By AJ Willingham, CNN
The week in good news: Ice sculptures, wacky words and a cheeky husky
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Northern B.C. resident named 2023 Canadian Geographic photographer of the year
The owner of a downtown Prince George nightclub has filed a court action against the City of Prince George, claiming lost revenue when his business was forced to close as a result of a natural gas explosion last summer that levelled a nearby building.
Trevor Sakamoto, whose company Encore Promotions Inc., owns Heartbreakers nightclub adjacent to the site of the explosion, is claiming the negligence of a city employee led to the blast at about 7 a.m. on Aug. 22 at 422 Dominion St.
The court action, filed on Wednesday, claims the defendant, a city bylaw officer, failed to take action when that person was informed by a female city parks worker in the morning the day before the explosion that there was a strong smell of gas coming from that building and she was told by the bylaw officer it would be dealt with.
The following morning the same parks worker, identified as 34-year-old Victoria Mcgivern, was working next to the building and again noticed a strong odour of gas coming from the building, so she used her cell phone to report it to Fortis BC.
As she was walking away from the entrance to the building it blew up in a fiery explosion. Mcgivern was blown off her feet and buried in debris, suffering a serious head injury, extensive burns and torn tendons in her hands, which required surgery. Three other people also suffered injuries in the blast.
Prince George RCMP later determined the explosion was caused by people who unlawfully entered the building to steal copper, which damaged a natural gas pipe.
“It was reasonable and foreseeable to the bylaw enforcement officers… that an extremely dangerous situation had arisen since it was reported to the City of Prince George that natural gas was being vented in the building and was readily detectable in the area,” according to the court file submitted by lawyer Roy Stewart.
It claims the bylaw officer was bound by duty to report the gas leak to Fortis and firefighters with Prince George Fire Rescue.
The plaintiff claims the explosion forced closure of the business pending repairs and rehabilitation of the surrounding area. It damaged the exterior cladding of the nightclub, the HVAC system and external machinery, broke windows and left toxic material inside the building. Several buildings in the area had broken windows and the UNBC Wood Innovation Centre suffered extensive fire damage on the side facing the explosion.
The nightclub was insured for some but not all of the damage. The policy considers the age and condition of the building at the time of the explosion and will not cover the full cost of repairs. Encore says the building cannot reopen until the repairs are completed and it is safe for invitees.
The nightclub owner is seeking damages caused by what is claimed as negligence demonstrated by the bylaw officer.
Jimmy butler hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy
The week in good news: Ice sculptures, wacky words and green isles
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The Importance of Good Habits as a Photographer
Developing strong habits can be as critical as mastering technical skills. For photographers, understanding and nurturing positive habits can significantly enhance your craft, leading to more compelling and impactful imagery.
Coming to you from Goughie, this excellent video introduces five key habits that have transformed his approach to photography. One habit he emphasizes is the practice of observation. By simply sitting and observing his surroundings, he has found that he’s able to capture more nuanced elements and storytelling in his photos. This approach encourages photographers to slow down and engage deeply with their environment, leading to more thoughtful and expressive images. Another habit he discusses is asking “why” – analyzing what specifically draws him to an image. This reflection helps in understanding personal preferences and developing a unique photographic style.
Additionally, the video explores the concept of “finding the foreground” in landscape photography. He illustrates how foreground elements can distinguish a photo and add depth, scale, and narrative. This habit challenges photographers to look beyond the obvious and find unique perspectives, even in well-photographed locations. Establishing healthy habits will make you a better and more consistent photographer and help you get more enjoyment out of the craft. Check out the video above for the full rundown.
Explore the Intricacy and Elegance of Restoring Century-Old Books as Told by Sophia Bogle
An enlightening video shines the spotlight on educator, author, and book restorer Sophia Bogle. Beaming with adoration and extensive knowledge, Bogle takes audiences through the rigorous process of reconstructing priceless tomes.
In the last 30 years, Bogle has restored thousands of books. Referring to some stages of reconstruction as “book surgery,” she emphasizes the precision and patience that goes into mastering the art of preservation. From carefully removing and washing individual pages to retracing rips and mending even the smallest tears, the arduous practice requires delicacy for a job well done.
By signing each spine’s interior nearing the moments of denouement, she leaves her mark within each project in a seemingly invisible way. Bogle highlights the beauty of cumulative narratives as she shares, “I do love the fact that there’s the story in the book, there’s the story of the restoration of the book, there’s the story of who has owned the book, and now I’m just in there a little bit more.”
Watch the video by WIRED, and check out her YouTube channel for a closer look at her techniques.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Explore the Intricacy and Elegance of Restoring Century-Old Books as Told by Sophia Bogle appeared first on Colossal.
New photography book of country-wide journey includes Columbus stop
Golden state warriors logo hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy
Bristol Portrait of Britain winner showcases diversity
By Bea SwallowBBC News, West of England
Cíara HillyerA Portrait of Britain winner has said photography has provided a “holistic outlet” to living with a rare genetic condition.
Cíara Hillyer, 31, from Bristol, was selected as one of 100 winners for the prestigious photography competition.
She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just five days old and finds it “therapeutic” to document her journey.
Ms Hillyer said she felt “honoured” to be recognised alongside other talented photographers in the Vol. 6 photobook.
The Portrait of Britain Awards are an annual celebration of British identity, offering photographers the chance to showcase diversity and representation.
Ms Hillyer’s winning submission showed Wolverhampton boys Isaac and Nima intricately trying to fix a Bluetooth speaker following a football match.
“I had gone to support a friend of mine, who has dwarfism, playing football and he introduced me to his friends,” she said.
“As soon as I took it, I felt a wave of excitement because I knew it was a great image.”
Cíara HillyerMs Hillyer says the title of her submission, ‘Making it Work’, served as a double meaning to reflect what it is like to live with a genetic condition.
“It just became a bigger representation of their community, of them making it work for themselves day to day,” she said.
Ms Hillyer discovered her passion for creativity at an early age and said it provided a welcome distraction during her many visits to Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Her final project at university, titled ‘Breathing Space’, provided an insight into life with cystic fibrosis by documenting idle moments during hospital visits as she received treatment for the respiratory condition.
“It also reflects a lot of other people’s stories, people who know what it’s like to split your time between home and the hospital,” she said.
“[Photography] is definitely an outlet, a holistic approach to my health condition and my mindset.”
Cíara HillyerMs Hillyer said her recent win had provided the “boost” she needed to pursue a professional career in the subject, hoping to provide a platform for more “underrepresented stories”.
“I’ve photographed a lot in terms of disability and ill-health over the years, and I feel like I could tell someone’s story,” she said.
“Photography has done that for me for such a long time and it would be nice to do that for someone else.
“It’s photographing what I know, so it’s quite therapeutic in that sense.”
Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk
LEGO sculpture exhibit opening soon in LaSalle
Artist Sean Kenney’s animal sculptures made entirely from LEGO bricks are on display at LaSalle Landing this winter.
