Photography – Page 2 – My Second Running Life

BUMP Photo Runs – Part 1

I was jogging around Calgary’s Beltline, feeling a bit short of ideas for my next urban run/photo adventure. As I rounded the corner from 7th Street onto 15th Avenue, I glanced up at the side of the building. What I saw stopped me in my tracks, and instantly gave me the inspiration I needed.

What’s BUMP?

There’s a program called the Beltline Urban Mural Project… BUMP… that has been making Calgary’s inner city streets more interesting and colourful for years. I had to find out more.

From the BUMP website, I learned that the project started in 2017, and has grown significantly since then. Seeing all the artwork in one run would be challenging, if not impossible. There are dozens of sites, spread throughout the core. I needed a plan. I often start my runs near Lougheed House, so I decided to use that location as my base. I could get a good overview of the murals (and hopefully some worthy photos) by concentrating on different neighbourhoods over several runs. This is the first of what is likely to be an ongoing series.

Run 1 – BUMP in the Beltline

Run 1 focused on the Beltline itself… bounded roughly by 15th and 10th Avenue, and 1st and 10th Street. Here’s my Strava map:

Turning to the art, let me start with the mural that prompted this idea. It’s a large, striking piece in green, called “The Last Maple Leaf”. It was painted in 2023 by the Colombian artist Wosnan. This is from the mural description:

“Rising from nature an ancient guardian of the forest who merges the realms of magic, other worlds and dimensions, spirit and space stands tall, looking over our city…”

Wosnan, “The Last Maple Leaf”, 1411 7th Street SW

This was an apt description of the mysterious tree-like being that loomed over me, guarding his/her corner of the neighbourhood while pondering (no surprise) the last maple leaf. Stirring stuff! I studied the mural carefully, with my stopwatch running. The magnitude of the challenge I had taken on dawned on me. Maybe I should make this a slow photo walk…

No! I resumed my run, with my goal of at least five kilometres in mind. I tried to ignore the glimpses of colour that I started to notice down every alley.

Bottom line? I finished with lots of pictures and a feeling that I had made a small dent in the many Beltline murals. For full disclosure, while I saw all these murals on BUMP Run 1, some of the photos are from previous runs because I liked the shot more. Light is everything, you know!

Here’s a short summary of the pieces in the photographs. I recommend following the links to the map on the BUMP website to find out more.

Jurena Munoz, aka JUMU Monster (Peru-Chile), “Dancing Animals”, 604 14 Avenue SW
Kwest (Canada), “Calgary Sunrise”, 1229 Macleod Trail SE
Nathan Meguinis (Tsuut’ina), “Buffalo Nations Stand and Be Noticed”, 1320 1 Street SW
Jae Sterling (Jamaica-Canada), “Portal Maker”, 730 11 Avenue SW
Ankh One (France), “Joy & Fertility”, 340 10 Avenue SW

Mural Making – A Layman’s Perspective

Imagine painting a mural on a wall 60 feet wide by 30 feet high. How does one even begin? Laying out a piece at that size and scale must be extremely difficult. And the execution would bring very different challenges. I marvel at the way the artists manage the intricate details, while still capturing their vision for the whole piece.

I had a front-row seat for the creation of sôhkâtisiwin (that’s Canadian artist Kevin Ledo’s striking mural at 340 10 Avenue SW). The title means “strength/power” in the Cree language. The image is taken from a picture of B-Girl and traditional hoop dancer, Angela Gladue. I watched the beautiful portrait of this young Indigenous woman come to life in 2018, from the comfort of my office across the street. Kevin and his helpers toiled away in the hot summer sun on a stage lift, going up and down endlessly over several weeks to complete the image, which now livens up the west side of a parking garage. I made sure to give them a thumbs-up every time I walked by.

Here’s a rough timelapse of the process (I had many more pictures on my phone, but I recently deleted most of them). You get the idea though.

Impressions

This is an amazing initiative. To state the obvious, BUMP is a diverse selection of art. I’m impressed by the sheer number and quality of the murals. It’s great to have artists from around the world come to Calgary and share their talent. I hope the project continues and expands its reach across the city.

This is the kind of project that invites us to slow down and take a closer look at the art. Sure, we can (and most often, do) pass by these murals in our daily routine. Maybe we glance at them, maybe we don’t. But this first photo run has already prompted many questions… Who is this artist? What is their message? Do I think they succeeded? What does this piece make me feel?

The BUMP website helpfully lets the user select pieces they would like to see on a walking tour, and this is probably the correct way to see them. I will persevere with my photo run idea, knowing I will still see and learn a lot along the way.

My early impressions are very positive. I already have some favourites. I will defer any thoughts about that question until I’ve done more exploration. There will eventually be a personal top 10 list, but even that will be subject to change as I see more of the contenders. Look for more posts on my BUMP photo runs soon.

Thanks for reading. Please drop me a comment. Let me know if you have a favourite BUMP mural that you think I should see.

Until next time, be well and BE FAST!

Prairie Mountain Sunrise Hike 2024

In mid-December, my friend Tim announced the details of what can now be called the Annual Prairie Mountain Winter Sunrise Hike. This would be the third (or was it the fourth?) consecutive trek. Whatever the number, it’s still a great idea.

After consulting his celestial tables, Tim determined that the morning of December 30 would align us with the latest sunrise of the season, plus or minus a few seconds.

If you haven’t seen my posts on last year’s hike, I recommend you check out Part 1: The Hike and Part 2: The Science. (Tim even organized a Prairie Mountain summer solstice hike in June 2024 for the real early risers. You can read about that one here.)

For those who aren’t familiar with Prairie Mountain in Kananaskis, it is the most accessible mountain for Calgary hikers. Conditions on the trail and at the summit can be quite variable, so it’s important to check the weather and prepare for anything. Of course, allowance for the drive and the ascent were critical to getting us to the summit in good time for the sun’s (hopeful) appearance at 8:39 a.m.

This year, our party consisted of eight hikers. We had seven regulars and one PM rookie… welcome Ken! We woke up to snowy conditions in Calgary, a big change from the prevailing weather pattern of the previous month. What awaited us at the summit?

Dan and I joined the convoy that left Calgary at 6:10 a.m. We reached the trailhead at around 7 and were off and climbing just a few minutes later.

The conditions (or maybe it was my conditioning) made for a tougher hike than what I remember in 2023. After last year’s outing, I knew what to expect on the revamped (and in my opinion, significantly improved) Prairie Mountain trail. I put my head down and tried to dole out my energy efficiently. I knew that counting three one-kilometre beeps from my Garmin would just about put us on the summit ridge. I welcomed a couple of short breaks, first to shut off our headlamps and then to regroup at the lower viewpoint.

On this morning, there was only the dimmest of dawn light to guide us. Clouds socked in the summit as we arrived. There would be no repeat of last year’s glorious sunrise show. But no matter. Fortunately, there was little wind. We all grabbed a quick snack, posed for a couple of group photos, and got organized for the descent. I was thankful for my Kahtoola Microspikes, which were a necessity as we got to some slippery sections lower on the mountain.

Here’s my activity summary from Strava. One thing is clear: Prairie Mountain is always a good workout!

I was impressed by the calibre of our hiking group. What a hardy and enthusiastic bunch… including our youngest hiker, who didn’t even need a hat! Here are a few photos from this year’s hike, taken with my constant companion, the invincible Ricoh GR III.

And the sun? It made only the briefest of appearances, as if to tease us, just before we arrived back at the trailhead.

Too little, too late (December 30, 2024)

So, even though the sun didn’t show up to the party, it was still an enjoyable outing and a good way to close out 2024. I look forward to more adventures in the new year.

On that note, Happy New Year to all. Be well, and BE FAST!

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.

The Van Gogh to Van Gogh Photo Run

My photo run was bookended by two very different pieces of public art in Calgary. The pieces have a couple of things in common. Both are large, impressive sculptural works. And both have Vincent Van Gogh as their subject.

What a coincidence! I decided to do some research after I got home. But first, it was time to explore on foot. Here’s my route from Strava:

And here’s what I found out about the artworks and the artists.

Van Gogh Observes, by Joe Fafard

I parked on 4th Street SW in Mission, near Masters Gallery, for the start of my easy run. I always like checking out what’s on display in their windows. Whatever else I happen to see, I can stop to admire the large piece installed just outside the gallery.

That piece, Van Gogh Observes (VGO), is a major sculpture by the late Joe Fafard. I wrote about Fafard last fall, when I photographed Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do, his sculpture comprising eight stampeding horses. That piece is installed in Harley Hotchkiss Park in downtown Calgary.

Fafard’s piece is big and colourful. It’s fantastic. Van Gogh silently watches everything going on outside the gallery… hence the title. And from his vantage point, he’s seen a lot since the piece was unveiled in 2019. Van Gogh Observes was one of Fafard’s last major works… he died in March of the same year.

Although it wasn’t taken during my recent run, here’s one of my favourite pictures at that location. This couple seems to be deep in conversation with Vincent.

Fafard was famous for his sculptural works, which often have a highly animated look. He sculpted livestock, people and other subjects, in bronze or laser-cut steel. His work is always visually appealing. This is certainly true of VGO. I think Fafard’s use of bold yellow and blue was a nod to Van Gogh’s frequent use of the same colours. It’s a piece that brightens up bleak winter days in Calgary.

Even from the back, it’s an amazing piece to look at.

Van Gogh Observes (Joe Fafard), from the rear

Van Gogh Monumental, by Bruno Catalano

I made my way to the UPTEN building at 10 Avenue and 1 Street SE to see Bruno Catalano’s 2020 painted bronze statue, Van Gogh Monumental. The four-metre-tall statue on the southeast corner of the intersection presents the artist walking purposefully while holding a well-used suitcase and carrying a painting on his back. He walks in the direction of the downtown core.

The statue is part of Catalano’s Les Voyageurs series, all of which depict characters in motion. Many of Catalano’s sculptures, including this one, have a large diagonal gap, really a gash, at mid-torso. The sculptures seem to defy physics… they shouldn’t be standing, but they do. Catalano’s bio tells us he discovered this technique when he had a casting accident with an earlier piece. He liked the result, and he incorporated it into many of his subsequent works. It’s become his trademark.

Catalano’s sculpture invites speculation about its meaning. What is Van Gogh searching for? Where is he headed? Maybe there are clues in Catalano’s own story. He was born in Morocco. His French-Italian family moved to Marseille when he was ten. Catalano has Jewish ancestors, who were expelled from Spain in the 15th century, and eventually settled in North Africa. The theme of travelling, of searching nomadically, seems to fit naturally into his art.

I find it interesting that Catalano chose Van Gogh for this sculpture, because most of his subjects are anonymous people. Here, he has chosen one of the world’s most famous and troubled artists. We shouldn’t be surprised to see Van Gogh searching for something while carrying his worldly possessions and his art. The gap in the statue is visually startling, but it also reinforces the idea that the subject has lost something quite fundamental.

Conclusion

As I jogged back to my car, I pondered the two art pieces I had just seen. I like both the Fafard and the Catalano pieces, even though they give us very different takes on an artist we all have some familiarity with.

The Fafard piece is approachable. Its animated look and bright colours give us an optimistic Van Gogh. Like the couple pictured above, we feel we could have a conversation with the man in the statue. That might explain why the statue is a huge attraction. I often see pedestrians stopping to admire it (or have a chat.)

On the other hand, the Catalano piece is more aligned with how we usually think of Van Gogh. It is a darker piece. The burdens Van Gogh is carrying and the cut across his body seem to portend his death by suicide. These are effective techniques to tell us something about the subject, but also about the artist. If Catalano relates to Van Gogh’s trials, he has done a great job of telling us.

I am most moved by the Catalano piece. What about you? Whichever piece you prefer, we are fortunate to have these important artworks in the city. It’s even better that they are just an easy jog apart.

The LPGA Comes to Town

Just when I needed a reminder that things are rarely as bad (or as good) as they seem, I took up my duties as a volunteer at the CPKC Women’s Open. The tournament is our national championship for the stars of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). For 2024, the Open was being held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, which happens to be my home course.

I signed up for the gig months ago. That was before the downturn in my mother’s health, and her passing in early July. I almost forgot about the tournament; it seemed so far off. Then, suddenly, tournament week arrived.

After a quick orientation to the role of course marshal, we were thrown into the deep end, with practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday, and a pro-am on Wednesday. The four tournament rounds would run from Thursday to Sunday.

I’ve watched enough golf to have a good idea of my job description. Even so, seeing marshals on television is quite different from being a few feet away from the top golfers as they tee off or line up their putts.

Where Golf and Hockey Meet

One feature of this tournament promised to make it special. I was assigned to the “rink hole”, a recent but very popular addition to open championships in Canada. It’s now customary to convert a par 3 hole into a hockey rink, with boards around the tee box and a Zamboni parked beside the fairway.

For me and the other marshals, the transformation into a rink was complete when we received our referee shirts. I secretly hoped we were not going to be called upon to break up any fights in the stands. This was golf, after all.

Getting ready for action in Round 4 at the Rink Hole (July 28, 2024)

Thanks to Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Herald for featuring us in a story!

Our challenging par 3 9th hole was designated as the rink hole. For the tournament layout, it would be the 17th hole. That meant there was the potential for drama on our hole in the final round. It certainly delivered!

On to the Action

My first shift on Tuesday was a chance to meet my fellow refs… er, marshals… and practice our routines before the tournament started. I enjoyed the day, and I marveled at the skills of the top-tier golfers. It was amazing to see my course changed into a world-class sports venue. And that was before any fans were on site. I already felt better than I had in weeks.

When I returned for my weekend shifts, the energy was palpable. Now every shot mattered. The golfers had their game faces on. Television cameras broadcast the action live around the world. The crowds grew by the day.

Record crowds turned out for the CPKC Women’s Open final round (July 28, 2024)

Amidst the tension, I noticed a few things. Calgarians were doing what they do best… welcoming visitors to our beautiful city. Tournament volunteers were full of pride for what was shaping up to be an exciting (and record-breaking) event. And Earl Grey GC members were beaming, knowing that the world was discovering our gem of a course on the north shore of the Glenmore Reservoir.

This being Calgary, the weather had to play a role. From a heatwave just a few days earlier, things had changed totally. Wind, smoke and cool temperatures greeted the players on opening day. Visitors must have wondered how such a change was possible in just 24 hours. We locals have a word for that: summer.

By the end of the third round on Saturday, we had seen history, as tour rookie Mao Saigo of Japan tore up our course with 9 birdies and an eagle, for a stellar 61. It was the lowest score ever recorded in a Canadian women’s open.

Sunday brought more drama. Several players vied for the lead in the final nine. As marshals, we focused on our assignments, even as Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee and other top players came through the gate into the rink. Brooke Henderson led a strong contingent of Canadians, including her fellow Paris Olympic golfer (and Hamiltonian), Alena Sharp. What a thrill!

The drama reached a peak as the last few groups finished their final round. Saigo watched in disbelief as she stubbed her chip on 17, leading to a bogey. The third-round leader, Haeran Ryu, found the greenside bunker and also struggled to a 4.

That left only Lauren Coughlin. The American veteran bravely hit a six-iron to the tough back left pin location, leaving a delicate eight-foot birdie putt. By chance, I was stationed at the back of the green, so I was only a few steps from Coughlin and her caddie as they lined up the shot. I had the best spot in the house to see her roll it in, guaranteeing herself a two-shot win with a 13-under score of 275. It was her first tour victory.

It was an exhilarating weekend, and an experience not likely to be repeated.

On the rink hole, there was plenty of good-natured cheering and banging on the boards. Fans showed their deep patriotic pride and love for our Canadian stars, especially Henderson. This is Canada, so everyone was polite. Thankfully, we didn’t even need to put anyone in the penalty box!

I walked back to my car on a perfect Sunday evening, exhausted but satisfied.

Maybe there is still hope for 2024.