Midnight hunting

Originally, I had planned on spending this weekend at home, resting and working at my leisure on my couch.  It has been a particularly long and wearing week—or rather several weeks—with inundating and stressful work from my daytime responsibilities taking a toll on my body and mind.  Of course, I do have various outlets for such conditions, from cooking to carpentry to fencing to photography.  In fact, as often possible, I make it a point to attend fencing practice on Friday evenings a premier epee club here in Chicago, Windy City Fencing.  However, what I really need is just simple rest.  So yesterday I decided to lay down arms and consign myself to spend my Friday evening catching up on reading instead.

Not long into last evening, though, I got bored.  By the time I had realised this, it was too late to grab my blades and head off to Windy City.  I had already eaten dinner, and I did not feel like building anything out of wood.  Ergo, I grabbed my street shooter, attached a 35mm f/2 to it, and set out downtown for a midnight hunt for light.

I particularly enjoy shooting on the streets late at night.  There is something mystical and tranquil about it, yet so challenging.  As with daytime street photography, there are so many uncertainties; I consider myself fortunate if I come back with even just ONE usable photo.  Chicago, makes it a bit easier, however.  One of the many great things about this city is that you can be in a completely desolate area in town and need venture only a few blocks to find pub crawlers and Jersey Shore wannabe clubbers swarming the sidewalks.  (Why anyone would want to be the latter is beyond my comprehension.)

I focused more on the quieter areas around the Chicago Loop last night.  Usually, I quite enjoy photographing drunkards as they hop from one bar to another.  It is in a drunken and disinhibited state that many show a more interesting side to themselves, especially when a lens is facing them.  But this can get tiring and annoying in itself.  I was not at all in any mood to spend my evening at a loud and crowded bar let alone face loud drunks out in the streets.  No.  Rather, I wanted to enjoy the sound of silence while searching for interesting light peaking out from the darkness.

My hunt last night was a success with a few good frames shown below.  It almost makes me want to head back out tonight.  But I won’t.  Tonight, I am really going to listen to my tired self and stay in my flat.  It is raining out, though that has not stopped me in the past.  I also have a pot of cari bo (Vietnamese beef curry) stewing on the stove and a few pints of craft beer from Revolution Brewery that demands my attention tonight.

All images © K. Dao Photography 2013, all rights reserved.