Both Diane and Cecilia are big fans of the Art Gallery of Alberta and wanted to use that location as the backdrop for their photos to add an interesting visual element to their portraits. This is the fourth opportunity I’ve had to shoot in the Art Gallery and this time it was nice to have some extra time to setup some lighting and use the locations I wanted without any large crowds in the way. During this shoot I also had a first year student from NAIT’s Photographic Technology program assisting me as part of her one-day job shadowing  assignment so it was a great opportunity for her to see what a typical day in the life a photographer looks like.

Here are a few of my favorite photographs from our session. All of the images were shot on a Canon 5D Mark II with a 580EXII flash unit and umbrella which were triggered with PocketWizards. We also used a Lastolite reflector to for some additional fill and as a shoot through diffuser to balance the flash with the ambient light in the Art Gallery.

After the ceremony, we headed downtown for some “urban” wedding photography in an abandoned parkade which was relatively cool and reasonably free of mosquitoes. We finally have some nice weather here in Edmonton but thanks to all the rain we’ve had, we are now faced with one of the worst mosquito infestations we’ve seen in awhile, so wandering around in grassy fields was definitely out of the question. Lisa & Ben had such a great wedding party, many of whom have been lifelong friends since they were kids which is something you don’t find that often but was so wonderful to be a part of.

From there we headed to the brand new Art Gallery of Alberta for a few quick shots. We had decided to book the Art Gallery as a backup in the event of rain and since you now have to pay to use it, we figured we should at least make a brief stop in there. Most of the wedding party were in from out of town so it was a great opportunity for them to see our newest attraction. After we were done at the Art Gallery, we headed to Rundle Park for some family photographs and then it was off to the Sundridge Ski Resort for an amazing BBQ reception and party.

Here are a few of my favorite photographs from yesterday’s fabulous Edmonton wedding. Thanks again for trusting us to photograph your wedding and for allowing us to share in such an amazing day! Can’t wait to share the rest with you soon.

Refinery Nights will be an ongoing series of late night parties, themed around the current exhibitions on display at the gallery. This time around the theme celebrated the work of Edgar Degas and featured a variety of events including music by DJs Nik 7 & Jaycie Jayce, an interactive paper folding display featuring Gabe Wong’s Blockheads, exhibition tours of Edgar Degas: Figures in Motion with Alberta Ballet’s Jennifer Faulkner and Citie Ballet’s François Chevennement, a photography project led by Klyment Tan, dance performances choreographed by Stephanie Lilley and organized by Step by Step, and an Arabesque competition led by Rapid Fire Theatre’s Amy Shostak.

The mood and the energy inside the AGA was amazing and it was a great way to enjoy the art gallery in a funky and relaxed atmosphere. One couple we met summed the evening up really well when they said that “it didn’t feel like they were in Edmonton; but in a good way.” Being able to enjoy a drink, grab some food, take in the entertainment, and explore the exhibits, was a great way to spend a Saturday night and nights like these I think will bring more and more people down to Churchill Square and the new Art Gallery of Alberta.

Here are few shots from the evening’s events:

A woman admires the work of Yousuf Karsh.

Abe Wong and friends with Blockheads.

Dance performances by Step by Step

Sarah Hoyles from the AGA catches up with a friend.

The AGA lit up at night

Photographer Klyment Tan takes a moment from behind the camera.

Local artists take in the first Refinery Night at the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton.

Guests enjoy making their own Blockheads.

Christian of Christian Hansen and the Autisics poses with friends.

DJs Nik 7 & Jaycie Jayce provided the music for the evening.

More dance performances by Step by Step

Amy Shostak from Rapid Fire Theatre leads an Arabesque competition.

Degas inspired dancers wearing horse heads

Members of Art Scene Alberta enjoy the evening’s events and entertainment.

Erin Rayner from The Edmontonians and Sarah Leib from the Winspear Centre.

Diane Begin from NAIT with a friend.

The Borealis design at night.

While we weren’t permitted to view any of the exhibits during our sneak peek, we were able to experience most of the common spaces including the gorgeous lobby with the striking Borealis design which extends to the exterior of the building. There is also a gorgeous terrace on the 2nd floor where people will be able to enjoy lunch outdoors and see some amazing sculptures. Some of the more prominent exhibits on display for the opening include an Edward Degas exhibit and an exhibition of photographs from Canadian photographer Yousef Karsh.

Here are a few photographs I captured of the interior of the new building:

Several of Edmonton’s active bloggers were in attendance and wrote some great articles as well. Be sure to check out their stories and images from the sneak peek.

• Chris from Eating is the Hard Part wrote a great post along with photos
• Mastermaq has a great write up along with photos on his blog
• Local designer @lealea has her photos up on Flickr