29 Comments
User's avatar
Paul Maven's avatar

In honour of this very fine set of images I am going to start a band called ‘Handy Dans Icy Drink’.

Dan Helle's avatar

Nice! Yeah dude, into everything honestly, but hip hop and d’n’b got that special place. Still listen to loads of punk and indie too. We’d be able to talk music for weeks I’m sure.

Paul Maven's avatar

I have absolutely no doubt!

Dan Helle's avatar

I’ll allow it, but I call synth player.

Paul Maven's avatar

I propose no guitars or drums at all. I’ll hit the Roland TB303

Dan Helle's avatar

Oh hell yeah, let’s make some acid haha.

Paul Maven's avatar

A man who knows! You get cooler by the minute Dan

Dan Helle's avatar

lol, I was a drum and bass dj for like 15 years but I listen to everything.

Paul Maven's avatar

I knew you were big into music but didn’t realise it as drum and bass. I stumbled on this the other day. properly made me smile.

https://youtu.be/PmjBnAeUDI4?si=CgBWHIX4GxF82NHL

Li Chen's avatar

Great stuff, Dan! Love the dinosaur end of playground, too. Also, weren’t you tempted by the Handy Dan’s Icy Drink sign? And the town called Carbon? Gold!

Dan Helle's avatar

Hah, thanks my friend! If I could have ripped that sign off the wall, it’d be hanging above my desk right now, I’ll have to print the photo instead. Although, as an artist by day, handy is not exactly how i’d describe myself.

TomatoJoe's avatar

Wonderful collection of photos

Dan Helle's avatar

Thanks, dude! Appreciate it.

Justin Allen- Photographer's avatar

Here there be heat

Dan Helle's avatar

Thanks, bro!! I’m stoked to get my film back, there’s more range there in terms of setting.

Judy Katz's avatar

Dan, these are beautiful shots, but I particularly want to thank you for the "Drumheller" shot.

I had a close friend, when I was very young, from Alberta. She was an actress. I believe she's

no longer alive, + died young. I'd lost touch with her before she died. The "Drumheller" oil

tower belongs to her family, it was her father's business. Seeing your photo today seems

like a message from the universe. Thank you

Dan Helle's avatar

Dang! That’s incredible but unfortunately I don’t know the name but my dad may have known them, I’ll ask. Her father being in oil would make sense, Alberta is the oil capital of Canada, in one of my photos there’s a doorway with a bunch of signs and those are all oil companies from years ago. Yes, that tower is the water tower but there are oil rigs just outside of Drumheller everywhere.

Judy Katz's avatar

Wow!!! Dan!!! Thank you!!!have a great evening!!!

Dan Helle's avatar

Wow, I’m so happy that these photos did that for you. My dad was born in Drumheller, and my grandparents lived there all of their adult lives, so I’m very fond and familiar of that place and have many, many stories and adventures from there as a kid and teenager as we spent most weekends there visiting.

Being back there this time was very sentimental as I hadn’t been for at least 10 years, it’s changed and it hasn’t changed, and the water tower has always been my favourite part of Drum, it’s so iconic with the orange and steel.

Thanks for the comment, made my day.

Judy Katz's avatar

I hope I’m right about the connection, Dan. Her last name was Drumheller. She also lived in Edmonton. She said her father was in the oil business, but I saw you said it was a water tower.

Judy Katz's avatar

Wow Dan!! Maybe you know my friend or her

Family!!! I’ve never spoken to anyone else in my whole life from Alberta- except her!!!

You made my day too Dan!! Her name was Lizann!!! She had a sister named LeeAnn!! I knew Lizann in NYC in the 1970’s - we both lived at The Barbizon Hotel. She was incredibly beautiful + talented as an actress. She was friends with Kurt Vonnegut- the writer.

Judy Katz's avatar

P. S. I tried to find her in the 1990’s but it was strange- her sister never returned my calls + a Family Friend of theirs would not give me a straight answer on Lizann’s whereabouts.

Paul Jenkin's avatar

Great set, Dan. I'm with Jeremy Butler on this one as that dinosaur in the "End" playground is priceless.

Dan Helle's avatar

Thanks, Paul. It’s funny what you don’t see in your own photo until someone points it out to you. I didn’t catch that at all initially, haha.

Paul Jenkin's avatar

Indeed, Dan. It happens to me regularly. I'm always spotting something after I've posted it. My dad (a cabinet maker by trade) used to tell me that the best way to avoid mistakes is to "measure twice and cut once". I should take that advice to heart!

søren k. harbel's avatar

Some great images here- looking forward to seeing your scans!

Dan Helle's avatar

Me too, thanks Soren!

Jeremy Butler's avatar

So many great capture in this bunch! I particularly like the dinosaur photo and the way the "End playground" sign is balanced by the flag.

Dan Helle's avatar

Thanks, Jeremy! Yeah it was a fun day (all of these are from the same day) and I’m really happy with the results, particularly ones that I took from our moving car, like that Dinosaur photo.