..:::. from the keys of Cale Simpson

Ooh it went, it went so good.

I hit up the Disco Dello Spazio show on Saturday, and oh boy was it ever a night. I had an idea of what kind of scene would be percolating, because I knew one of the dj’s and some of the other people that were going, but I didn’t expect people dressed up in space costumes, Burning Man-esc type outfits, and an organized dance team. This party was the dice!

The music was really on point, and fit the mood of the crowd perfectly. Meaning, it was a mixture of electro-funk, Motown, and jams that made your hands stand and your feet dance.

I lasted until 3 am, before I called it quits and started my stroll home along East Hastings—which is a different story altogether—and eventually ended up at the Naam for some late night nachos.

Just a little thought: Yeah, I walked through a pretty sketchy area of Hastings at three in the morning, received some very ‘interesting’ propositions from people that were in their wrong mind, got ignored by every single cab that passed me by, and stood out like a pit stain, but I was good and I didn’t feel threatened. I had a good conversation with my buddy about how that area of Vancouver is ignored by the general populace, because most people don’t want to admit that an area that is occupied by prolific drug users could ever be a part of a ‘beautiful’ city like Vancouver. We both thought that type of thinking was shameful, and concluded that there can be no resolution from ignorance.

Personally, I see a lot of strength and beauty in the inhabitants of that neighbourhood.

So, I wanted to ask you, reader, what your opinion is concerning photographing street life. Do you think it is immoral? Do you think that by photographing people on the street you are some how using their obvious lack of fortune for the gain of your own? I think this is a really interesting topic, and I would love to read your input.

______Best Respects, Cale