U of A alumnus captures the unordinary in Edmonton through runtography

Edmonton is a busy city, full of busy people. As a result, we often forget to slow down and take in our surroundings. University of Alberta alumnus Jeff Day captures the small sights that are missed if a second glance isn’t taken.

Day always had a natural talent for noticing things that look good, providing a unique edge to his photography. Through runtography — a term Day coined combining photography and outdoor running — he has continuously showcased Edmonton through unseen angles.

Running was key to noticing the unordinary within the ordinary

Day was a graphic designer for around 20 years, which meant sitting at a computer more often than not. However, sedentary behaviour caught up to him, and Day realized he wasn’t in great shape. He started running, which he described as boring on its own.

“I couldn’t stand to do it unless I was doing something else. So I started carrying a camera. I kept at it, and I kept growing with the photography.”

In Day’s opinion, Edmonton offers many different features that are great from a photography standpoint. From its urban components to the North Saskatchewan River that runs through the city, there’s a lot to see. Day is able to notice what’s overlooked from the repetitiveness of running.

“Edmonton gets a bad rap in terms of how it’s perceived as a city,” Day said. “Running is repetition. I ran every other day for 10 years and you run essentially the same routes.”

“As you run and you look, you see things that stand out to you. Somehow, that seemed to allow me to capture imagery that I wasn’t seeing in other places.”

Edmontonians have had very positive receptions to Day’s photos, which he posts online. He’s able to present Edmonton in an appealing way. Day was surprised at how many comments said things like, “I never knew that that was there.”

“But to be honest, I walked around for 20 years, and everything was just a blur. Running was a really important component, because if you’re driving in a car or riding on a bus, on your phone, you’re distracted. If you’re moving with intention and you have a camera, you see things that are unusual or out of the ordinary.”

Day finds motivation in spreading awareness for inner city charity

Recently, Day released his first photo-book, Second Glances, which showcases 39 photos that depict special scenes in Edmonton. A portion of the sales are donated to the Inner City Youth Development Association, where Day currently works.

Day first got involved with the charity around 30 years ago, by teaching English and social studies in the summer at the Inner City High School. Now, he works in communications for the charity, while managing technology and putting together fundraising.

“They’re not a super well-known charity, and they just do amazing work,” Day said. “I shot a lot in the inner city and continue to run through there a lot. It’s a pretty harsh environment right now on the street.”

“That’s really my motivation. I don’t really need to achieve anything with my photography and with the book. I would really like to see more people know about that charity.”