This is my final post to the NPAC blog. January 8, 2009.

I got the call from The Canadian Press at 10:30am this morning. There were reports that the RCMP had made an arrest in north western Alberta near the BC border in connection to the EnCana bombings. It was near Hythe, Alberta which is in between Dawson Creek, BC and Grande Prairie, Alberta — six hours from where I was.

Made some quick calls to other photographers I knew to see if I could find some more information. Found out that the next flight out was at 1:30. So, I called CP to get the OK to book a flight. Luckily they agreed, because I wasn’t looking forward to the drive. I was on the road at the time so I booked the flight on my iPhone. Packed a pair of socks, underwear and a toque and out the door with my gear.

All my gear fits nicely in my Think Tank Airport International rolling case which fits the requirements for carry on. I don’t want to risk losing my gear by checking in luggage. My kit includes 2 Nikon bodies, 50 f1.4, 70-200 f2.8, 17-55 f2.8, 300 f2.8, a 1.4x teleconverter, 2 flashes, power inverter and my laptop.

The news reports that Wiebo Ludwig is the one arrested. But no charges have been laid. He is an Alberta activist that was convicted of bombing oil and gas wells in the ’90s. But this time around he was earlier in the year apparently helping the RCMP find the EnCana bomber.

Find out that the flight is delayed by an hour. Damn. I’m worried about the light. I know I need to get some scene setting shots before it gets too dark. Check in to find any more news. Make a quick call to my wife, sounds like we won’t be going skating tomorrow.

We land in Grande Prairie at 3:30pm. The plane was full of media: Global TV, CTV, The Edmonton Journal, a huge CBC crew, and a film team from the National Film Board. I grab a rental car and follow Edmonton Journal photographer Shaughn Butts and head out to Trickle Creek Farm which belongs to Ludwig.

A grain elevator in Hythe, Alberta.

After 70 clicks on the road, we’re the first to the scene. But the RCMP has blocked if off so that we can’t even see his farm. There’s news that a huge search team is on the farm and they plan on working all through the night. So, I shoot the obvious and early shot of the RCMP blocking the road. I have nothing else. I file the photos I have because CP needs to get these out right away for their online clients.

The grace of the photo gods shine down upon me. Wiebo Ludwig’s family shows up. Awesome, I have relevant subject matter and people in my photos now.

Wiebo Ludwig’s wife Maime walks out of her truck and talks to media near her home.

Wiebo’s wife Maime shows up with three of their sons. Richard Boonstra, the head of the other big family here shows up and talks to media. None of them try to elude us. In fact, they seem to want to talk. I take my shots and then head back to my car to file. The photos seem to be taking an eternity to send over my laptop which is tethered to my iPhone. I curse. And then curse some more. I open the photos again and resize them making them smaller. And then send again.

The sun is fading fast. The pace slows to a crawl and there really isn’t much left to shoot. Most of the media has left but I take a chance and stick around. There are two big buses here and apparently there will be a shift change of RCMP who are searching the farm. I imagine a shot of an army of RCMP coming down the road and getting on the busses.

I wait. And wait some more.

Screw it. It’s pitch black now. So I head back into Grande Prairie and meet up with the Journal crew. We eat. And then we go bowling. Take care everyone. It’s been fun and an honour to blog these past few days for NPAC.

Edmonton Journal Photographer Shaughn Butts apparently bowling the wrong way.

I'll be posting to my site http://www.jimmyshoots.com about my Edmonton photography and editorial assignments soon.