weeks ago, I was sent to take images of a woman and her family of golden retrievers for a story by Herald lifestyles writer Trent Edwards about the companionship canines provide.

I was sorting through some old photos on my laptop and thought they deserved to be shared.

It was near impossible, in the time allowed, to get them settled down for long enough to get a couple of photos. It took a while but fun was had with the beautiful, friendly pups.

I'd be lying if they didn't make me ask myself, why I don't have a dog of my own.

A look inside prison

2010-10-20T23:32:00.017-06:00

I spent some time at the Calgary Correctional Centre Wednesday morning to provide images for a story by the Calgary Herald's Sarah McGinnis.

The medium-security prison's eyeglass program has reached the three million mark, having provided glasses for people in more than 50 countries collected by the Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centre.

The centre's inmates have been sorting through used eyewear for 14 years and those involved - Calgary Correctional Centre, the Canadian Lions Club, - wanted to mark the occasion and chose the prison for the venue for the announcement.

This kind of access is rare. But when there's something that the powers-that-be want to promote the usual restrictions are sometimes waved.

Security protocols were strictly adhered to though. The various media and dignitaries were led through the maze of barred hallways and security doors under assigned guard.

Following the official announcement we were ushered into the room where the blue jump-suited inmates were sorting through the glasses, getting them ready for distribution.

Images from top:
-Calgary Correctional Centre inmate Jayden (last name withheld) checks eyeglasses prescriptions at the centre.
-Calgary Correctional Centre inmate Ken (last name withheld) checks eyeglasses prescriptions at the centre.
-A correctional officer stands watch at the Calgary Correctional Centre.
-Calgary Correctional Centre inmate Matthew (last name withheld) checks sorts through eyeglasses at the centre.
-Calgary Correctional Centre inmate Ken (last name withheld) checks eyeglasses prescriptions at the centre.
-A picture of a child from Haiti who received eyeglass is taped to a window in the Calgary Correctional Centre.
-A photographer can't resist taking a quick self-portrait in a security hall at the Calgary Correctional Centre. (Other faces hidden for privacy)

It's all history now...

2010-10-19T12:01:00.008-06:00

Yesterday Calgary went to the polls to choose a new mayor and fill the council seats for the next term.

After all was said and done Naheed Nenshi was elected to the mayoral throne.

I drew the assignment of covering Nenshi's headquarters for the night.

As the voting results began trickling in and were read out, the mood in the modest downtown office basement quickly became jubilant, reaching a boiling point upon the victor's arrival.

Images from top:
-Naheed Nenshi arrives at his downtown campaign headquarters after winning the mayoral election Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.
-Naheed Nenshi speaks to supporters at his downtown campaign headquarters after winning the mayoral election Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.
-Naheed Nenshi gives a smile while speaking to supporters at his downtown campaign headquarters after winning the mayoral election Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.
-Naheed Nenshi joins supporters at a bridge overlooking Macleod Trail during election day Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.
-A Nenshi supporter reacts to voting results at his campaign headquarters Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.
-Naheed Nenshi is greeted by his family as he arrives at his downtown campaign headquarters after winning the mayoral election Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.
-Nenshi's campaign headquarters following the evening's events Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.

Ready to get your vote on?

2010-10-15T14:56:00.028-06:00

Take one soon to be vacant mayoral seat and stir in a former local television news anchor, add a seasoned municipal politician and pour in a well educated political scientist and you have the recipe for one hell of a tasty mayoral election.

Journalist Barb Higgins, experienced alderman Ric McIver and Harvard educated Naheed Nenshi have separated themselves from the rest of the 15 mayoral candidates as the October 18 vote nears. In recent days all three have picked up endoresments from various dropouts, who have chosen to admit defeat.
The latest polls have the three front runners locked in a dead heat as the race heads into the final weekend of campaigning.

I, like all the Herald's photojournalists, have been to numerous election events over the last few weeks and my path has crossed with those of the three mayoral favourites from time to time. Personally, and as if anyone was interested, I'm still not completely decided on who's getting my checkmark. However, I'll have to have it figured out by Monday morning as I've asked to be a part of the Calgary Herald's election team later that evening.Originally the day had been allocated as a day off, but I sometimes enjoy being around for nights like this one promises to be - as stressful and deadline pushing as it will likely turn out to be.

A former political science student, and a sucker for history, I admit it's difficult resisting the opportunity to be in the kitchen when the election pot finally boils over.Images from top:
- An advance voting poll opens at city hall Wednesday, October 6, 2010.
- Calgary mayoral candidate Barb Higgins and Bob Hawkesworth share a laugh at Higgins' campaign headquarters Wednesday, October 13, 2010. Hawkesworth officially endorsed Higgins' campaign after withdrawing himself from the mayoral race.
- Calgary mayoral candidate Ric McIver speaks on radio station QR77 Thursday, October 14, 2010.
- Calgary mayoral candidate Naheed Nenshi takes part in a 'speed dating' event at Mount Royal University Thursday, October 7, 2010.

Election so far...

2010-10-04T06:37:00.013-06:00

The election race is heating up in Calgary.

Thanks to a resigning mayor and a few popular talking points - including a battle over the installation of a traffic tunnel at the airport and the building of a controversial downtown pedestrian bridge - there are murmurs that there's a sweeping wind of change en route to city hall.

Voters will have to wait until October 18 to see if the rumoured political shift occurs. But don't forget, as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Most informed observers would probably admit, however, that this is one of the most interesting municipal elections in recent memory.

As a result there are usually two or three election related assignments on the paper's photo schedule per day. The Calgary Herald's ongoing election coverage constantly needs up-to-date, relevant images.

Debates, candidate events and stories on voters with opinions are the norm.

Despite being somewhat sterile, when compared to action photos of the previous evening's professional football or professional hockey game, I think some of the images we gather while covering the various campaign trails provide a record of a city's living history.

A visual proof of a democratic process, however deliberate and boring it may seem to some.

Images from top:
-Some mayoral candidates take part in a student organized forum at Western Canada High School Sept. 27.
-An audience member listens to a ward 7 forum at the Dalhousie Community Centre Sept. 29.
-A candidate is signaled on amount of speaking time he has left during a ward 7 forum at the Dalhousie Community Centre Sept. 29.
-Mayoral candidates, including Wayne Stewart (right), take part in a forum at Western Canada High School Sept. 27.
-A supporter displays campaign pamphlets during a rally for mayoral candidate Barb Higgins at Olympic Plaza Sept. 7.
-Ward 7 candidate Jim Pilling ponders a response during a forum at the Dalhousie Community Centre Sept. 29.

Nearly trampled by Stamps

2010-10-02T10:30:00.003-06:00

The Calgary Stampeders beat the Montreal Alouettes 46-21 Friday, in what many CFL pundits may consider a prelude to the 2010 Grey Cup final.

Being my first football game of the season, it admittedly took me a while to reacquaint myself with the nuiances of shooting Canadian football.

Not the least of which was remembering that a horse thunders along the front of the east stands of McMahon Stadium, immediately following every Stamps' touchdown.

In fact, if not for an alert member of the television broadcasting staff, I might well have been trampled during one such celebration following the Stampeders' second score during the first quarter.

I can still feel where she dug her nails into my bicep, in a successful attempt to steer me to safety. I got off a,"thanks for that," and got back to the task of shooting, despite feeling an onset of embarrassment begin to wash over my reddening face.

The touchdown horse would run a few more times Friday night. There would be no more photographer obstacles in its way for the remainder of the game as I opted to switch positions with fellow Herald photographer Leah Hennel and shoot from the opposite sideline for the second half.
Images from top:
-The Calgary Stampeders' Joffrey Reynolds, #21, jumps over teammate Nik Lewis to get some extra yards against the Montreal Alouettes' Billy Parker #17, and Eric Wilson.
-The Calgary Stampeders' Romby Bryant, right, celebrates a touchdown with teammate Rob Cote against the Montreal Alouettes.
-The Calgary Stampeders' Marc Calixte helps bring down the Montreal Alouettes' Tim Maypray.
-The Montreal Alouettes' head coach Marc Trestman looks over some notes as dusk settles of McMahon Stadium.
-The Calgary Stampeders' Jon Cornish, #9, is tackled by the Montreal Alouettes' Jerald Brown.

End of the World or just a Justin Bieber concert

2010-09-21T11:11:00.013-06:00

Sometimes life is about experience and using that experience to help you in your future. Even if you don't realize it at the time.

Little did I know that covering the World Cup in South Africa this last summer would prepare me for shooting a teen idol concert back home in Calgary three months later. But thanks to a dozen matches of suffering the constant blast of thousands of vuvuzelas, the high-pitched unified scream of thousands of jumping pubescent Justin Bieber fans was manageable, even if it did push the limits of tolerability.

He's not for everyone. A former colleague announced on facebook yesterday,"Lead story on Edmonton Journal website: Justin Bieber concert review. The end of the world is clearly nigh."

The devoted, self-sacrificing fathers I found gathered in a Saddledome hallway halfway through the concert, joined in their collective eye-rolling, good natured cynicism, might have agreed. (pictured below)

Personally, I would hope for a harder soundtrack to accompany the end of days, than the bubble gum, tweeny love songs Bieber graced his devoted fans with at the dome lastnight.

But there's no denying that the fans got what they wanted. A view of the face that likely adorns the walls of many of their bedrooms and school lockers.Click Here to see Calgary Herald review by Stephen Hunt.

Big Business in Banff

2010-09-18T13:54:00.037-06:00

Was working the annual Global Business Forum at the famed Banff Springs hotel in the Rocky Mountains for the last couple days.

Reporters for these jobs are usually a little, and unnecessarily, apologetic to photographers for these kind of assignments. They know that members of their photo department probably didn't get into the business to gather images of talking heads.

However, it's part of the job, especially working for a paper with a large business secion that's based in western Canada's big business city.

Events like this need covering when there's this number of high rollers in one spot. Images need to be made. In truth there are worse assignments.

CEOs, presidents and economic researchers mix with federal and provincial ministers during the two day event at Banff's iconic hotel. The focus of the talks is kept to the current economic environment and obviously the business of oil, Alberta's premier industry.
Images from top:
-A forum attendee checks his mobile phone during a break from sessions.
-Alberta premier Ed Stelmach speaks to the media.
-From left, former United States ambassadors to Canada David Wilkins (Rep.), Gordon Giffin (Dem.) and Paul Cellucci (Rep.) share a laugh about their differing political leanings.
-Professor Gwyn Prins, Alliance Research Professor, Research and Projects Development Division, London School of Economics.
-James Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Canada.
-Marvin Odum, President, Shell Oil Company.

The icemen cometh

2010-09-16T09:00:00.001-06:00

It's mid-September and for many that means the long wait for the start of a new hockey season is nearly at an end. It's still a month or so before the NHL season begins but the team's are starting to get ready. Most teams are focusing on their young prospects at this time of year.

However, on this particular Wednesday I've been sent to the Saddledome to grab some images of one of the Calgary Flames' more familiar, and likable, veterans, Craig Conroy. Time is a little short though.

The orders are to get 'moody' photos for a feature story to run later in the week. No hockey jersey or other equipment required. This is a break from the usual Flames assignment as images are often taken from game play, media scrums and team training sessions.

At first I'm unsure where to take the photos, as the Flames' locker room and the Saddledome's ice are off limits today. Herald sports writer John Down, a member of the Flames' communications dept. and myself quickly brainstorm ideas, none of which appeal right away. Eventually the door/security man suggests the 'wife's change room' around the corner. It'll do just fine.

After testing the light by setting up a strobe in a couple spots, Herald Flames writer Vicki Hall pops her head through the door and asks if I'm ok to shoot a quick photo of recent Flames acquisition Alex Tanguay after Conroy. It's no problem, as long as she reciprocates the favour by becoming a model and letting me take a test frame to see how the lighting is for Craig's photos. She obliges.

Eventually Conroy is guided to the room and I introduce myself. It's a testament to his easy going, affable, humble nature that his response is a,"Hi, I'm Craig," as if his identity was ever in question. Take some pictures and change location within the room a couple times.

He asks if he should try for something a little more serious. I jokingly suggest that nobody would believe that he's ever serious. He chuckles and agrees. He's free to show the famous grin while we allow the light to express a 'mood'.

Tell him 'that's it,' and wish him well in the upcoming season.

Head up into the stands and grab a couple no nonsense images of Alex to go along with a 'Tanguay back at the dome' type story.

Head out to the next assignment. All told it takes about 20 minutes.

Eyes wide open

2010-09-13T14:52:00.013-06:00

A quick scan of some of my assignments from last week for the Herald revealed an unintended theme. Eyes might be the windows of the soul but they're also handy at expressing emotion or getting a point across.

Whether it's a tiger letting a photographer know that he's close enough while he's gathering images to go along with a story on the death of a second tiger cub at the Calgary zoo, or mayoral candidate Barb Higgins emphasizing a topic during a downtown rally, or a Calgary Vipers baseball fan hoping a foul ball doesn't give them a bloody nose, wide eyes often make for interesting images.

Indian Village-Faces, Feathers and Phones

2010-07-16T09:28:00.005-06:00

Was given an assignment to capture some images from the Stampede's Indian Village Thursday. The Indian Village has been an integral part of the Calgary Stampede since 1912.

A pow-wow, a native dance competition/exposition, was scheduled in the village in the afternoon.

I opted to hang out backstage to find images of the competition's participants as they prepared to perform in their various categories. Previous experience said this would get me what we needed.

The competitors patiently waited their turn, some sitting, some smiling for photographers, some sending text messages.

There's an obvious nobility displayed by the dancers, even when they're not performing.

Thought the juxtaposition of the mobile phone used by a traditionally dressed native made for a quirky image.

Bon Jovi

2010-07-15T13:16:00.017-06:00

Bon Jovi performed at the Saddledome Thursday. Have never been a huge fan of Jon's or his band, though I might have had a cassette copy of Slippery When Wet at some point. But, then again, didn't we all.

The hair isn't as big as it used to be but Jonny still knows how to play to his audience. Every toothy smile and wink aimed at the mostly female front rows was received with the same rapturous, arm waving scream. The recipient's age never seeming to matter.

World Cup #17 - Back home

2010-07-10T10:33:00.014-06:00

I've decided to keep these blog headings until sometime after the final on Sunday, perhaps in a desperate denial of fact.

Less than 24 hours after arriving back home, I find myself navigating the crowded streets of downtown Calgary. Friday means day 1 of the Calgary Stampede and the jean wearing, plaid shirted, stetson topped masses along 9th avenue signify it's time for the Stampede parade which officially kicks off the 10 day western celebration. Horses and motorized floats drift through the city's business district.

I'm still a little out of it, firmly in the hold of culture shock and jet lag. My girlfriend, Jamie, wisely points out later that it's maybe better I have an event like the Stampede with which to assimilate back into my work life. Despite it's naysayers and their belief of its tackiness, it's a 'thing', a pretty important 'thing', Calgary's 'thing'. Better than coming back to blandness. She's got a point.

I've never really been a parade type person. And at this moment the event is lost on me. But after talking to a few children whose images I've captured, I realize my inner cynic is perhaps being a little too dominant. They're enjoying it. The horses, the cowboys, the clowns, the bands. Stampede has begun and maybe it's the kids who understand better than most that the parade is a promise of better things to come. Soon they'll be getting their thrills on midway rides and stuffing their faces with all sorts of delicious treats.

I know how they feel. When given a pitch pass 45 minutes before the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, I rushed through the media access tunnel at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Emerging into a hive of yellow and vuvuzelas, I grabbed my first official frame of the World Cup, a man waving a South African flag. The moment grabbing me, I switched over into tourist mode and asked a fellow photog to take a photo of me with my media credentials. I reciprocated for him. We shared simple attempt to capture the moment. A beginning.

Perhaps that's a little trick in life. Even as you get older, to know those moments are out there waiting for you and to make sure you embrace them when you stumble upon them.

A month later in Calgary, the parade ends. After the last horse has passed, the street cleaners approach and the crowds begin folding up their deck chairs I spot a South African Springbok rugby jersey amongst the ocean of plaid. Can't help drifting towards it, giving a petty and egotistical,"I just came back from there," to its wearer.

He tells me he's from Johannesburg but has lived in Calgary for seven years. He asks my opinion of "Joberg". I answer with my, now, well practiced response.

"Uhh, it's a crazy city."

He delivers the familiar knowing smile, followed by a,"that's a polite way of putting it." We discuss the World Cup and the differences between Canada and South Africa before wishing each other all the best. I leave satisfied that I've got my South Africa fix for the day.

World Cup # 16 - Random thoughts....

2010-07-06T06:55:00.017-06:00

...though there’ll probably be more to come…

The vuvuzela doesn’t translate well to television. Having watched a few matches on tv I have to admit the monotone hum it produces doesn’t enhance the viewing experience. Perhaps it even diminishes it, leaving fans wishing they could hear the usual crowd chanting and bands. But really, it’s not meant to please the television audience. When sitting on the sidelines and thousands of them are blasting in rhythmic unison, it’s felt in your body, the stadium seems to swell. I like the vuvuzela, though I hope and believe they won’t be making a return appearance anytime soon.
As for actual play, one of the players I’ll remember most is Spain’s David Villa and how he tormented the Honduran defense, right back Mendoza in particular, during an early round match at Ellis Park in which he scored twice. He’s obviously going to be considered one of the stars of this cup for the goals he scored, but it was his direct attacking play that made him fun to watch. Every time he gets the ball out on the left wing, he thinks about getting to the striking area. And every time he got the ball against Honduras, you could see panic hit Mendoza’s face as he knew he wasn’t equipped to deal with the Spanish forward.

Thinking about Uruguay’s victory over South Korea in a tight second round match and how the players went over to some of their traveling fans brings a smile to the face. They were enjoying the moment together. They were both held back by security but they just wanted to get to each other, crying and singing. A shared euphoria. It was only a second round match but it meant so much to players and fans alike.

World Cup #15 - Heading into injury time

2010-07-05T02:00:00.000-06:00

I’m thinking about the concept of time as I stand at Rondebosch metrorail station awaiting transport to the Germany vs. Argentina quarterfinal in Cape Town.

The World Cup doesn’t offer up much in the way of a personal schedule. To be honest, days haven’t really existed since my arrival here. I don’t know what a Friday or a Saturday is anymore. The idea of a workweek is beyond me at this point, as is a weekend.

But today is the weekend, a Saturday in fact, and it seems that half the city has decided to use their time off to get themselves down to the city centre and be a part of the football in some shape or form.

I haven’t anticipated the crowd. I should have. How hard is it to look at a calendar, a newspaper or the corner of the screen on my laptop?

A few days earlier, transport to the Portugal/Spain match was quite simple. But today is different.

The trains are running less frequently and later than advertised and are full. Not full, but full. Very full. The fullest you can get. Fuller than full.

Each train that makes a stop is unable to take on more than a couple of the couple hundred waiting passengers at a time. People lean out of the odd open door as the train pulls in and leaves for the next station. This goes on for four or five trains, an hour and 45 minutes.

“I’m not going to get my last game,” I start to think.

My concern must be apparent because after a quick conversation, an older South African couple of English decent, who are just planning to head to the street party near the stadium, say that they’ll make it their mission to get me on the next train.

I politely chuckle at their attempt to lighten my mood.

Soon another train squeals to a stop. The doors open and produce the same scene, bodies and bewildered sweaty faces. This time there’s a police officer jammed in.

“There’s gotta be room,” I pointlessly say.

At first he ignores me but the sergeant’s indifference gives way to at least general acknowledgement when he spies my media credentials.

“C’mon in, if you think you can find room,” he shrugs with sarcasm.

But before I can answer I find myself thrown forward, something pushing me from behind. I have to take care not to trip over the step as I’m pressed into the mass of humanity.

I’m about to swing around and push back at whoever is showing such impatience, but I realize that I’m on the train. There was absolutely no room but I’m on. Making sure I have firm footing, I look at the cop and he smiles. He nods his head in the direction behind me.

I strain my neck and see my older South African couple. He’s faux dusting off his hands in a job well done sort of way and she’s giving me a double-thumbs up. Never got their names or their photo, but I’ll always remember their smiling faces as I blurted out a short and inadequate, “cheers,” as the doors closed.

The 20-minute ride to the Cape Town Station is surprisingly upbeat, with a metaphoric and literal, “we’re all in this together,” sort of attitude.

A young boy of about five cries in the cramped conditions. I envy him his social standing whereby he’s allowed such freedom of expression. I’m getting to the point where I might start weeping as I’m worried the delay in transport has meant my pitch ticket has been handed out to someone on the waitlist.

Upon pulling into the central station, I dart off through the slowly moving crowd, dodging and weaving.

But in the end it doesn’t matter what I do. A walk to the stadium that took 25 minutes earlier in the week takes an hour and a half today thanks to the street festivities.

“Damn you Saturday.”

Make it to the stadium and find, to no surprise, that the pitch ticket has been given away. I’ve been on the waiting list at other games so shouldn’t be too dejected but it’s a bitter pill to swallow, this being my final match.

They do however have a couple tribune tickets reserved for seats way up in the stadium. I accept their offer and head up to the seat and plug my laptop in.

Send off a few e-mails to various people, expressing my initial disappointment, only to send a follow up message asking the recipients to ignore the previous notes when some perspective hits me and I realize I’m at a World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Germany.

“Stop your whining!”

Germany gets off to blistering start and never look back. By the time the referee blows the final whistle they’ve put four goals past the virtually nonexistent Argentine defense. I reluctantly admit my elevated perch, in the second tier of the stadium, has given me the perfect vantage point from which to witness the decisiveness of the German attack and the embarrassing gaps in the South Americans’ defense; Argentina looking very much a team with a coach with no previous managerial experience.

I spend much of the match just sitting in ‘photographers row’, next to lenses that dwarf mine, just taking in the occasion. I raise the camera to my eye on the odd moment when it might be worth it, but I’m not really going to get anything amazing from up here. Not from this distance and with the equipment I have.

Grab a few frames of Diego Maradona as he mopes around his technical area.

He’s Argentina’s manager and, for the uninitiated, is one of the football’s most famous/infamous characters.

His body language exhibits the image of a man who’s run out of ideas and he only really gets animated when calling for a German to be booked.

When time’s up and the hands are shaken and his team has left the field he offers up a little post-match Maradona moment, choosing to exchange words with a couple euphoric German fans as team officials and family try and restrain him.

I turn to the Japanese news wire photographer next to me and we share a laugh at what we're seeing.

I wouldn’t have seen this had I been on the pitch.

El Diego then heads out of sight, down the players tunnel when I realize that that’s it. Both of us have attended our last match of World Cup South Africa 2010.

World Cup #14 - Wine Country and Penguins

2010-07-03T13:45:00.010-06:00

The break between matches in Cape Town have afforded me the chance to get out and see little of the area around the city. Spent Thursday in the Stellenbosch wine country area on Warwick Estate vineyards, a winery established by a Canadian who moved to South Africa in the 1970s.

Norma Ratcliffe has been producing wines here since the 1980s and will be the subject of an upcoming feature story I'm working on for the University of Alberta alumni magazine.

Friday meant a trip to Simon's Town, a sleepy little Victorian colonial town on the coast. There are a colony of African penguins who call the nearby beaches home, giving the excuse for the visit. Caught the second half of the Brazil/Holland match at the Admiral Nelson Hotel. Took a bus and train back to Cape Town to see Ghana come agonizingly close to getting passed Uruguay in the other match of the day. Went to a local student pub to watch it just down the road from my hostel near the University of Cape Town.

The pub's 200 or so patrons, students from various African nations, were on there knees in grief and disbelief after Gyan's extra-time penalty miss and Ghana's subsequent penalty shootout defeat. This was Africa's last chance and the pub's clientelle's reaction was probably shared by the entire continent.

Have to say my voice was a little raspy this morning having used it at full blast the night before trying to help will the Black Stars to a victory. So close.

World Cup #13 - Such is life (or unlucky 13)

2010-06-30T10:47:00.008-06:00

A long but uneventful bus trip from Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela Bay to Cape Town comes to an end before dawn Tuesday morning. The most difficult part of the 10 and a half hour journey was being forced to watch two and a half Steven Seagal movies at full blast before being permitted to try and get some sleep.

Upon arrival in Cape Town I step off the coach to find the passengers' luggage, which has been stored in the back compartment, strewn across the pavement. The driver seems to have decided to make this a quick stop. There's no bus station to speak of. Just a busy intersection in the cosmopolitan downtown of Western Cape's largest city.

A flock of locals, claiming to be taxi drivers, descend on the bleary eyed passengers, picking up bags and suitcases, motioning to follow them to a promised, but out of sight, transport. Most of the passengers resist, as do I.

In the chaos of the mass of bodies, I feel something in both my trouser pockets. I look down just in time to see a pair of hands withdrawing. Not my hands. Attempt to grab them but their owner is off in a full sprint. Take three or four steps after him about ready to show him that I've still got some decent speed of my own. His frame is slight enough to confront, even for me. I'm already planning to run him down and clip his legs to trip him, a maneuver I am proudly adept at having performed it on the odd opposing defender on the soccer pitch.

But quickly rethink this.

My luggage and camera bag are still on the street and I look back to see one of the supposed cabbies reaching for the larger of the two.

With a polite, and likely agitated, “sorry, not now," I push the man aside.

He’s probably just an honest taxi driver looking to get a fare but he's going to have to find someone else this morning. I shoot him a look to show I mean it, while searching my pockets to see if I'm any lighter. Notice my wallet is half out of its pocket. It's an old wallet and is attached to my belt with a chain.

It's my ‘travel’ wallet and this morning it has done its job brilliantly, even if the chain does have the unwanted aesthetic result of helping me look like an ex-skateboarder desperately trying to hold on to his youth.

But the other pocket is empty. The mobile phone I've rented is gone.

A cold sweat hits me but I'm quickly resigned to the loss. I turn in the direction where I last saw my assailant and send a top of my voice double expletive his way.

"Well done Stu," I mockingly laugh at myself. "That'll show him."

Grab my bags and head to the nearest wall. There's a little paranoia seeping in and it’s probably a bit on the dramatic side but I've always done this when traveling and I don't feel right.

"Keep things in front of me. I'll be ready for the next one." The next one never comes of course.

The bus is heading off.

"Done enough damage here today, huh?" I think at its driver.

On the same wall, a few feet from me, there's a German couple that were on the same bus with the same idea as me. They are either from Dresden or Düsseldorf, I can't remember now. They both have the look of resigned panic that I know I'm showing. Turns out one of their wallets is missing. Money, ID, and credit cards gone.

I fiddle my wallet chain with my fingers. "Could have been worse, I suppose.”

A short african woman of about 50 walks aimlessly in front of us with that same look. Apparently one of her bags is missing.

"Welcome to Cape Town," I think, starting to feel embarrassed at being caught off guard.

Eventually find where the legitimate cabs are lined up around the corner and head to motel. Start the process of canceling the phone and letting people know not to use that number anymore.

Get some rest in preparation for catching the Spain/Portugal clash at Greenpoint Stadium later in the evening.

Things are bound to happen from time to time. And they can happen anywhere and at anytime.

South Africa does have a reputation for being a little more common for this kind of thing though. There have been stories published about a few incidents involving visitors and media since the World Cup began. Some pretty scary stuff. Many of the locals seems to have a horror story involving themselves or someone they know with regards to criminal and sometimes violent activity.

But on the whole its safe enough and the numerous kind and warm South Africans of all colours, who have bent over backwards to help, offer transportation when needed or simply provided a well timed and much needed smile, more than make up for some smalltime hood running off with a phone.

And at the very least, as my parents and girlfriend have both reminded me since, I'm on an adventure and have a story to tell. Though to make it worthwhile, they recommend adding a weapon of some sort in the retelling.

World Cup #12 - Ducks and Elephants

2010-06-28T08:55:00.010-06:00

Getting some last minute web time in before heading out from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town on a 10 hour overnight bus trip.

Supporters come in all shapes and sizes, but I can't figure out what relevance a blue duck has with the Uruguay national football team, other than its wearer saw it's colour and thought,"the boys on the pitch will be inspired when they see me in the crowd wearing this."

It might have worked, as his team earned a spot in the quarter-finals with a victory over South Korea during a rather wet night.

Port Elizabeth, or Mandela Bay as it's name has been changed to, has been a good little rest stop. Traveled out to Addo National Elephant Park on a guided tour Monday. Got up close and personal with a few of the park's residents despite the cramped conditions of the tinted mini-van. Couldn't find the lions though.Took in England's demolition by Germany and then Argentina's equally one-sided victory over Mexico at the local Fan Fest located in the city's cricket oval.

Sad Sad England.

World Cup #11 - Match Day

2010-06-26T06:59:00.014-06:00

Wake up Wednesday morning and grab some breakfast downstairs of my motel in central Port Elizabeth. Have a coffee before jumping in the shower. About to head out, but swing by reception. The grey haired night clerk I dealt with the evening before is nice, affable and full of conversation but he seems scattered. I just want to make sure I’m all settled up for the next couple days.

Have to wait for a couple irate English fans that are not impressed with the establishment. I piece together that they booked their rooms over the web and had agreed to 1000 rand. This motel definitely isn’t worth 1000 rand per night. They leave quite pleased they have talked the clerk down to 700 rand. Choose not to ruin their moods by telling them I’m paying a third of that.

Head out the door and walk the kilometre and a half to the shuttle hub that has transport to the stadium. Was told by a taxi driver the night before that this area isn’t the safest in the city. Cab drivers, the world over, seem to enjoy talking about the dangers of their cities. Today, a school group plays in the square in the morning sun, indicating that it’s safe enough for the moment.

Arrive at the bus queue, but none of them are heading to the stadium yet. Speak to Lunika, a civil engineer student, who’s been placed in charge of the temporary bus stop. He asks about city planning and the infrastructure of Canada, and especially Calgary. Introduce him to the term ‘urban sprawl’. He laughs and promises to use it at the next possible opportunity. We then speak briefly about the differences between Spanish and English soccer before he runs off to try and convince one of the bus drivers to take a trip to the stadium as there are more people showing up wanting that destination.

Jump on the bus and head to the stadium. On the way the odd shirtless English fan can be spotted on the occasional bar patio. It’s not what I’d call hot out but when an English fan decides he’s on holiday, chances are at some point the shirt’s coming off.

The stadium comes into view as we make our way through the streets. The venue looks to have been designed to look like a seashell but the Canadian part of me sees a Tim Horton’s cruller.

“Don’t be an ugly tourist,” I tell myself.

Jump off the bus and pass a few locals kicking the ball about on the street next to the stadium. It’s two and a half hours before kick-off between England and Slovenia so there’s still space for a game of kick-about.

One of them is singing the first few lines of K’naan’s Waving Flag. “Give me freedom, give me fire, give me rhythm, take me higher,” incorrectly substituting ‘rhythm’ for ‘reason’.

Head to the media tent but am told by the policeman manning the gate that I half to walk all the way around the stadium to enter it from the other side despite being a dozen metres away from the tent. He’s apologetic but firm.

“Things change around here every day. Sometimes in this way, today not,” he says as I start off.

“Give me rhythm,” I think to myself.

It’s warm with a nice breeze but the humidity of the coastal city is starting to tell. A bit of sweat begins to soak my shirt between my back and the backpack that I’m using for my laptop and photo gear.

“Maybe the English have the right idea,” I joke to myself. Anyone who knows me would laugh at the idea of me walking around shirtless.

After the two kilometre walk, I find the entrance and am ushered in to pick up my field pass and hit the internet for an hour or so.

Head out to the pitch and join the photographers lining up for anthem photos. Spot David Beckham heading out in his vest and tie. I had forgotten he was serving as team assistant for this tournament. Grab a few frames as he makes himself comfortable on the England bench.

Game time approaches and take my position behind the English goal. This spot was chosen with the hope of England attacking this net in the second half, perhaps needing a late winner. But once Jermaine Defoe scores in the first half at the opposite goal, I know that’s it done. This game was only going to have one goal in it, and that’s all that’s needed for England to progress. Never the less, England are through. Brillant!

The English fans are loud throughout the game. Don’t know whether it’s because there are fewer vuvuzelas or if the English support was just bigger than the other matches I’ve been to but their chants and songs could be heard echoing around the stadium the entire match.

The English band continually coaxes the fans to join in with the playing of God Save the Queen, Rule Britannia and a four minute performance of the Great Escape theme.

Following the match I grab place in the media room. I’m slowly surrounded by English photographers, who seem more interested in showing their images to one another and fishing for compliments than working.

Chuckle to myself when I think that this is not trait exclusive to English photographers.

Jump on the web and hit skype for a quick chat with my girlfriend. Afterwards, admit to myself I’m missing home, and two people in particular.

Go looking for the shuttle back from the stadium. Was told they run for four hours after any match. It’s only been three hours and there’s no sign of them. In fact I’m the only one on this particular street. Give me rhythm.

Head back to stadium and phone a cab. Within ten minutes I’m headed back to motel.

David, the affable night clerk, welcomes me back as he sorts through the money and bookings. He asks if I’m leaving the next day. I remind him that I’m not and that we’re all sorted for the next couple days at least.

Head up to bed thinking I’m going to give myself a break over the next couple days.

World Cup #10 - Birthday in Soweto

2010-06-23T05:38:00.007-06:00

This is the first time I've had a chance to get internet in a couple days, so I just wanted to say, for the whole world to see, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAINA!!!!!!!

You turned 9 years-old yesterday and I just wanted to let you know that you're growing up into such a wonderful young lady and I'm so proud to be your Daddy. I miss you and I love you.It's perhaps appropriate that on Tuesday, June 22, I found myself in Soweto photographing, among other things, the township's children. Johannesburg's formal settlement is perhaps South Africa's most famous. The township was site of the 1976 student protest and has the only street on earth that has housed two Nobel prize winners, Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

While conditions in some areas of Soweto have improved, there are regions where family's continue to live in a third world state.

Raina, I hope you get the chance to visit a place like Soweto one day. It's something you'll always remember and will help you appreciate the life you've been given.

World Cup #9 - Penta Campeao!!!

2010-06-21T08:55:00.016-06:00

Some will say a World Cup isn't fully experienced unless you cross paths with Brazil at some point. Brazil played Ivory Coast in front of 85,000 fans at Soccer City in Johannesburg Sunday. The Brazilian chants of, "penta campeao, penta campeao," could be heard behind the now familiar never-ending monodrone of thousands of vuvuzelas. One of the Columbian radio journalists, I had made my way to and from the stadium with, felt inclined to continue the chant all the way back to the house we're sharing. My ears still ring with,"penta campeao," which basically means "five time champions."

Of course the Brazilians went home the happier of the two sides, running out 3-1 victors.

Despite the seemingly onesided flow to the game - Brazil lead 3-0 until very late - there was plenty of emotion on show. Sitting on the pitch, you're almost part of it. Maybe that's an idealist's point of view or perhaps just the outlook of a drooling footy fan who still can't quite believe he's fooled FIFA into giving him an accreditation.

But sitting 20 feet from Didier Drogba as he tries to get the crowd going, being able to see goaltender Julio Cesar and defender Lucio celebrate a goal as if they had scored it themselves, watching Kaka take on opposing defenses and catching Luis Fabiano's opening goal all have the ability to turn up the hair on the back of the neck.

World Cup #8 - Back to the soccer

2010-06-20T11:12:00.010-06:00

Am currently sitting in the media centre at Soccer City in Joberg waiting to see if I can get a pitch pass for the Brazil vs Cote d'Ivoire game...fingers crossed. Not sure why but the security around Soccer City stadium is different from the first match I covered here.

There is a heavier police presence. They're definitely friendly but there are a lot more of them. Last time I was here, entrance to the media centre only meant showing your media card to a volunteer at the doorway. Today we had to walk past a dozen smiling cops, showing your card to at least half of them.

I've managed to make it to two matches since returning from the countryside. USA vs Slovenia at Ellis Park, Johannesburg and Australia vs Ghana in Rustenburg. Both good matches, though because of the luck of the draw I haven't really been in the right spot to capture the defining moments of them. But i'm not complaining. The Rustenburg match was played during dusk, which provided a decent sun set.

It's good to be back on the sidelines.

Sitting pitch side is obviously quite the experience but this being the first World Cup I haven't watched solely on television, there is something I miss, literally.

There are huge video monitors at the stadiums but they do not show any fouls or controversial moments on replay. Instead of showing a possible hand ball, someone flicks a switch and all you get is a generic overview of the pitch until the broadcast returns to a live shot. It's only later after the match in the media room can you see the slow motion replay to see for yourself whether the referee made the right call or not.

But I'll suck it up and look past that. It's a burden I'm willing to bare.

Seriously, I'm not complaining.

And since I've been typing this, my name's been called at the waitlist line and I'm in. Just got handed a team sheet and it looks like Drogba starting...should be a good one.

World Cup #7 - Short break from the footy

2010-06-18T04:45:00.008-06:00

After the Germany's dismantling of Australia in Durban I asked to get dropped off in Ladysmith, halfway between the coast and Johannesburg. Spent a total of two nights in the town in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Growing up I had an unhealthy obsession with the 1960's Michael Caine film Zulu, which tells the story of how just over one hundred British soldiers successfully fought off 4,000 Zulu warriors for a day and night at a Swedish mission called Rorke's Drift in the early days of the Anglo-Zulu war on January 22, 1879. Earlier that day over 1000 British and members of the column's native contingent had been wiped out by over 20,000 Zulu warriors at the base of a rocky hill called Isandlwana 30 km away.

As the years have passed I have come to see the film a little bit for more of what it is - a British flag waving heroic epic. However, the actual events have always resonated with me and with my family, for some reason. And since I was in South Africa there was very little reason not to make the effort to get to these places.Had to arrange a guide to pick me up from Ladysmith's Royal Hotel for the day long journey. It gave the opportunity to see a bit of South Africa that I may not have otherwise, driving through country and passing by various unnamed settlements.Though there are none of the original buildings at Rorke's Drift there are newer buildings in place of them giving a decent visual representation of where the fighting occurred.

Arriving at Isandlwana atop the crest of a hill 2 km away, the unique rock first catches the eye. After a second or two you notice white cairns that mark the spots where the British and colonial troops fell and were later buried.

Isandlwana, in particular, has an eerie feel to it. The peace and calm of the area today hides the terrible carange and violence that occured 130 years ago. But thanks to the markers it is easy to imagine the soldiers and warriors of two opposite empires coming together for the 2 hour struggle.

The slopes of Isandlwana have been left untouched, originally, as a tribute to the British soldiers. Only recently have steps been made to a pay fitting tribute to the brave Zulu warriors who infact won the day, in the form of a sculpture placed at the entrance to the battlefield.

It was good to get a little break from the footy, but now am back in Joberg, ready to get back to shooting. At Ellis Park tonight for USA-Slovenia. Don't have accreditation yet, but should be ok on the waitlist.

World Cup #6 - Down to Durban

2010-06-14T07:53:00.018-06:00

All around Durban there a promotional signs declaring that the city is the hottest place to be in 2010. And they're right, so far. This was the first time I haven't had to wear a jacket after dusk since arriving in South Africa.

Durban's appeal might be the warmer weather, but Durban Stadium is an attraction in itself. German and Australian fans helped fill the over 60,000 capacity venue for their sides' first match of the World Cup.

I'm staying with a few Aussie fans while in Durban and traveled partway to the stadium with them before getting split up at a fan shuttle at Gateway Mall, allegedly the largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere.

A 20 minute ride dropped us of around 5-6 km from the stadium, though local volunteers insisted it was,"2 kilometres, 15 minutes."

The stadium made itself seen about 10 minutes into the walk. It's probably one of the more beautiful stadiums hosting World Cup matches in South Africa, with the illuminated arch rising up into the a night's sky.

However, the beauty of the stadium might have been lost on some of the Aussie fans as their jubilant mood was erased as they watched their team defeated 4-0.

And I'm only now seeing that there was a worker riot at the stadium shortly after we left. I'm incredibly out of touch down here sometimes.

World Cup #5 - Cmon England

2010-06-13T12:01:00.014-06:00

Shot my first England game Saturday as they tied USA 1-1 in Rustenburg.

The city located northwest of Johannesburg was the scene of yet another English disappointment. It’s Royal Bafokeng stadium saw a perfect start for England in the form of an early Steven Gerrard goal, thwarted by a howler of a mistake by English goalie Robert Green.

I would have my own hiccups following the match after catching a ride with two fellow Canadian journalists and their driver and wife.

Through a series of traffic jams and wrong turns we eventually made it back to Joburg, where I then had to jump in a pre-arranged taxi to head back to my place where I could try and prepare for the next day’s travels to the coast. Though ‘next day’ is hardly accurate as it was well into the morning.

The plan was to drive to Durban, 500 km to the southeast, at 8pm with a group of traveling Australia fans. Made it back to my bed in Johannesburg around 5:30am. Decided to ignore the impulse to sleep and instead looked at a few images on the laptop and packed up my clothes and gear.

My ride arrived and we headed down to Durban.

Despite the problems and headaches, I got my first England game. Hopefully they can co-operate and give us a win next time I get a ticket.

World Cup #4 - Bafana Bafana

2010-06-12T07:51:00.012-06:00

Patience sometimes pays off.

Decided to head to Soccer City stadium for the tournament’s opener between South Africa, or Bafana Bafana, and Mexico on Friday. The plan was to hang out and take a few fan photos and get a general sense of how game days operate around here.

I’ve been on the waitlist for the match for a couple months now, so thought there was no chance of getting in. However after registering at the photo accreditation booth, photographers on the waitlist were asked to hang around and see if there were any spots still available.

An hour later my name was called and this lifelong football fan was ushered in to take up a position on the sidelines at the first game of World Cup 2010.

There was plenty Mexican green present but obviously the vast majority of the 85,000 strong crowd were wearing the home side’s yellow, most of who were pressing their lips to the now famous, or infamous, vuvuzela. There’s no proper way to convey the energy in the stadium. It's a noise you can almost touch.

Most will say the match ended fairly in a 1-1 draw. Though it’s not too much of a leap to think most neutrals would have liked Siphiwe Tshabalala’s opening strike to be the winner, if only to satisfy the exuberant local support.

World Cup #3 - Arrived safe and to the sound of the vuvuzela

2010-06-10T13:40:00.004-06:00

Arrived in Johannesburg Wednesday morning. Currently sitting in the media centre in the shadow of Soccer City stadium.

The flight from Doha, the final leg of my trip, was full of fans from various countries, most of who were sporting some form of clothing indicating their nationality. Sitting next to me were to guys from Algeria. Like many of the passengers they soon fell into a deep sleep. Their strong breath betraying the fact they had probably had a pre-journey send-off party the night before.

Across the aisle sat a boy of around 10 years of age with his father. Wearing the green jersey of Mexico, he slept on the lap of his father, periodically rising to put pen to paper in a pocket book. I caught sight of the cover. In capital letters it read, “WORLD CUP 2010 JOURNAL,” with a smiley face in the first O. Gave me a smile.

There were also Germans, English, Spanish, Americans. Amongst the fans I spotted a weathered 1990 Irish jersey wandering the aisles. Perhaps it’s wearer refused to accept that his side had been cheated out of participating in South Africa 2010 by the French during qualifying and decided to make the trip anyway.

After landing at Tambo International Airport shortly after 8am, I slipped through the fast line at passport control, the benefits of being an accredited media. Picked up my luggage and walked through customs and out into Tambo airport, avoiding the local media sent to pick-off fans as they arrived for the big show. Went in search of a phone rental booth.

Despite booking the phone weeks ago I had to endure the mass of customers competing with eachother to get service in the compact sales centre. There was a look of panic and terror on the face of the female salespersons I eventually made it to.

“Busy today, huh?” I asked jokingly, expecting at least a polite grinned response.

“Yes! Of course it is,” came the straight, honest answer. My attempt at humour apparently falling flat.

Despite the chaos of the booth I managed to walk away with a phone. A quick text and an expensive three minute multi-hemisphere conversation with my girlfriend back in Canada made sure it was working well enough to proceed.

Phoned the landlady of the place where I’m to stay and was told to stay put. She would phone me back soon. I had expected to grab a cab to the home that I’m chipping in on with a few Canadian freelance journalists, but received a phone call from a young man calling himself Ruben who told me he and his brother Jeffrey would soon be at the airport to pick me up and drive me down to the house.

The brothers are the landlady’s grandsons and have been assigned to make sure we all get to the place safely. Got my first look at South Africa during the ride. Passed a couple of informal townships on the way to the single level multi-bedroom gated house where I’ll be calling home for the first few nights.

From the property's patio vuvuzelas, the horn used by many South African soccer fans, can be heard throughout the day. Even at 6am the faint sound of the horn can be heard coming from the distance.

World Cup #2

2010-06-07T08:01:00.006-06:00

Kick off for the World Cup is in four days. Take off for my flight is in four hours. On Wednesday I arrive in Johannesburg, Joburg, Jozy. They all work, though the latter is apparently the one cool kids use these days.

As these things sometimes do, this trip has crept up on me. It seems not very long ago, when hearing about a friend's plan to take in the World's largest sporting event, that I thought to myself,"Huh? That might be something to think about."

That being said, the World Cup isn't a passing curiosity to me. It's much more than that. Since, at the age of 7, witnessing Maradona's "hand of god" and "goal of the century" against England in Mexico in 1986 I have been an obsessed loyal viewer and at times a very cynical English fan. In Italia 90 I had most of the morning matches recorded so I could sprint home from school and watch a match during my lunch when I was 11. For 1994, I was thrilled when the USA would play hosts as this would probably be a chance to actually get to a game or two, but was gutted when neither England or Scotland qualified for the final tournament.

There are memories of France 98, Japan/Korea 02, and Germany 06. And now it's South Africa's turn. Bafana Bafana's turn.

There's a sense of anxiety and a possible hint of mild panic, but there's also, finally, a feeling of excitement.

Ready to get going.

World Cup #1

2010-05-05T09:58:00.001-06:00

Kick-off for the World Cup in South Africa is just over 30 days away and this photographer will be watching the countdown with a special interest.

Amongst shifts and projects for the Calgary Herald I've managed to start preparing for the trip to the deep, deep south. It's a trip every footy fan has surely contemplated but not every one has had the opportunity or fortitude to follow through; their better judgement perhaps winning out.

Well, my better judgement has been collected, wrapped up and locked away for a few months. Whatever the result, I'm going to South Africa 2010.

This will be my first World Cup. An admitted 'Football' fan, I've always wanted to go to one - turns out South Africa 2010 is the one.

Despite the decision to go forth with the trip, it had yet to take a logistical shape, up until recently; what was I going to do once I got there? There were a couple thoughts.

In the interest of maybe making a few dollars back from this particular trip - it's a privately funded venture - I've been in touch with various publications asking of any interest of South Africa related stories they might want images for. There have been a few nibbles so far. There are also a couple self-generated stories that will probably be worked on too.

The obvious question of 'how to attend/photograph any games?' remained, however.

After a few well placed emails, the answer came somewhat quickly.

With apparently amazing timing, World Cup media accreditation has been gained through Inside Soccer Magazine (ISM). After an email, the Canada Soccer Association (CSA) passed my contact info, website and blog on to the publisher of ISM, Alfons Rubbens, who apparently had a vacant photo pass. A couple emails and a phone call later, the accreditation process was underway.

It's a lesson for anyone who doubts the power of self-promotion.

Through Alfons contact was been made with Toronto, Canada based ISM/soccer writer Kris Fernandes, a veteran of Germany 2006 and Austria/Switzerland 2008. Through Kris's guidance, and that of Richard Scott of CSA, it appears I'll get a game or two (or 10).

But in the meantime, I've been doing a little reading to get into the mood. A couple books on South Africa and one on football.

A Rainbow in the Night, by Dominique Lapierre:

Dutch colony, Calvanists, British colonialism, Zulu warriors, the Great Trek, apartheid, Mandela - South Africa's history is nothing else if not interesting. Lapierre does a good job blending the nation's most significant events with some of the country's lesser known, yet important, moments to tell the story of the Rainbow Nation.

The World is Ball, by John Doyle:

I was able to pick up an uncorrected proof of this at the office. It will likely be referenced in the blog entries to come. Doyle is an observer of moments. Simple as that. He describes moments experienced while covering recent World Cups and Euro Championships. Though an obviously well equipped soccer writer, his detailed and colourful tellings of footy related travels are motivation enough for any football fan contemplating taking the big step.

Playing the Enemy, by John Carlin:

The book Clint Eastwood's film Invictus was based on, tells the story of Nelson Mandela and how he chose to deal with the apartheid values of the white establishment and the deeply seeded resentment of the black and coloured majority following his release from 28 years of imprisonment. As the newly elected president he tried, with his intellect, ever present smile and unwillingness to show prejudice or preference to either side, to rally the entire nation behind their rugby team, the Springboks, during the South Africa rugby world cup in 1995.

He of course was successful. Yes there were people and efforts that helped the cause, including the nation's rugby team and other wheelings and dealings behind closed doors, but his decisions to have both of the country's anthems played before games and to personally wear the Springboks' jersey, long a symbol of white rule in the country, proved the choices that finally swayed most of the naysayers. The Springboks beat New Zealand in the tournament's final. And there was Mandela, front and centre, wearing green and loving it. Showing both sides that South Africa, as a whole, was allowed to enjoy the moment.

I watched that game at the age of 16, thanks to my father, a rugby aficionado and former scrum-half. In our household the rugby world cup was a close second to football's global tournament. My English blood had me glad to see New Zealand's Jonah Lomu, who had literally run over England in the earlier semi-final, beaten. But thanks to Carlin, the joyous images of the trophy celebrations now have a proper context.

"You gotta love sports!" - some Seinfeld episode.

Calgary Punk Music

2010-04-23T12:00:00.011-06:00

I was sent to the Distillery a few Saturday's ago to work on a story on Calgary's punk/hardcore music scene, that Calgary Herald music writer Heath McCoy was working on. The Calgary Beer Core, a local punk and hardcore music promotion, was holding it's 10 Bands for 10 Bucks event at the downtown Calgary club.

It's been a few years since I've been in a mosh pit, and back then it never occurred to me to take professional photo gear in for the ride. It was a little tricky trying to capture images while avoiding clenched fists and flying elbows. 'Skull Stomper' (see photo) was the hardest of the hardcore, and wanted everyone to know it. I only stayed for a few bands, including BDFM (Beer Drinking Fighting Machine) and Ground Up.

Met with the organizer of the event, Calgary Beer Core's Jim Martin, and a couple members of BDFM, Kristin Semchuk and Mark Russell, to get a backstage photo after their show. It's always interesting to see the differences between someone's onstage persona and their backstage personality.

On stage BDFM's frontman Russell would use phrases and language, that would embarrass his mother, in an effort to get the audience riled to an acceptable level. However, before and after the show he was as polite as polite could be. Actually, he was one of the guys who met me at the front door and offered to assist me in anyway he could.

In the end there's nothing complicated or pretentious about the music. It's just good ole head-banging thunder.

The few get fewer

2010-04-13T08:00:00.002-06:00

Calgary MLA Dave Taylor left the Alberta Liberal party Monday. Taylor had some parting words aimed at the province's Liberal party leader David Swann, saying he had lost confidence in the party's chief. Taylor will continue his political life as an independent.

In conservative friendly Alberta this resignation won't drastically change the provincial political landscape. The Liberals now only have eight seats in the legislature instead of the nine they started the day with.

If nothing else it will give the political writers and pundits something left-of-centre to talk about for a little while.

I was sent to Taylor's formal announcement of his resignation at a Calgary hotel to provide images for stories by Herald political writers Renata D'Aliesio and Don Braid.

Press conferences can be dull and monotonous to shoot. Man stands at microphone and talks, media asks question, man talks, media asks question, man talks.....pretty tame.

However, if there's enough time and space I'll sometimes set up a strobe on a stand to the side of the podium. Using a wireless remote system you're free to roam the room, looking for different angles, all the while being able to set-off the flash. This can add depth and texture and hopefully gives the resulting images an added visual interest.

At the very least it gives me something to tinker with during some the less interesting 'pressers'.

No Flames No! (in the play-offs that is)

2010-04-08T11:05:00.026-06:00

The Calgary Flames were eliminated from this year's Stanley Cup play-off race Tuesday.

Calgary's 2-1 loss to San Jose at home and Colorado's penalty shoot-out victory in Vancouver combined to wash away the Flames' tenuous hopes of earning the western conference's final play-off berth.

This is the first time since the 2003 season that there will be no play-offs for the Flames. A team that was supposedly built specifically to be a play-off powerhouse will now have to be content with watching the post-season from the comfort of their couches, at least while they're not working on their golf game.

Possibly my most story-telling image of the night came an hour after the game. Head coach Brent Sutter, following a rather muted press conference, walks off alone to an uncertain future, head bowed and shoulders slumped.

There will be some interesting developments in the days, weeks and months to come and the coach's employment will likely be brought into question.

Play-offs?

2010-04-02T10:12:00.032-06:00

The Calgary Flames, Calgary's NHL team, are currently in a desperate push for this year's play-offs.

A season that began strongly with a seemingly unstoppable march to the cup has now become a limp to a doubtful play-off spot. In November there was talk of championships and Stanley Cups but now the conversations are of whether or not the Flaming C will even be seen in the play-offs. A spring without post-season hockey is a sad prospect for Flames fans.

Whenever I get to shoot a Flames game I try to appreciate my position. Walking past the players in the bowels of the Saddledome before the game. Taking up a shooting position just as the anthems are sung. Using a 300mm lens to get one of the best views of the action. Sometimes sitting at ice level, literally feeling the boards shudder after a body check on the ice. Getting paid to hang out at, arguably, Calgary's biggest show. It's pretty cool.

However, it's a little difficult to get excited about a game in January, the middle of an 80-plus game regular season. But now that we're in April, every penalty incurred and every goal scored seems to have an extra significance, especially when considering the Calgary Flames' current plight.

On Wednesday, the Flames beat the Phoenix Coyotes with a nervous performance. In the end they pulled out a 2-1 victory but not without some close calls. If I were allowed to over think my images, I'd say the photo of Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff rolling around on the ice, unaware to the puck's location, is kind of a snapshot of his team's current situation - they're not out of it yet, but they don't seem to be in complete control of their fate.

But Calgary will not be without play-off hockey this season thanks to it's second tier WHL team the Calgary Hitmen. On Monday I shot their final game of their best-of-seven series against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Hitmen won comfortably in the end, despite being taken to the limit by the team from Saskatchewan.

It's yet to be seen if the Flames' millionaires can find their form and emulate the example laid by the kids.

It's an honour just to be nominated (and all that stuff)

2010-03-27T11:36:00.012-06:00

Allow me this moment of shameless self-promotion. The nominations for the 2009 Pictures of the Year were announced by the News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC) Thursday night. And in the Sports Action category there's a photo of curler Glenn Howard celebrating a final rock victory at last year's Brier, taken by yours truly.

This nominated image is indirectly linked to my days in photojournalism school at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Every year Frank Shufletoski, the second year photo instructor, requires the class to cover at least one curling match. It's Frank's belief that if you can get a dynamic shot from a curling rink, then you've probably got enough patience and ability to do well in this business.

Flashforward to the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier Canadian Curling Championship in Calgary, which I was covering for the Calgary Herald, last March. A seemingly meaningless early round match between Ontario and Saskatchewan is nearing it's end. The team from the prairies appears to have complete control with a scattered house and no obvious angle for their opponents from the east to exploit.

However, Ontario skip Glenn Howard plays his final rock and incredibly hits a double and scores three to win by a score of 7-6. The shot of the tournament. He reacts as if he has won the championship.

It was the final match of the night and no other shooters were around. Those who had been there had determined that this wasn't important enough to cover or that the result was a foregone conclusion. The major news wire services weren't even covering the event full-time yet. The matches later on in the week would surely provide the better images anyway.

I almost left, but was in the honeymoon stages of a love affair of shooting the tournament. I've always appreciated watching the best of the best at any competition and was simply enjoying being on the Brier's familiar blue carpet next to the game's top stone throwers. Simply put, I just wanted to hang out.

I decided to stay and keep my lens on Howard until the end of the night. A fortunate decision, it turns out.

(click here to see video of shot)

------------

As well as the other nominees I would also like to send a congratulations to fellow Calgary Herald shooter Leah Hennel who has earned a couple nominations. She always one ups me. It's probably because you're older than me Leah, by a few months anyway. :)

And really, it is an honour to be nominated. If you have a chance to look at last year's winners and nominees you'll understand why we allow ourselves a little pride in being nominated by NPAC, my second time. There's some excellent work being done by Canadian photojournalists. And I'm proud to be considered one of them.

Cirque de Coulter hits Calgary

2010-03-26T00:48:00.026-06:00

Controversial American conservative pundit Ann Coulter spoke in Calgary Thursday night. She's famous for spouting her ultra right-wing views from atop a slender, mini-skirted, leather booted frame.

A similar event to the Calgary appearance was canceled at the University of Ottawa earlier in the week because of a perceived security risk caused by the presence of a few hundred protesters. Needless to say her engagement in Calgary went ahead. There were a few protesters but there were never enough to dissuade organizers. After all, Calgary is considered by many to be the capital of conservative country.

She's definitely a polarizing figure. Her statements seem intended to rally the converted, while, possibly, hoping to tweak the ire of others. She made statements earlier in the week to a Muslim student suggesting they take a camel if they didn’t have a flying carpet.

In the end, Calgary's event was fairly mild. The 900, mostly conservative, audience members didn't hear anything said that could be considered criminal. Members of both sides of the fence probably went home happy, thinking they had had their moment.

Image wise there were podium shots and protester sign shots. However, I did catch sight of those boots she's so famous for, as she went over her speech before taking the stage. Thought it made for a good moment and, in a different way, shows the personality of the carefully cultivated flashy conservative.

New WestJet CEO

2010-03-23T00:00:00.007-06:00

Calgary based airline WestJet presented their new CEO Gregg Saretsky last week. He has had an interesting career arc in the flying industry. He started out as a flight attendant for Air Canada.

Although not a pilot, he wanted a photo of himself sitting in the captain's chair. It turns out his brother is a pilot with a different airline and he wanted to have a bit of laugh at his expense and show him he didn't have to earn his wings to get into the cockpit.

He seemed to be easing into his new role smoothly; opting to go tieless and top button undone, fitting in with the relaxed image WestJet is famous for trying to portray.

This photo (right) ran as the Herald's main art on the front page of Saturday's paper in accompaniment of Herald writer Tamara Gignac's story. It didn't take too much convincing for Saretsky to hop-up into the engine of one of the air fleet's Boeings.

Arts school earns high ranking

2010-03-21T23:01:00.004-06:00

This year's Fraser Institute Report Card on Alberta Elementary Schools was released recently. I was sent to provide images for a portion of the story Calgary Herald education reporter Sarah McGinnis was working on regarding Capital Hill School, which has garnered praise for it's artistic approach to education.

It's obvious, in observations of the students and conversations with the faculty, there's a pride in the work being done at the northwest Calgary elementary school.

The young fellow working on his 'sharing stick' and the little ladies working on their 'vision boards' were never distracted, no matter how close the camera lens crept. It's a very rare thing for a kid not to look at a camera, let alone not to play-it-up for one.

Murder trial

2010-02-27T15:01:00.003-07:00

Arcelie Laoagan, 41, was raped and killed as she walked home from work near a light rail train station in northeast Calgary, Alberta late on the night of Jan. 18, 2008.

Her accused killer Christopher James Watcheston, 24, is currently on trial for the crime. As part of the Calgary Herald's coverage of the trial, I was sent to get a photo of the area where her body was found.

Standing on the path behind the church, which the mother of five attended, I recalled the memorial march organized by friends and family at the site of the murder Jan. 30, 2008. That day it seemed most of the community turned out to support the family and the message of non-violence. Two years later there's nothing at the spot to indicate that such a terrible thing happened there.

All images ©2010 Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald

Russia vs Canada

2010-02-26T18:22:00.004-07:00

On Tuesday Canada played Russia in the quarter-finals of the Olympic hockey tournament in Vancouver. As is common with major hockey games the Calgary Herald sent me to a local pub to get some fan photos to run in the next day's paper. The writer was looking for something different from the usual 'Go Canada Go hockey fans' and so found a pub where she knew some Russian fans would be watching the game.

As a result I watched the now famous Canadian victory through Russian eyes.

In the end Canada skated away with a 7-3 thrashing. The Russian fans, who had brought a dose of much needed colour to the pub, were left dejected and wondering where it had all gone wrong.

Images ©2010 Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald

Olympic Torch Relay

2010-01-21T16:30:00.006-07:00

I spent four days on the road with Calgary Herald columnist Valerie Fortney covering the 2010 Vancouver Olympics torch relay in southern Alberta, Canada.

We were somewhat disappointed when we realized that it wasn't a relay in the true sense of the word. It turns out the flame isn't carried from town to town by consecutive runners, but instead kept in a lantern, driven in a corporate sponsored convoy. The lantern is then used to light a runner's torch on the edge of town. The flame makes it's way through the streets to the other end of town where it is put back into it's lantern and driven off to the next stop.

So much for my hopes of capturing an inspiring image of a lone torch bearer running along a barren stretch of highway at sunset.

However, the fact the flame was driven from town to town allowed for it to visit more towns and spend more time in those communities, than would have been given had they had to run it across the country. It was in these cities, towns, villages and hamlets of Alberta where the Olympic spirit was so very apparent.

In villages like Seven Persons, Alberta the populations swelled far beyond their census listed 750 for the torch's 15 minute stop in town.
People were drawn to the torch like, well...um...ok...moths to a flame. They just wanted to see it, to be connected to something bigger than themselves. To have their own Olympic experience. And that spirit was no more obvious than in the genuine joy on the faces of the torch bearers during their short term in charge of the flame.

It was all very organized with each runner receiving detailed instructions. Thanks to this attention to detail a couple of runners were fortunate enough to run their leg atop Drumheller's Hoodoos, in an obviously manufactured photo-op. Still, quite a good image!

Though it was easy to be cynical of how much of it was staged and the relay's corporate sponsorship, which occasionally bordered on shameful, the convoy's workers evoked a little envy from me. For over 100 days they would be traveling on the road, working endless hours, quite literally repeating themselves during the various community celebrations, often in torrid weather. However, they got to travel across this amazing country, embrace it's magnificent splendor and experience all it has to offer.

Sometimes that splendor took the form of something like the Gopher Museum in Torrington, Alberta.

Images ©2010 Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald

Crowfoot Ferry

2010-01-05T14:39:00.005-07:00

This is a story and video I produced after an afternoon prairie drive late last summer.

(click image to be redirected to video)

Prairie Mariner
by Stuart Gradon

From it's source at the Bow Glacier in the Rocky Mountains, the Bow River snakes it's way through southern Alberta before joining the Oldman River and becoming the South Saskatchewan before crossing the province's eastern border.

Adventurers flock to the river for rafting and canoeing, while fly fishermen wade it's shallow shores hoping to reel in a rainbow trout.

It's easy to forget how daunting the Bow River would have been to those in the early part of the last century.

Bridges were few and far between. A water crossing often meant boarding a river ferry like the one found south of the tiny community of Crowfoot, Alberta.

The original ferrymen would manually navigate the 1920's wooden ferry through the current of the Bow River, named by the local First Nations people who used the reeds found on it's shores to make bows. The heavy work of pushing the boat through the waves was the only way for the harvested grain to be transported from the surrounding farms.

The Crowfoot ferry still exists, these days operated by Alberta Transportation. Located 5 km south of the Trans Canada Highway, it is one of seven ferries that are part of the province's highway network. But the transporting of grain is now done along the paved asphalt of the surrounding roads. Wood has given way to steel and the current ferry is operated by the ferrymen from the relative comfort of the starboard control booth.

Tom Daw, one of the ferry's current captains, operates the engine-powered ferry, smoothly transporting travelers of Range Road 201 between the banks of the river.

The farming passengers have been replaced by the odd oil worker servicing the numerous pumpjacks that dot the landscape north and south of here. The occasional fisherman drives onboard after a day's angling, provided they're prepared to answer queries regarding that day's catch from the affable 65 year-old Daw.

Despite his seemingly secluded posting, Daw's control room windows provide him a unique view into the area's economic state. There's been a drop in the number of passengers from previous years that Daw says is due to the slump in the energy industry.

"This year's been quieter," says the 30 year veteran. "They're not doing as much oil exploration, so there's not as many oil vehicles coming across."

But that's not a source of concern for Daw, who spends his off hours tending to his cows 30 km away in Gleichen, Alberta.

For Daw and the Bow River, life pretty much flows as it has for years.

The wake of a swimming beaver can be spied from the boat's deck. The flat tailed rodent eventually climbing up to rest on the river's western bank. A barn swallow sings it's song from it's perch atop the oar of one of the vessel's life boats. The late afternoon sun bounces off the river's naturally-carved steep golden eastern bank.

It's these sights and sounds, observed during the lazy seven-minute long crossing, that will bring the prairie mariner back next season after the winter ice has given way to the spring melt.

"It's nice and peaceful and the wages are good," says Daw. "You don't have to worry about stress."

(as presented on calgaryherald.com)

PM at Flames game

2009-12-24T19:02:00.002-07:00

During Tuesday's Calgary Flames game against the St. Louis Blues at the Saddledome there were a few suited, rather built, fellows with audio ear pieces - obvious security. It took me a while but I eventually spotted the subject of their attention. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was sitting a couple rows down from my assigned shooting position with his son Ben, an apparently dedicated Flames fan.

Turns out Harper, who was on a break from Parliament, was just doing what any father would while he had some time off - take his boy to the game.

Images ©2009 Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald

Sparwood avalanche remembered

2009-12-21T13:28:00.001-07:00

On December 28, 2008 two groups of recreational snowmobilers journeyed into the backcountry south of Fernie, British Columbia. Eleven men died that day, killed by a succession of avalanches. Most of the men were from the nearby mining town of Sparwood.

I was sent with a reporter to Sparwood a year later to see how the East Kooteney town was still dealing with the tragedy.

It's always amazing how open and welcoming people can be even when discussing the most personal of subjects. Though most of the victim's families were hoping to simply have their loved ones honoured in tribute pieces, with enough prodding they opened up and began describing the various stages of their grief.

Kurt Kabel's wife and son, Lori and Eric, 17 months, and parents, Jack and Charmaine, remember him as a sensible man. "He was pretty straight laced," says Charmaine. "But he was always at the party."

The family has rallied around Eric. Lori is determined, with the help of her in-laws, to raise her son the way Kurt had intended. “Kurt wanted to make sure Eric was going to be a standup man,” she says. “The first Father’s Day, I know how proud he would have been.”Rose and Garry Bjarnason lost their son Danny in the avalanches. They say the pain is shared by everyone in the community. “As bad as it was for each family, you hurt for everyone else, too,” says Rose. “I doubt there’s a person in this town that didn’t know one of them boys or were friends with their families,” says Garry.Thumbing through photos is a common practice as the families of the victims still try to comprehend their loss. “You’re just numb,” says Dianne Rusnak, mother to victim Kane Rusnak. “You go through the motions. Some days you’re still kind of just ... numb.”

Sparwood resident Jeff Adams was one of three survivors. He became one of the faces of the tragedy after he told his story at a press conference a few days after the avalanches. After pulling each other out of the snow, Jeff and the other survivors decided that they couldn't help their buried friends. They were eventually picked up by a rescue helicopter.

Adams has been left to deal with the events of that day and the impact on his life. “The pressure, the stress, the shoulda, coulda, wouldas — and whys — just take a toll on you,” he says.

Adams has found it difficult dealing with the loss of so many men he was close to, especially Danny Bjarnason and Kane Rusnak. “I lost my two best friends. Two friends that are simply irreplaceable. I’m at the point where I can think of my friends and the first thing that comes to mind isn’t the avalanche, it’s something we did in the past. But everyday I wake up and there’s that making that decision. It just haunts me.”

Click Here to view full story and video at calgaryherald.com

Images ©2009 Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald

Guanajuato and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

2009-11-10T12:07:00.001-07:00

After the Day of the Dead we headed west to the colonial mountain town of Guanajuato in the state of Jalisco. I believe it's for towns like this that we travel.

Guanajuato was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century when silver was discovered in the surrounding mountains. The colonial architecture and it's old world layout preserve the town's historic charm while the students attending Universidad de Guanajuato provide the streets with vibrancy and life.

If every there was a town meant for exploring, this is it. The angled paths and alleyways, encased by pastel homes built on hillside after hillside, provide the curious-by-natured the opportunity to wander for hours. Thanks to it's underground streets Guanajuato is largely automobile free.

Guanajuato is great for people watching. There's something to be said for sipping a Negro Modelo at patio restaurant/bar on one of the town's many plazas while listening to Mariachis tune their guitars in preparation for that evening's serenading.

Following Guanajuato we headed for the coast where we were able to pull up a deckchair on the beach at Puerto Vallarta and watch the sunset on the day and on our trip. Hasta Luego.

Images ©2009 Stuart Gradon

Mixquic, Mexico

2009-11-06T00:24:00.002-07:00

Across Mexico and throughout Latin America the second day of November is reserved for the dead. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is the day reserved for families to gather and be in the presence of the souls of their deceased relatives during an evening of celebration and ceremony.

Tradition is different from town to town, community to community. In Mixquic, a town southeast of Mexico City, the locals gather marigolds to lay upon the freshly cleaned graves of their relatives. Candles are lit for a night-long observance where the spirits of the dead are lured to join their family and friends by offerings of their favourite foods.

While the spirits and loved ones are reuniting in the cemetery of the village's church, San Andres Apostol, Mixquic's streets are bustling with a festival full of locals and tourists. The heavy clouds of incense from the town's graveyard can't hide the scent of freshly fried cheese quesadillas and cheap bottles of Corona offered up by the residents. Visitors are drawn to the doorway kitchens and makeshift bars like so many souls to a decorated cemetery.

Despite the street party, widows and widowers still keep vigil by the graves of their loved ones.

Images ©2009 Stuart Gradon

Mexico and Mexico City

2009-11-04T21:36:00.001-07:00

Jamie, my girlfriend, and I booked a trip to Mexico a little while ago. Our plan: hit Mexico City and the surrounding area for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Then we would head west to the 'real' Mexico in the mountain town of Guanajuato before sipping margaritas on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta.

It feels like Mexico City is to Central America as Paris is to western Europe. It's a destination for local tourists: the shopping, the historical sites, the arts, the religious cathedrals. Though the majority of tourists speak Spanish, it's easy to tell many of them are visitors, cameras and maps in hand, come to see the 'big' city.

Many of these visitors chose to be blessed by local natives outside the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metroplitana de la Asuncion de Maria).

We made a pilgrimage to Estadio Azteca (Azteca Stadium) to watch Club America play Jaguares in a Mexican premier league football game. The opportunity to see the site of Diego Maradona's 1986 World Cup 'hand of god goal' and 'goal of the century' could not be passed up by this footy fan. Despite a dull 1-1 draw and a seemingly empty stadium, 25,000 people in a 100,000 seat stadium does seem empty, the visit was worth it. I bought the shirt to prove it.

We also took in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. The city came to prominence sometime between 1AD-250AD but was later abandoned. It's ancient pyramids lie 40km north of Mexico City. It went unnoticed by Hernan Cortes during his 16th century conquest of Mexico but is today a UNESCO world heritage site, which is considered one of the world's must see sites. Watching tourist walk along the Calzada de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead) it's easy to imagine the city at it's zenith.

Images ©2009 Stuart Gradon