Seattle, WA
27 October 2024 :: iPhone 14 Pro Max :: f/2.2 1/60s :: ISO-500

Dear Stranger;

It's really interesting to think that 10 years ago, somewhere in Sweden, an artist whom I had gone from hater to fan two years prior, was in Stockholm working on their next project. On my birthday, ten years ago, they took a picture that would appear in the original album artwork, commemorating the track, "Shake it Off," and it would become one of the most recognisable tunes of the time (and maybe of all time?). In a way, what a birthday gift, because today, the 27th of October, it's the release anniversary of both the original and Taylor's Version re-recording of 1989 and there have been a few fun connections to this album this year because in April, my friend walked down the aisle to the song, "Wildest Dreams," which is my favourite song, and I made a friendship bracelet to bring with me to Sweden.

I was headed to Sweden because I finally got a ticket to the Eras Tour, after missing out when she stopped in Seattle, so almost 10 months to the day later, I was finally going to get to see her perform for the first time. I chickened out for the Red and 1989 tours, went through some tough times and made excuses in between, but finally bit the bullet and gave myself permission to do something I've been wanting to do or a long time. Fast forward those ten months, and after landing in Stockholm, I found my bag had been delayed, and fortunately that wouldn't be what stopped me from going to my intended show the following day, the second of her three-night stop in Stockholm, but the unfortunate part is that I would not have the outfit I had hoped to wear, nor did I get the chance to trade the 80 or so bracelets I had made for the show.

While I still had the time of my life seeing the show that Saturday night, it was still a bit of a bummer to not have had the full experience, especially since I had been making those bracelets for the months leading up to the show. My bag did finally arrive in the afternoon the day after, just int time for me to change into the shirt and shoes I had brought and head to the stadium to catch the Sunday showgoers and see if I could trade the bracelets there, before they entered the stadium.

That's when a kind stranger offered me a ticket they had and suddenly I was inside Friends Arena (what a name for a venue?!!) attending the last Stockholm show. Not only would I discover I had a seat I couldn't have imagined in my...wildest dreams...but that I would be in the same building as the two artists prominently shown in that photograph taken all the way back in 2024. That Sunday night, Taylor announced that Max Martin was in the audience and what a full-circle kind of feeling it was.

So anyway, happy 10 years of 1989.

Magically,
-j

Seattle, WA
19 October 2024 :: Canon G7 X Mark III :: f/2.8 1/500s :: ISO-6400

Dear Stranger;

I think at this point in my life, at my current situation and circumstance, I'm comfortable enough with who I am that I recognise there will be people in my life that will make their own assumptions about me or think they can treat me a certain way and for most of that I may not have any control, but what I can do is simply move on.

I'm going to listen to the music that I enjoy, and support the artists that help me find joy or help me feel seen, and that's what I did this weekend.

You know what? It was so much fun.

Magically,
-j

Seattle, WA
13 October 2024 :: Canon EOS M6 Mark I :: f/6.3 2s :: ISO-800

Dear Stranger;

The weather is likely going to start closing in this week, and I missed out on yesterday's absolutely crystal clear skies, so I made do with what I could and ventured out to see if I could photograph C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) while I had a chance. It should still be around if you're going to give it a try, appearing higher and higher each evening (albeit growing more and more faint as it heads back out into deep space). Fortunately, I was able to get one decent shot in.

I'm pretty happy with the result, it could always be better, but I can at least say I have one for the memories. Will definitely be looking for any and all opportunities that may present themselves in the coming week–fingers crossed.

How've you been?

Magically,
-j

P.S. happy Eras Tour Film anniversary to those who celebrate.

Seattle, WA
1 October 2024 :: Canon G7 X Mark III :: f/2.8 1/80s :: ISO-125

Dear Stranger;

I think a week ago, I tried to write something here, and the "Edit Post" window remained open for, well, a week. It was one of those weeks where I found myself seeing and processing more than operating in an output kind of mode, sometimes I will find myself taking the moment in through the eyes and ears and letting it be what it is rather than adding any additional meaning–sometimes more is just that: more.

Like those timelapses that show the leaves of a tree changing colour, I set a camera to record the sunset, hoping to turn the imperceptible into something noticeable as the earth rotated my location away from the sun and on that day, a cargo flight heading to Taipei (China Airlines Cargo flight 5335) turned west and climbed into the clouds in front of me. I did try to capture it because I was hoping the size of the 747 and its wake turbulence would create a neat effect with the sunset clouds. In the end it was fairly basic, nothing more than a visible trail, but it still left the evidence of an event unique to me nonetheless, and that's what I find rewarding when it comes to sitting outside hoping the clouds change colours–it's the icing on an already beautiful cake.

Maybe it's those little things that I enjoy, hoping there might be others that enjoy it to the degree that they'll stay an extra hour after the sun physically sets, watching it all change in one final burst for that given day.

The real magic sometimes happens long after what we think is the end of the performance.

Magically,
-j