Photography – Page 4 – My Second Running Life

Strokes, Streaks and Snow

Now for a post dedicated to the core subjects on this site: strokes, running, and of course photography. Covering all of that might seem like a tall order, but the last month has provided me with plenty of material on all three subjects. So, without further ado…

CanStroke Congress

In late November, Calgary hosted the 2024 Canadian Stroke Congress, which is described as “a forum for stroke researchers, trainees, clinicians, allied health, administrators, policymakers, and People With Lived Experience of stroke (PWLE) to share new discoveries and innovations, the latest science and therapies, and to build relationships for future collaboration.”

I learned about the congress in a recent conversation with representatives of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. By registering as a PWLE, I was able to attend any of the main sessions at a very reasonable cost. It was a unique opportunity to participate in an exceptional event.

Several workshops were offered on the day before the congress, and I attended one on patient engagement. We heard from scientists and advocates on a range of topics, all focused on ways that PWLE can become involved in stroke research and advocacy. Breakout sessions addressed the practicalities of various engagement paths. The workshop was a good chance to meet other people and share our respective stroke journeys.

I was so impressed with the workshop that I returned the next day to attend a couple of the main sessions. Dr. Andrew Demchuk, the hero of my own stroke story, and Dr. Thalia Field from UBC led a discussion, “What’s New in Stroke Prevention?” It was standing room only for this session. While much of the discussion was over my head, I was so impressed by the depth and breadth of the presentation, and the knowledge and confidence of the speakers. It reinforced my opinion that world-class stroke care is available in Canada.

Another session (“What’s New in Acute Stroke?”) had three eminent stroke neurologists discuss developments in stroke diagnostics and therapies, including some that I touched on in a recent post. It turns out I have a connection to all three of the speakers:

Dr. Michael Hill was one of the physicians involved in my care at the Foothills Stroke Unit in 2017. He kindly wrote the foreword for Stroke of Luck.
I’ve never met Dr. Mayank Goyal, but he would have been the physician responsible for inserting a stent into my blocked vertebral artery, should the decision have been made to follow this treatment route for me.
Finally, Dr. Aristeidis Katsanos is an eminent stroke neurologist at my alma mater, McMaster University.

My takeaway from attending the congress is that while stroke incidence is increasing and our healthcare system is under severe pressure, we should be encouraged by many significant advancements that are being made in stroke diagnostics and therapy. There is reason to be optimistic about the future.

A Blast of Winter

Coincident with the stroke congress was Calgary’s first blast of winter. This likely gave the conference organizers fits. It was quite a wallop. I think we got something like three times our usual November snowfall in one day. Now, while that did complicate a lot of things, it also provided for some great photography. Here are some shots from around the city… with a reminder that the copyright for all images is mine.

Strides Run Streak

Here we are, already halfway through December. Cue the usual observations about where the year has gone. December is also when many Calgary runners take on the annual Strides Run Streak. The challenge is simple: run at least one mile every day during the month.

I have some meaningful connections to this event, so whatever else is going on at this time of year, I like to sign up for it. One mile a day is an achievable goal. I give myself the added challenge of finding a worthy photo or two while I’m completing my run. Sometimes that is a bigger test, particularly with the days getting shorter and shorter!

This year, my commitment is strong, but the challenges are not insignificant. We started the month with plenty of snow on the roads and sidewalks, which have slowly turned into skating rinks. Ah, Calgary weather! I’m also doing most of my running solo these days, as my favourite training partner is sidelined with a sore hip. We are both hoping for some improvement soon.

Two weeks into December, my streak is intact, and I have managed to accumulate a few images. Maybe more images than miles, if I’m honest. While it is nice to capture the festive spirit… the snow does help with that… it isn’t essential. Rather, my goal is to find images that can transport me back into that time and place. It’s a way of adding meaning to my runs. When it comes together, it’s a nice feeling. Here’s a sample.

And while I did say the images don’t have to be festive, there is one that has the potential to put even a Grinch like me into the Christmas spirit. See what you think.

Look for more images soon. I have ideas for other posts before I shut things down for the holidays. In case that doesn’t happen, I will take this opportunity to offer my best wishes for a Merry Christmas to one and all.

Be well and BE FAST!

Head Hunting

The Art of Jaume Plensa

I was looking for an excuse to go into downtown Calgary for some photography, and I thought about the “big head” sculpture that sits in front of The Bow building. Like the building, the sculpture is iconic; it’s a monumental and very popular piece of public art. I’ve photographed the sculpture many times, but it seems to always have more to offer, depending on the season, the time of day and of course, the light.

First, some background. The sculpture’s official name is Wonderland and it’s by the Spanish artist, Jaume Plensa. Plensa was born in 1955 in Barcelona. He studied art in his home city. Over several decades he has lived, worked and exhibited his art in cities across Europe and the United States. Plensa has received international recognition for his exhibitions and installation pieces. His diverse works include sculpture, fountains and graphic arts.

Wonderland (2012), Calgary

Wonderland is one of many sculptures that Plensa has created for public spaces around the world. When I looked into the origin of Wonderland, I learned that he has installed similar large-scale pieces across Europe, Asia and North America.

Wonderland is ideally situated in the curved façade of The Bow, where it’s been since 2013. The sculpture depicts the head of a young girl. It’s about 12 metres high, and it’s made of bent steel wire. I think the piece is so popular because it has openings at ground level, which let visitors enter the sculpture’s inner space. Plensa invites us to contemplate Calgary’s downtown from the perspective of the subject. It’s a thought-provoking piece, for sure.

Here are several of the many shots of Wonderland I’ve taken over the years.

Julia (2018), Madrid

I realized that Debbie and I had seen other Plensa pieces in our travels. Most recently, we stayed a couple of blocks from a monumental sculpture in the Plaza de Colón in Madrid, called Julia. About the same size as the Calgary piece, Julia is also a sculpture of a young woman’s head. The subject’s eyes are closed as if she is meditating.

Julia is typical of Plensa’s large, elongated and flattened busts. When you look at them straight on, they give the impression of being on an angle. It’s an impressive optical illusion. The Madrid piece is made of polyester resin and white marble dust. It’s stunning.

We passed Julia several times a day while we were in the city, and each time I took a few photos. While Julia has been in her current location since 2018, it turns out that she may not be installed permanently… it’s a good thing I took so many photos while we were nearby. Here are a couple of my favourites:

Sanna (2013), Bordeaux

As I did more research into the artist, I realized we had seen another sculpture similar to Julia in Bordeaux, France some years earlier. Sure enough, it was another Plensa piece called Sanna. That one sits in the Theatre Square (the Place de la Comédie) in the heart of the city. Its perspective has been manipulated in the same way as the Madrid piece, and the subject is also shown in a quiet, contemplative pose. Unlike Julia, Sanna is made of cast iron. She is 7 metres high.

The story of Sanna coming to be in Bordeaux is that in 2013 the city hosted an exposition of Plensa’s pieces. The event was popular, so much so that residents initiated a movement to acquire Sanna permanently. As far as I know, it will remain in place until at least 2027.

We have very fond memories of our visit to Bordeaux. The square where Sanna sits is busy with cafes and shops. If we ever make it back there, I hope Sanna will still be there.

Source (2017), Montreal

The final Plensa sculpture I want to highlight is installed on a terrace in Rue Wellington, just at the entrance to downtown Montreal. Somewhat in the same style as Wonderland, Source is a three-dimensional piece within an open outer frame. It’s a stainless-steel sculpture formed from a random pattern of letters taken from different alphabets, which depict a sitting figure.

The Montreal piece symbolizes the many cultures that have come together over the city’s long history. Fittingly, it was installed for the 375^th anniversary of Montreal’s founding in 2017. Like the Calgary piece, Source is open, so it invites visitors to enter the inner space of the piece.

Our stop at the Source was short, and I only have one photo of the piece. Rest assured, I will take more time to check it out next time we are in Montreal.

Concluding thoughts

So what is my take on Plensa, and his large public art pieces?

In a 2019 interview with Forbes, Plensa discusses his use of altered perspective and open gridwork sculptural elements. He described using these techniques as a way of exploring his interest in the way humans communicate, and how different cultures use language.

For me, Plensa’s sculptures seem designed to invite close inspection and discussion. We want to get close to these sculptures. We want to walk around them and even into them. The large scale of his head sculptures could be intimidating, but Plensa defuses this by the way he plays with perspective, and by his use of serene and peaceful subjects.

Having seen four of his works in person, and looked at many others on his website, I find them to be beautiful and innovative. It’s clear from Plensa’s vast catalogue that his formula is a success: there are literally dozens of his pieces installed around the world. I don’t take this as evidence of an overworked theme. Rather, I would say that Plensa has achieved his goal: his works encourage us to get together in pleasant locations and talk. For this reason alone, his art is well suited to the public spaces in which we find it.

Signal Hill Photo Run

A recent errand led me to an unexpected trail of discovery through Calgary’s military history. I had stopped at the busy Westhills shopping district, the usual collection of big box stores. As I walked back to my car, I noticed the battalion numbers preserved on the side of the hill below the Signal Hill neighbourhood.

I knew about the battalion markers but hadn’t thought much about their significance. My first reaction when I saw the whitewashed stones was how small they looked, sandwiched in between the RONA store and Calgary’s residential sprawl just above. I made a point to return soon for a closer look.

Military history squeezed into the urban landscape

A couple of days later, I was jogging through North Glenmore Park, along the crest of the bluff. I ran by a monument at the west end of the park, one that I had passed hundreds of times. I decided to stop and check it out. The plaque indicated that this was a 1967 memorial to the 137th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (the CEF) in World War I. I remembered that “137” was also one of the battalion numbers on Signal Hill.

The 1967 memorial to the 137th Battalion

I guessed, correctly, that this was the same 137th battalion immortalized on the hillside. Now I definitely had to make my way over to Signal Hill. I figured it would be a great excuse for a photo run.

I grabbed my camera (the Ricoh GR III of course) and parked at Battalion Park on Signal Hill Drive. Here’s the Strava entry for my easy run. It was a beautiful day and I did an enjoyable 6-kilometre loop around the neighbourhood.

The story of Sarcee Camp is well explained in a series of plaques next to the stairs that wind through the markers. I learned that the camp was established in 1914. It was in a section of the Sarcee Indian reserve (now Tsuu T’ina) that was leased by the Canadian militia as a training site.

Sarcee Camp was a busy place. As many as 45,000 military personnel from 30 battalions trained at the site during the war. It was customary for each battalion to construct a “geoglyph” (that’s a design or motif created by humans and built into the natural landscape) with their unit number. They did this using stones hauled by hand from the riverbed, which is two kilometres away from the hill.

The 113 is the oldest of the four stone markers on Signal Hill. The 113th Battalion was formed as the Lethbridge Highlanders in 1915. The battalion relocated to Sarcee Camp in May 1916 and sailed for England in September of that year. The 113th was broken up for replacements, with most of the men transferred to France. The battalion never saw action as a unit and was disbanded in 1917.

The other numbers on the hillside were constructed by battalions of the CEF that trained at the Sarcee Camp, including the following:

The 137th Infantry Battalion of Calgary began recruiting in late 1915. After sailing to England in August 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 21st Reserve Battalion. It’s worth noting that the King’s Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) perpetuates the 137th Battalion. Members of the 137th Battalion CEF Association erected the memorial to the unit in Glenmore Park.
The 151st Central Alberta Battalion began recruiting in 1915. It sailed to England in October 1916 and was absorbed into several reserve battalions.
The 51st Canadian Infantry Battalion was recruited in Edmonton. It sailed to England in April 1916 and provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps until it was reorganized in November 1916.

Although there were approximately 20 geoglyphs built, most were destroyed in the 1950s during the construction of a mess hall.

When we first moved to Calgary in the early 1990’s, the battalion markers were just about the only thing in the area. Over time, residential development nearly swallowed up the geoglyphs. Fortunately, there was enough recognition of the significance of these markers that they were preserved. In fact, three of the markers (137, 151 and 51) were meticulously moved a short distance from their original locations.

You can see a few photos I took during my cooldown walk. I found it quite challenging to get any perspective on the geoglyphs when I was right next to them. In that respect, the parking lot of the RONA store isn’t a bad place to stop and admire this unique piece of Canada’s military history. Even so, with Remembrance Day just around the corner, I recommend getting closer and doing more exploration if you have the time.

On the Street with Hektor

This is a review of a camera lens that nobody uses. It might make sense to add up front that I’m not a reviewer of camera equipment. So, if there are no readers of this piece, the only loss will be the time I spent writing it. That said, I hope to introduce an unusual piece of equipment in an approachable way, even for non-photographers.

So, what’s the story?

I have what might be described as a diverse collection of cameras and lenses. I don’t chase the latest equipment, and I don’t change my gear often. A lot of my gear is, well, old. The oldest and probably the oddest lens I own is a 70-year-old telephoto, made by Leica. It’s a lens that can be used on any M-series Leica camera made in the last seven decades. That’s quite remarkable when you think about it. It speaks to a solid legacy of product design.

For those who don’t fuss over cameras, Leica equipment is held in high regard… it’s considered to be an elite brand. In Leica’s rangefinder cameras (their “M” range), the products have a reputation for being practical, solidly built and efficient.

Except maybe for Hektor.

The Hektor is a medium telephoto lens, with maximum aperture of f/4 and focal length of 135mm. (That is the extent of the technical lingo in this review.)

First off, 135mm happens to be a difficult… some would say unusable… focal length on Leica M rangefinders. Given my intention to keep this piece readable, I won’t explain why that is. But it is a serious knock against the lens.

I’m going to lump a few other points together because they collectively contribute to the look of the lens. And how would I describe its looks? In a word, it’s unattractive. Okay, ugly. (That reminds me of the story that the Hektor is named after Leica lens designer Max Berek‘s dog. I wonder what that says about the dog.)

Anyway, the lens design, meaning the arrangement of glass elements inside the tube that forms the lens, is simple. In photographic terms, the f/4 aperture makes this a “slow” lens. This combination of design decisions means that the lens itself is long and skinny. I don’t really like the look (or the feel) of the lens when I’m walking around with it over my shoulder.

As a further negative point, the Hektor is awkward to use. It is well-made and solid. After all, it IS a Leica lens. Still, when taking a photo, it’s hard to focus because it requires a lot of rotation of the lens barrel. This isn’t a lens for action photography.

With all those flaws, I might be advised to end my review here. But here’s the problem. I think it actually takes good pictures. Check out these examples:

These pictures all came out of the camera with soft contrast, kind of a “mid-century” look. Could that be the result of whatever combination of optics and coatings was put into the lens in 1954? Maybe. It isn’t necessarily a bad look. In fact, it may be exactly what one is looking for, especially for portraits. After some editing, the results look fine, at least to me. (I should add that the Hektor’s colour rendition isn’t good, so I usually use it for B&W shooting.)

I’ve used the lens for street photography, and it’s best for distant subjects… shots across a street, like “VW Girl”, above. Shooting with Hektor brings all the shortcomings I mentioned earlier into play. For that reason, if I’m using this lens I have to get my settings ready and wait for subjects to enter the scene.

The lens is quite sharp across the aperture range, even shooting wide open. Again, it should work well in portraiture. Given how slow it is, maybe outdoor portraiture would be the best bet.

I’ve read a few other reviews of this lens. Most bash it quite harshly. One review by a well-known online source is very negative. However, when one reads the full review, the reviewer concedes the many strong points the lens has going for it when taking pictures. And isn’t that what matters?

Wrapping up, the Hektor is a lens I rarely reach for. There are good reasons for that. But every so often, when I feel like giving myself a photographic challenge, I put it on a Leica M camera and take it out for a spin. I marvel at the fact that I can do that at all, with such an ancient piece of equipment. And if I’m patient, I usually come home with a shot or two that convince me to keep this oddball in my kit.

Auroras and Other Distractions

Good news! I’ve extended my Dedication Sale through the end of October. It’s a nod to our Thanksgiving holiday.

Print and e-book versions are available on Amazon at a 20% discount.

There’s a hard stop on the sale on November 1!

In what was a fairly chaotic week, I did manage to capture a few interesting images. There was no shortage of subject matter. I only had to force myself out the door with a camera.

Auroras a-plenty!

This year has been unmatched for solar activity. I read that it’s all because the cycle of solar activity is at its peak. (Sounds like a topic for a future blog piece!)

I’ve always been interested in photographing the aurora borealis (the “Northern Lights”) but frankly, I wasn’t up to what I assumed was the significant effort needed to make it happen. What gear did I need? How much work would it be to get to a good location, and to do so in the middle of winter when the aurora are most active?

It turns out, this year at least, all one has to do is put an iPhone on a tripod (or maybe not), walk to the nearest park, and look up. I started seeing IG posts from friends who were taking pictures from their backyards, so I figured I could make a similar commitment.

I found a great website (Alberta Aurora Status) that estimates the combination of solar and atmospheric conditions necessary for good viewing. Lately, even that much science may not have been needed.

As for the photos, those took a few nights of experimentation. Fortunately, our recent weather has been agreeable and the skies have been mainly clear. I tried some shots with a “real” camera and soon learned that my iPhone 14 was more than adequate to land some decent shots. I plan to try again soon with other cameras… it looks like the good viewing isn’t finished yet.

The iPhone has a “Night Mode”, which uses a long exposure and some noise reduction. Later, it took some trial and error to get the best result with my photo editor… mainly I adjusted the exposure and added some saturation. Overall, I think the results are pretty good, considering how easy it all was.

Here are some of my edited shots from Lightroom.

Fall Colours and Intervals

Knowing that our daylight hours are in rapid decline, I made sure to join our weekly group run at Carburn Park on Thursday evening. It was a perfect outing, and it may turn out to be our last outdoor session for the season. A small group showed up since many of our teammates were in recovery mode after a recent target race. Jason G led us through some sets of 500m – 500m – 1k.

We headed over to the west side of the Bow River and turned north. The views back across the river were spectacular. The setting sun lit up the fall colours, with most of the leaves still on the trees. I used our short 1-minute breaks to good effect, snapping as many pictures as I could before the light show ended. I couldn’t have asked for better training partners than Doreen and Elidh. All pictures with the unbeatable Ricoh GR III.

A-B-C’s

A is for Art and B is for Borduas. What? Who?

On Saturday, Deb and I made our way to Masters Gallery, to catch the last day of a David Thauberger exhibit. He’s a Saskatchewan painter who’s been active for 50 years. The gallery had an interesting selection of works from his long career.

We always enjoy stopping into the gallery on 4th Street SW to chat with Ryan Green (@ryngreen on IG) and visit with his sidekick. This visit was no exception.

The sidekick I’m referring to is Borduas, aka “Bordy”. Bordy is a wonderful British Bulldog. He’s named after the Canadian artist, Paul-Émile Borduas (1905-1960), and he (the dog) is a fixture in the gallery. I snapped a few pictures of Ryan and Bordy because I had to. You’ll see what I mean.

And what about C? This week, C was for Competition, as in racing. After a long hiatus, I signed up for a 5k. This was largely due to peer pressure, from the same Jason I referenced earlier. He had signed up for the 5k as part of the Calgary Police Half Marathon… one of the longest-running, best-organized races in Calgary… and encouraged me to do the same. Thanks for the push, Jason!

I had no illusions of running with Jason, but I set as my goal to run a steady effort at a challenging pace. In other words, I wanted this to be a race, even though it was at my current (reduced) capabilities. I figured I might have a shot at a podium finish in the M60-69 age group, but it was no problem if it didn’t happen. I was just happy to be over my recent calf/Achilles tendon problem.

All photos by Deb Kelly:

Conditions were ideal for racing, and it was a successful outing for Adrenaline Rush runners. Jason flew to a 10th-place overall finish and set a personal best in the process. His time of 19:13 easily placed him first in his age group, by several minutes. Scott did very well in the 10k, running 53:43 and finishing 4th in his age group. Alistair (no photo) cruised to a second-place overall finish in the main event (the half marathon), running 1:22:34. That was impressive enough, but consider that he was taken off course by the lead cyclist, a miscue that added 500m to his race distance. Way to go, guys!

And me? I finished the 5k in 25:55. It was a solid effort. I was happy and maybe a bit surprised with it. I ran smart. I did miss the podium by one spot, and I missed running with Deb even more. Maybe next time!

Catching Up

It’s been a couple of weeks since I posted anything, so this will be a quick effort to catch up. I’ve been wrestling with some more pithy pieces. Those aren’t really coming together, and I needed an excuse to park them for a while.

The first thing I wanted to mention is that my Dedication Sale is still on.

For the rest of September, you can pick up a copy of Stroke of Luck on Amazon, at a 20% discount, in either print or e-book format.

Don’t miss out!

A Major Milestone

Deb and I marked a special occasion in early September: our 40th wedding anniversary. Although the day seemed to come up quickly… it’s been that kind of year… we did enjoy a quiet dinner together.

Apparently, the 40th anniversary gift is ruby. I can assure you that no rubies were exchanged. Maybe we will plan a vacation for early 2025 to mark the occasion.

It was fun to pull out our wedding album and confirm how little (?) we’ve changed over the years. No comments, please!

Street Scenes

Last week, I was reminded why it’s a good idea to always carry a camera. (I still don’t count the one in my phone.) I happened to be in the East Village during what would usually be the commuting hour. Good thing that I don’t have to bother with that anymore. It was a beautiful morning. The light was so amazing that I had to stop the car. I was at the corner of Centre Street at 11th Avenue SW.

I hadn’t seen a specific image, but I felt there might be some good shots for the taking. I didn’t have far to go. Overnight rain had conveniently left some puddles on the sidewalk. Looking east down 11th Avenue, the buildings were perfectly framed, with the sunrise reflected in the building across the street. I crouched down and snapped a couple of shots. Here’s the result.

East Village, morning commute (13 September, Ricoh GR III)

Two days later, I was driving north on Crowchild Trail with no real plans. Every time I pass the Eamon’s Bungalow Camp sign at the Tuscany LRT station, I think about stopping to have a look. As that isn’t my part of town, it took me a few minutes to actually find the station. The reason I’ve wanted to stop is that I remember the sign from our earliest years in Calgary. We used to take the kids to Butterfield Acres, and we would see the sign on our way up there.

I did some digging on the internet. The Eamon’s Tourist Centre was in operation from 1949 to 1961. It was basically a gas station and restaurant, with some motel-style bungalows. The place had some good years before the TransCanada Highway changed traffic patterns. The business declined and the restaurant was destroyed by fire. Of course, as Calgary expanded north, the whole area was eventually absorbed by urban sprawl. Fortunately, the city preserved the sign and incorporated it (rather nicely I think) into the architecture of the C-Train station.

My shot was taken on a sunny afternoon. The vibe was decidedly mid-century, so my photo had to be monochrome. The clouds added some interest. I even lucked out when a transit patron came into the shot, holding an umbrella.

Tuscany LRT Station, homage to Eamon’s (15 September, Ricoh GR III)

Always Grateful

I’ve missed several of our regular Thursday evening interval sessions at Carburn Park, and for a variety of reasons. I think I’m over the worst of my tight calf/Achilles tendon issue, thanks to Jenna Nichol at Alpine Sports Therapy. Then it was recovery from my tooth implant, and one missed session due to torrential rain.

Finally, this past Thursday, I was ready to give it a try. We had a good turnout, on a perfect late summer evening. I can almost hear the AC/DC soundtrack playing when I look at this photo.

Ready for business, Carburn Park (19 September, Ricoh GR III) Photo by Jason Gurevitch

Our workout called for mile repeats, with an option of some shorter stuff for those targeting shorter races or just returning to form. That last part suited me. I set my sights on 2 sets of 1 mile-800m-400m. I wasn’t sure I would even be able to achieve that.

I’ve gotten used to bringing up the rear among my talented teammates. Still, given that several of them are in the final stages of marathon training, and I am at a very different point, it promised to be a humbling experience.

In fact, it was a great workout. I surprised myself by managing to hang on the back of the bunch, but only just. My mind did its usual thing of wandering while I ran. I wondered, is there a running equivalent for the “lanterne rouge” of the Tour de France?

Given that I was doing a shorter version of the workout, I was back to our starting point with a bit of time before the thoroughbreds made it there. I had a few minutes to check out the lagoon and snap a couple of pictures of the peaceful scene in the fading light. Beautiful!

Carburn Park Lagoon, sunset (19 September, Ricoh GR III)

It was the kind of evening that makes me very grateful, for all the blessings I’ve had. I hope you may also be so fortunate.

Until next time, all the best.