For Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe, this election campaign, his fifth as leader of the Bloc, seventh in his career, is taking years off his life!

(Well, almost a year, anyway).

On campaign posters and the side of his leader's bus, the 61-year-old politician's face looks fresh, bold, rejuvenated. Piercing, almost surreal blue eyes fix upon you, asking for your vote.

Some people watching the campaign carefully are wondering how a party leader, on a punishing schedule, manages to maintain such a healthy, vibrant appearance.

It turns out the photos of Duceppe were not taken on the eve of the election campaign — or even this year.

A party spokesperson says the Duceppe campaign portraits were shot in November 2007, and stashed away.

But the same spokesperson says the perfect complexion is not because the photographs date back nearly a full year. He says it is thanks to the fine work of renowned portrait-taker Heidi Hollinger, who is responsible for the shoot.

—Tim Duboyce