Raoul bailed on me at the last minute last night. It happens occasionally – not often. There’s one city where the stats are reversed: Los Angeles. Four out of five times in L.A., after confirming they will go shooting with me, in the end the person will not show up. This was jarring when I first experienced it, because of how easily people could drop their commitments, but also because of the crazy excuses and the seeming detachment from reality.

“Hey, where are you? we’re supposed to meet?

“Dude, duuude… I’m cruisin to Vegas with my buddy! Its gonna be sick! Lets do this when I get back.”

But this is when I go shooting alone… So last night I drove to Pioneer Square, an area in downtown Seattle recommended to me by several people. It fit the bill. But it was also an area I felt was too dangerous to be shooting in alone, so I looked around only briefly, trying not to stare at anything too long. I was worried I’d find a shot. I knew if I did I’d have no choice but to pull my gear out and try to capture it.