Red Light Show

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(Edited)

Red Light Show

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Two sided view through. Figures dancing along red lit along the walls emanating a flowglow. I like to watch. Observe from a distance. Call me a voyeur, just don’t bust me for being one.
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It’s cold tonight. I’m almost finished shooting when I stumble on a new Asian restaurant. The interior décor is markedly different with a surround of figures in various positions popping out from the wall in flat 3D, all lit from behind. All this glass to shoot through from outside. Irresistible.
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I’m fumbling a bit. I’m nervous. There are quite a few diners in the restaurant. What if I get caught? What if someone gets angry? What if I get approached? This is always in the back of my mind when shooting on the street.
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I’ve had a couple of angry ones. One guy on a bike at an intersection freaked out at me. I didn’t bother pointing out that we’re all under a gazillion artificial eyes every day in this city, live feed streaming. That would have incited more of the “angry”.

Another one ran rage screaming across a major city street. Got right up in my face, keeping pace, threatening to beat the crap out of me. I wasn’t shooting in her direction, but sight of the camera from across a four lane street set her off. Take down in the middle of a weekday afternoon. I have a solution for these issues, no touching required. Not saying what that is. It solves problems like this immediately.
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Finally have it right. I can shoot over the people in the restaurant by angling in various ways. I’m after the light play of fake figures, not real people.
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It’s not long before I notice what appear to be the owners outside right near me. They are in discussion about how to bar the outside windows. There are several welded up panels they are in process of install decisions about. All I can think is get the shots before the bars go up.
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I figure I’ve faded into the background. I’m typically dressed to do that when out. I don’t want to be seen or noticed, even without a camera in tow. I like to blend.
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By this time, I’m deep into what I’m shooting. I hear someone speaking right beside me. I pause, look up, and hope I’m not out of luck.
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It’s one of the owners. Very limited English. I’m so used to that living here for this long, that’s it a complete non-issue. He’s curious about my photos. I explain what I’m doing while scrolling through some of what I’ve shot. He’s really interested, wants to know where I’m posting them. He asks, “Is it FB, IG?”. I tell him no, it’s on Hive blockchain only. I explain it to him. I give him my user name and the site. He’s happy. He’s going to check it out. I’m happy it’s not an angry person.
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Most often, when I’m shooting out on the street, I have these enjoyable interactions with strangers. There’s something about a camera that catches attention amid a sea of cell phones clicking away unnoticed. I’m not sure why that is. I’ll take it though. All the conversations have been worth it, even the unfun ones.
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All photos taken by Nine with a Pentax digital 35mm camera. No one was photographed against their will.
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22 comments
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Next time someone asks where, what, don't be so selfish. Give them my handle too. = }

Hello.

Be real aggressive, loud, angry, every other word is fuck or fucking should there be another dude on a bike. Psycho chicks freak us out.

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I did and he was disappointed that you haven't done a post all about Atlas, no not Atlas Shrugged, just Atlas.


Hello like what colour of jello.

The guy on the bike, I deleted the photos, of which there were three rejects I'd have to hit delete on anyway. Being aggressive like that takes far too much energy. Mostly a look does the trick and if not, a few words (not swears) + the look does the trick. Failing that, I add a visual cue (not the middle finger or other gestures) that reinforces to aggressors that I'm the wrong person to pull crap with. Not bad, considering I look harmless enough until you get close in the wrong way with the wrong intentions.

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What a great way to introduce Hive to people :) I hope he becomes an active member 🙌

Most of those look really surreal :) ... Well done!

This post has been manually curated by the VYB curation project

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Thank you @wrestlingdesires! There have been at least six people I've introduced Hive to, three of whom I met on the street while shooting photos. It's hard to pull people away from FB & IG, both of which I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, and that was before I was on Hive.

Surreal visions reflected in photos. Most of life is surreal, so I'm just translating that. 😂

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Your pictures of the figures really gave them life :) ... I think most people who walked by would just glance then go on - but you turned the scene into something memorable!!!

!PIZZA !ALIVE !LOL

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Thank you! Here, people are very caught up in their day to day activities and probably do just glance and go on, or else would think, "new restaurant to try out".

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The look.

Shame they're going to be putting all these red dancers in prison...

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Shame they're going to be putting all these red dancers in prison...

Only if they hard uninstall them from the walls.

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Behind bars, I mean... they would be absolute fools to take that down!

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