Paper Lanterns

Actually, this should be titled why you should always carry your camera with you. I’ve been super sick for the last five days, probably the most sick I’ve ever been in my entire life. It started Friday on the way home from work, and culminated yesterday when my condition finally started heading upward instead of further into the gutter. I spent most of that time laid out on the couch, lamenting the fact that we finally got some snow and I did not have the energy to go out and shoot anything at all. By the time I was feeling better, our freakishly warm winter returned, with temps topping out in the 50s again.

With Wednesday being my first day back in the office since last week, I was hankering for some pho, the vietnamese wonder drug/cure all. Despite still having no appetite, I knew the salty, spicy broth and noodles would feel like nuking this strep throat/ear infection combo from orbit. On my way out the door, I nearly left my camera bag locked up in my desk but changed my mind at the last minute. I’m glad I did, because these awesome paper lanterns went up all over Chinatown well after I shot the Lunar New Year festivities. I did have to fend of a relentless panhandler who took advantage of my composition time, though!

For a photographer, it seems like such a silly notion to not have a camera with you at all times, whether it’s the hefty DSLR or a basic or advanced point and shoot, but when I think back to how many shots I know I’ve missed because I didn’t have a camera I cringe. I think a lot of those missed opportunities came about because I was nervous walking around with a stand-out camera in an urban environment and was too cheap/broke to buy extra insurance (which is definitely worth the cost). Nowadays, when leaving the house, my office, or the car, I do the manly pat and swipe – guys will know what I’m talking about – to make sure I have the essentials: wallet, keys, phone, pocket knife. But now I feel naked if the familiar weight of the old camera bag isn’t hanging on my shoulder, because shooter’s remorse is a terrible thing.