'Mornings in Bell Park' celebrates early hours in Sudbury's 'jewel'

You'd have to get out of bed fairly early to see what Richard Mende sees. 

Most mornings for the past 14 years, the photographer has been walking through Bell Park in Sudbury between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. — rain or shine. 

Starting at the John Street end of the park, Mende makes his way down to Science North, and then loops back, enjoying the peace and solitude, and taking pictures along the way. 

A favourite subject of Mende's is sunrise over Ramsey Lake. He said he tweaks his schedule a little in the summer, explaining, "You'll miss the good light ... you have to be there a little earlier if you want to get the sunrise in mid-summer." 

Mende also points to Science North and the park's gazebos as other picture-worthy sights in what he calls the "jewel" of Sudbury.

But there are other, smaller things that catch his eye and lens.

"The beaches are wonderful," he said. "I like, for example, to arrive early in the morning and see beautiful sand castles that children built there the day before." 

Mende has compiled some of his treasured photographs in a new book, called "Mornings in Bell Park." He's launching the book Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, at the ParkSide Centre in downtown Sudbury at 1 p.m. 

Listen to the complete interview with Richard Mende here. 

Morning North7:33Photography book features the jewel of Sudbury - Bell Park

Richard Mende joined us in studio to talk about his photography book "Mornings at Bell Park". Richard has been walking through the park most mornings for the past 14 years. He shared some of the reasons Bell Park is special to him.