Thursday, September 3, 2009





Last week one night, I met my college roommate for a beer, to catch up on our lives since those days decades ago. He was about an hour late so I had the opportunity to watch the maneuvers and game plans being played out like some dark comedy by the patrons while I waited.

Walking on the streets outside I realized that my cocoon of family life, raising a child and working day to day left me so unaware that I had forgotten the whole subculture that comes to life after the sun goes down. I am not a sheltered person by any means but have just chosen to follow another path.

The lives lived by night are guided by short term goals...living for today regardless of what tomorrow may bring. The fast cars, the circle of friends, the beautiful people are a world away from my existence anymore. At first glance, I felt a longing to be back in that mode again...but as the night progressed, I realized that tomorrow evening... their whole pattern of conquest, the competition for the right seat...the right connection would all begin anew...night after night.

Steve arrived and my pattern of thought was broken taking me away from the visions conjured up before me and to familiar ground again. Leaving, I looked back at the streets once more and came to the realization that the night is a great place to visit but I don't think I would want to live there.

Dan

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful images. Love the narrative.

septembermom said...

The photos wonderfully capture the pace and allure of night life. I'm with you when it comes to enjoying my normal day to day routine. I don't think I ever was able to keep up with the night life anyway :)

DawnTreader said...

I'll have to look at the photos again on my other computer. I'm on my laptop now and it's not great with dark pictures. I liked your text. I can't say I was ever much of a night life person; these days even less so. If on some rare occasion I have reason to be out late, it does seem like a totally different world.

And oh - I notice that you got your 100th follower! Congratulations! to you and the follower both...

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Tricia and have a great weekend...this last Summer holiday!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Septembermom...I'm with you! I had my share of the nightlife up to about 24 or 25...then I turned into a recluse!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Dawn Treader...I was on my blackberry when I read your comment about the 100th follower! Thanks,

Dan

Dan Felstead said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dan Felstead said...

Jean...If you happen to read this comment...you are the 100th follower of my blog and I left a post earlier this week that the 100th follower could pick any image from my blog and I would send an 8X10 print...my email is felsteadd@gmail.com ...email me offline with your shipping address and choice when you get a chance.

Congrats!

Dan

DawnTreader said...

Dan, now you had me googling again! What on earth does he mean by "on my blackberry"?? -LOL- You need not explain, Google did...

Dan Felstead said...

Dawn Treader...sorry about that! I use my blackberry to monitor comments when I am away from my computer...I need to get a life don't I???

Dan

Lesley said...

Your pictures capture the atmosphere wonderfully,Dan.
I sometimes yearn for the bright lights and late nights but more as an observer than a participant.

Dan Felstead said...

HazyDaisy...I find myself observing as well...in my younger years I participated!

Dan

Cynthia L. H. said...

Wonderful, Dan!!!!
(...and I agree COMPLETELY!!!!)
;^) ;^) ;^)

DawnTreader said...

Dan, before yesterday, a blackberry to me was something that you pick off a bush and put in your mouth. Now I know better.

myonlyphoto said...

Hi Dan, your work is stunning. I love the one with the moving car. So cool. Your editing skills add another great dimension to your photography. Anna :)

Dan Felstead said...

Cynthia...thanks and have a good weekend out there in God's country!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Dawn Treader...you actually eat Blackberries???? There is a communication gap here. Just kidding of course!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Anna,

Thank you so much. The car was actually parked so I removed the parking lines and added the motion blur to try to get the effect of movement.

Dan