Day 001. 6a. I pulled my thermals over each leg tiptoeing up the steps as quietly as I could while the rest of the family slept. The squeak of the door to the garage threatened like an alarm clock, but the sound machine drowning everyone in white noise filled the house like a loud-security. I slipped into the driver’s seat of my truck, still sleepy but ready to rock. Ignition. Gas. Adventure.

I took a wrong turn on the way to Larry’s place, but not to worry, too good of a day to stress over something so insignificant - we’re on our way to make photos and memories.

First stop, coffee. Then, the National Western Stock Exchange. The list was long in my head of possibilities, and Larry felt similar I’d find out later, both of us a bit overwhelmed with what might could happen. We weaved our way across the grounds through arenas of show bessies, in and out of stalls dodging clumps of cow grenades, and eating lunch with real cowboys who were about to take a stab at 10+seconds on the backs of beasts…then we got kicked out. You’ll enjoy that story in the pod.

The NWSS was a wild ride, both of us capturing everything we could take as good as possible. I think we succeeded.

Day 002. 8a. I said goodbye to the kids and a glaring wife, she knew I was going to capture pictures of dragons while she tried to wrestle some back here at home. A wink and a kiss and I was off, 35mm sword at the ready.

As we rolled up to the Asian market, it was unusually dead. Food trucks lined the parking lot and filled the air with temptation, and the show was starting to set up. Stacks of truss and platforms cascaded in the open area in front of the main market, I noted that for later. I walked around for 15 minutes taking stock of angles, lines, light… I started to feel like I was in over my head. There was nothing that felt like a photo or a composition. Uh oh.

Turns out, Larry was agreeing on his own hunt for inspiration. Out of nowhere, it seemed like 50 people turned into 5000, and we were neck deep in hesitation. Larry, come to find out, was struck with nostalgia for his heritage. I was struck by the sheer amount of people and a desire to compose fine art. Two very different situations colliding at the same center like a creative nuclear fusion reactor.

I plugged my nose and jumped all the way in the deep end, and after a few hours, came back up for air and a Chicken Katsu Sandwich from Ninja Ramen. Culling through the frames later that afternoon I saw a handful that I thought came out. One more in the books - if not for fine art… for Chicken Katsu. Chinese New Year FTW.