Sunday Day Trip

When I got home from the hockey game on Sunday morning, around 12:45AM, it was still very warm, with the temperature a little above freezing.  By the time I finally got to sleep, a little after 2:00AM, it had turned VERY windy, and was raining.  After only a few hours of sleep I awoke at around 8:00 to head out for a day trip.  I was late leaving the house, needed to stop and fuel the truck, and then got caught behind a train at a railway crossing.  I was 45 minutes late meeting some friends, but they were patiently waiting for me.  We headed off into the "Heartland" to explore some of the petrochemical, refinery, and upgrader sites northeast of Edmonton.  Access is limited due to the site security and there are limited spots that provide an overview of some of these plants.  We didn't do much shooting as although the temperature was still mild, the wind was brisk and unpleasant.  Also, the snow was still very deep in the fields and on the roadsides.  But we did find some interesting locations to return to a little later in the spring...

Later we carried on further east and explored some of the small towns in Lamont County.  Some are trying to cash in on the nearby industrial development and are developing residential subdivisions and attempting to sell new homes.  This was contrasted by other towns, just a little further down the road, that were struggling to hang on.  In Mundare we found that the town had undergone a facelift... new sidewalks and streetlights... not much of a surprise considering it is in the provincial riding of Premier Ed Stelmach!!  But the town itself really was little changed and still consisted of old buildings and small businesses struggling to survive.  One of them did not make it... and had been terminally damaged in a recent fire.  We spent a little time photographing the remains of this store...

Yet another location to return to when weather conditions are more favorable for large format photography.  But, despite the wind, it was good to get out again and so some exploring.  I find that it is very beneficial to stay in practice...  both visually with finding subject matter and with composition, as well as with operation of the camera equipment.  Only three more months until spring!!!!