Calgary Early Morning Lights

Katherine has been insisting that I go to downtown Calgary to view the Christmas lights.  Today I forced myself out of bed way before the crack of dawn and took her advice.  The following were shot between 7 and 8 am. This first is looking west along 8th Avenue SW, which is a pedestrian mall, except for City and emergency vehicles.

Row of interesting lights outside the Theatre

Detail. These were interesting to shoot as the colours changed from red to blue to green. With the long exposure, the colour out of the camera was rather putrid.  Photoshop helped get back to what I saw!

The plaza in front of City Hall.  The building in the background is the old City Hall, completed in 1911.

Decorated trees in front of City Hall

View towards Olympic Plaza, where the medal presentations for the 1988 Winter Olympics were made.  It is a great public space - music in the summer and skating in the winter. Didn't take a photo of it as there were many workers setting up stages for new Year's Eve celebrations.  Recently vacated by the Occupy Calgary people. Tall building in the background is the newest tower, built by Encana and Cenovus Energy companies -oil and gas.

Same view only different (dawn is starting to come!)

 City Hall Plaza

 Another view of the trees in front of City Hall Plaza - light is changing

The Calgary Tower peeking from behind. The Tower was built in 1967 as a Centennial Project - Canada's 100th birthday

Another view looking west along the 8th Avenue Mall

 And finally the full Calgary Tower

It was about -3C when I was taking these, so not too bad. But it was nice to get back into the car to warm up - particularly my hands as I had the gloves off many times.  All photos with my Pentax K20D and either the Pentax DA 18-250 or Sigma 10-20 lenses.  Camera on a tripod for all.

Thanks for looking and comments always welcome!