all words and photos by Dakota Fine
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I began my night photographing the thunder and lightning storm from the the Bishop's Garden aside the National Cathedral. I am told, the Cathedral sits atop the highest point inside the district, but that's just what I've heard from people, I have no scientific basis, and have done no research into this stated fact.
Photographing lightning might seem like a daunting prospect at first, but really all you need is a tripod, a dry space and a long exposure. Just sayin, cuz people sometimes think it's really hard to do, it's not, I swear.
Anyways, fast forward to Nouveau Riche at DC9. I first encountered Cale passionately discussing what was probably something related to the Spoon show we had witnessed together earlier in the day at the GWU Mt. Vernon Campus. It was at about this point that I realized I had forgotten the batteries to my strobe.
Fuck. Running quickly to CVS to no avail, it was shuttered at 12.30am on a Saturday night, go figure. Really though?!? I mean, I'm sure a CVS on U St could make more than enough money to stay open on a Saturday night, I think the Rite Aid just down the street stays open (doesn't it?), but I digress.
Entering DC9, Bill the owner seemed a bit peeved with my insistence that myself and a +1 should have been on the list. Graciously, Mr. McHollander came to my rescue. Sorry for the improper dispatch, I didn't see Bill for the rest of the night after that, but Bill, thank you.
Onwards and upwards into the sweat cesspool, except it wasn't that bad this Saturday night, maybe it was because it wasn't overly crowded to the point of near death. Okay so, sometimes mistakes happen for a reason right? I mean, it certainly proved to be quite an interesting experiment shooting a dark, sweaty, dance party without flash. I am reminded of the fact that the whole reason for all the obscurity is that people look better when you can see how sweaty and unshowered they really are.
Anyways, success! Rinse and repeat. This might just catch on.
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God loves a cheerful giver.
Welcome to the world of available light.
Actually I was telling Brandon how his tee was pure awesome sauce, but yeah, probably also mentioned Spoon.
Nice pics, I think you should forget your batteries on purpose every once in a while.
These are completely awesome. I may just have to institute a no-flash policy from here on out!
listen kids, I've shot available light plenty.
and anyways, more than welcome to the world of available light, it's I who should welcome you to the world of available light as seen by the 5D MkII... it's almost not fair.
its like a nouveau riche was held in the black-lit basement of my teenaged weed dealer. oh memories.
nice set dakota, mon!
D'oh! Forgot the shameless self-promotion bit. We all just did new remixes of Rye Rye's "Bang" feat. M.I.A. You can stream 'em all and download 'em all on Myspace, the coolest retro website going:
http://www.myspace.com/dcnr
people should be purple and green and neon orange more often.
I realize you shoot plenty of things using available light, but dance parties usually aren't 1 of them.
Yes, the 5D MkII's sensor is impressive. Sucks that I can't put 1 in my Leica.
yadda yadda yadda
i was wearing a hat lol
These lights are amazing, great job Dakota!