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Building homes in the Dominican Republic
Published on 2012-05-24 08:49:00
Ramona Jaquez, who was having a home built by WestJet volunteers and local contractors in a project operated by Live Different, in the impoverished community of Aguas Negra in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Saturday, April 14, 2012.It's been over a month, but here are a collection of images and a couple videos from an assignment Herald reporter Jamie Komarnicki and I were sent on in Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic.In April, 50 WestJet volunteers spent 10 days worki [..] > read more
B Balling...
Published on 2012-03-20 11:50:00
The University of Calgary's Jessica Franz, left, battles with the University of Regina's Lindsay Ledingham at the 2012 Women's Basketball Final 8 tournament at the University of Calgary in Calgary Saturday, March 17, 2012.The 2012 Women's Basketball Final 8 CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) tournament was contested at the University of Calgary this past weekend.I was only able to shoot one and half games of the tournament on Saturday, midway through the national championships. I wish I had ha [..] > read more
University Dance
Published on 2012-03-19 10:33:00
Here are a few photos from a recent shoot with the University of Calgary's Department of Dance's production of Mainstage Dance 2012.Not too much to say, other than it was a quick assignment. And that I switched them to black and white for no reason, other than because I like them better this way. :)Twitter: @StuGradonPhoto > read more
Flames vs Canadiens vs Jets
Published on 2012-03-11 23:16:00
A Calgary Flames fan celebrates a goal by Curtis Glencross, left, against the Winnipeg Jets despite having her hands full with a beer and baby, during third period of their NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary Friday, March 9, 2012.Night shifts = hockey photos.The Calgary Flames played two home games last week. With less than 15 games left in the season, the Flames find themselves battling for one of the last play-off spots - if they fail, it would be a third year in a row they mi [..] > read more
2 weeks of work: Feb. 15 - Feb. 29
Published on 2012-03-07 02:18:00
Slightly behind schedule but here are a few photos, and the odd insight, from a couple weeks' work.WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15, 2012Was sent to provide images for a profile story on former women hockey Olympic player Cassie Campbell-Pascall. The gold medalist was running a hockey class for women at Canada Olympic Park.Former Canadian Olympian Cassie Campbell-Pascall instructs a hockey class for women at WinSport at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta Wednesday, February 15, 2012.TUESDAY, FEB. 21, 201 [..] > read more
A load of bull
Published on 2012-03-02 10:30:00
Leonard Poholka, of Breton, manicures the business end of a bull, preparing it for a showing, at the 112th Calgary Bull Sale.Occasionally it's very apparent that Calgary won't ever be able to shed the reputation of its rural origins.Case in point - The Calgary Bull Sale.Located on the Stampede grounds, a stone's throw from the city's downtown business core, the livestock sale attracts Alberta's top quality beef bulls and is considered a benchmark for other sales across the prairies and often ser [..] > read more
Classrooms and ghosts
Published on 2012-02-16 22:15:00
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 [..] > read more
2 weeks of work: Jan. 30 - Feb. 10
Published on 2012-02-14 09:18:00
A concert, cocktails, drugs and an 85 year-old cellist - here's some work from the last couple weeks.MONDAY, JAN. 30, 2012This 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 w [..] > read more
A man and his cello
Published on 2012-02-02 08:00:00
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 [..] > read more
2 weeks of work: Jan. 17 - Jan. 27
Published on 2012-02-01 08:00:00
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, 2012On 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 [..] > read more
2 weeks of work: Jan. 1 - Jan. 14
Published on 2012-01-16 16:30:00
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 o [..] > read more
2012 World Junior Hockey Final
Published on 2012-01-08 10:00:00
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 m [..] > read more
2011 - My Photo Year
Published on 2012-01-03 01:00:00
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 [..] > read more
I Admit it - Football is Fun to Shoot
Published on 2011-10-05 11:00:00
The Calgary Stampeders' Jabari Arthur dives for a reception in front of the Saskatchewan Roughriders' James Patrickduring 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 [..] > read more
Stampede Chuckwagons
Published on 2011-07-15 20:13:00
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 Rangel [..] > read more
Stampede Rodeo
Published on 2011-07-10 11:33:00
Bull RidingBeing 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 [..] > read more
iPhone camera = too much fun
Published on 2011-01-31 11:18:00
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 a > read more
World Cup #12 - Ducks and Elephants
Published on 2010-11-20 23:39:49
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 > read more
World Cup #11 - Match Day
Published on 2010-11-20 23:38:21
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 > read more
World Cup #17 - Back home
Published on 2010-11-20 14:28:17
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 > read more
Stamps and shovels
Published on 2010-11-19 00:50:00
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 t > read more
A matter of antimatter
Published on 2010-11-18 19:16:00
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 > read more
Photo Labs
Published on 2010-10-31 17:00:00
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 Edward > read more
A look inside prison
Published on 2010-10-21 00:32:00
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 > read more
It's all history now...
Published on 2010-10-19 13:01:00
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.A > read more
Ready to get your vote on?
Published on 2010-10-15 15:56:00
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 > read more
Election so far...
Published on 2010-10-04 07:37:00
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 - the > read more
Nearly trampled by Stamps
Published on 2010-10-02 11:30:00
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 nuianc > read more
End of the World or just a Justin Bieber concert
Published on 2010-09-21 12:11:00
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 > read more