This weekend was the annual fundraiser for Photographic Center Northwest (PCNW.) Called “Chase the Light” this is a fun event where the participating photographers all take the photos at the same time. It happens over one weekend, there’s usually a scramble, a mad dash, a crazed runaround where we all go out shooting in a frenzy. Afterwards, we upload our photos, there is a jury selection, and then there is a popup exhibition featuring the selected pieces. One year, they even projected the images on the side of the building in downtown Seattle. Good times!
You can checkout my past participation at the link here. This year, I decided to head over to the Hill Country Water Gardens and Nursery and spend some quality time over in the borrowed garden (as I like to call it.) I love the ponds, it’s one of my absolute favorite places to photograph, and, yes, I visit time and time again. What can I say? I never grow tired of that place. It’s beautiful! It’s always a treat to get to go over there, even if I just wind up sitting and meditating. (There was that one time I got stuck there in the rain and found myself stuck under a palapa next to a giant head but, hey, it all worked out in the end, right?)
This year, they had some great heads (no, really, they did) but, phew, it was hot. When I say, “Hot,” I mean, like Texas hot. It was about 102 this Sunday. It was the first real hot day of summertime. Yeowza! I could really feel the heat. Now, I still wound up taking a ton of photos, but I did rest in-between, just to cool off a bit. Normally, I would pass on going out to take photos in the heat but, for Chase the Light, well, you have to chase that light, so off I went.
You can see the work I submitted for the fundraiser here. These are the five shots I submitted to the event. I will share the final slideshow once it’s been revealed as well. It’s always curious to hear which one you would pick. If you had to pick from these, which one would you select? And, do you think it will be the same as the one the judges select? (We’ll see, right?)
Afterward the photo shoot, I tried a new spot to eat. They opened a place near me called “Noodle Alley.” Having read the reviews, I mentioned it to Dad (before he passed) and suggested we try it out sometime. We used to go out to eat almost every Saturday like clockwork, until he got sick and could no longer go. He never did make it over to Noodle Alley but I thought I would give it a try in his honor. The place did not disappoint, I must confess, I found it rather authentic. It’s not traditional Chinese nor Japanese food, I believe it’s Taiwanese food actually, but it really tasted authentic to me. It’s a rather small but cozy spot and it’s very nearby so I will be visiting again. (I got the Dan Dan noodles with chicken for the curious. They were spicy hot and very tasty.) I did get to practice my chopstick-ing again, so there’s that. (Didn’t fling any broccoli at any Geisha so we are still good on that.)
It was kind of nice weekend, overall. I got to go outside and Chase the Light and made a stop at Noodle Alley with my chopsticks and some great tea.
How was your weekend?
Until next time…
