Monday, February 8, 2016

Setting Up For Winterlude

Preparations for Winterlude get seriously underway early in January at the major venues, including Confederation Park, where ice sculptures are set up. These first shots feature the shelters in the midst of set-up, the first for the team carvers and the second for the single carvers.


Christmas trees see a second use during Winterlude, lining the snowbanks around the sites.


A few days later I was back at the Park, where things were coming along smoothly. The shelters for both the team and the solo carver sculptures were set up and ready to go.


There are some larger ice sculptures set up in the open as well, and this crew was starting work on one of those.


This is another one of the larger ice sculptures being worked on. I'll show you what they did with these two larger sculptures later this week.

43 comments:

  1. I remember how great the sculptures were last year. Wait, has it been a year already?

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  2. The sculptures are beautiful and interesting. And it's equally interesting to see the preparations for the big event.

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  3. We expect to see marvellous images of ice.

    Tomás.

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  4. There is a lot of snow and it is nice to look at the snowy city.
    Making ice sculptures is a nice viewing.

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  5. Gosh has a year gone by already???? Looking forward to seeing this event unfold.

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  6. I would love to watch the sculptors at work. I think it is interesting to watch the blocks of ice turning into something spectacular!

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  7. Must be realy cold to make the icesulptures.

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  8. @Linda: it has been a year.

    @Kay: I figured this was a good way to begin.

    @Tomas: you will!

    @Orvokki: it is. The process interests me.

    @Lauren: I imagine this is going to take the rest of the month!

    @Nancy: I do have shots of them at work.

    @Marianne: the blocks come from an ice making facility which helps.

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  9. Nice to see the first preparations for this year's Winterlude.

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  10. what a tall wall. ... i would love to see this in person one day, any ice show that is. way awesome!! these folks have mad ice skills. ( :

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  11. That is some operation. Lots of work involved but worth it in the end. It appears people working out there better dress warmly!

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  12. Looking forward to the sculptures!

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  13. I feel like I've had a great behind-the-scenes peek at this event.

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  14. @Tanya: this festival certainly helps get us through winter.

    @Jan: it's nice to show it.

    @Beth: they certainly do.

    @Lowell: it takes lots of organization to put this together.

    @Linda: I'm enjoying putting the posts together!

    @Sharon: it's a pleasure to show.

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  15. What a major show and it's well worth while.I've always liked ice sculpture.

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  16. Love the ice sculptures and the idea behind this festival!

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  17. Very much looking forward to seeing the ice sculptures William.

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  18. I always look forward to your Winterlude photos!

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  19. Looking forward to your pics from the festival! Always love the sculptures.

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  20. Love the photo with sun coming through the ice! Looking forward to seeing all your photos of sculptures!

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  21. Great photos. It is so sad the weather. It's getting colder. Good thing for the tourists!

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  22. Love that last shot in particular. So it's cold enough?

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  23. I always enjoy your photos of the ice sculptures. They are so amazing!

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  24. @Red: I enjoy them too.

    @VP: it's a great way to get through winter.

    @Grace: I've photographed a good many this year, as well as snow sculptures.

    @Norma: I look forward to seeing Winterlude each year.

    @RedPat: it's a great festival to take part in.

    @Tamago: I was pleased with both of those shots.

    @Jennifer: we did have the warm up that closed the Canal, but we still have plenty of snow. Hopefully the Canal can be open soon, since it's been cold enough the last few days.

    @Halcyon: I've probably photographed three hundred plus shots in the last few days- some of those of course are doubles.

    @Ciel: it is cold enough, and the temps are dropping.

    @EG: they really are.

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  25. It must be great to see them working on a sculpture.

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  26. Gosh! I'd almost forgotten it was that time of year again. :-)

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  27. Looks like lots of excitement and anticipation for the festival! Ice sculptures are such a unique form of art! Looking forward to your pics of the actual sculptures!

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  28. I remember last years. I'm looking forward to your series this winter.

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  29. Look forward to seeing these William, will they beat last year, we'll have to wait and see..

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  30. I love the excitement that builds before an anticipated event. You've captured it nicely.

    Janis
    GDP

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  31. @Marleen: it is. I've photographed some of them at work, and I'll be posting them in the next couple of days, but also here and there in other capacities.

    @Revrunner: it is!

    @Chieftess: thank you!

    @Denise: I've got a lot of them to get through. I'm thinking it'll take the rest of the month, but it may spill over into March!

    @Geoff: we'll see. I've already decided which is my favourite of this year's ice sculptures.

    @Janis: thank you!

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  32. Can't wait to see the sculptures again this year! I always enjoy your pictures of this event.

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  33. Yes, that is definitely winter and cold enough for ice sculptures. I can't wait to see them.

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  34. You even make ice and snow sing! Or skate along the canal! Love it William

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  35. Great, great pictures you have taken. Thank you for sharing.

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  36. Sounds like a grand time. This is similar to the Ice Festival they have in Fairbanks every year, very beautiful. Looking forward to seeing your photos

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  37. This sounds like a great place to be right now! I'd love to see all the finished statues in person!

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  38. Looks like lots of fun. A lot of work to set it all up though.

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  39. @Lois: I enjoy showing them.

    @Mari: I'm enjoying piecing these together.

    @Cloudia: thank you!

    @Carolann: you're welcome.

    @Bill: I think Elaine, who posts from Alaska, covers that one each year. I look forward to her photos when it comes up- I think some of the carvers here go there next.

    @Cheryl: thank you!

    @Pat: it is a lot of fun.

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  40. That last one is going to be HUGE.

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    Replies
    1. Traditionally that one always is. Unfortunately they've moved this year's edition out of the park. I get the reason for it, but the sculptures would be better placed in a park setting. I would put them up in Major's Hill next year.

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