Children know about the magic of making wishes, of believing in something so much they will it to happen. Call it faith if you prefer but their persistence is often rewarded. Photography can be a lot like this for some and for others it’s entertainment. I think there is room in this world for both and everything in between. For those of us who have a dream that is something more than just a hobby, it will be what carries us when we sink into the valleys, keeps us searching if we reach a peak and sustains us when we hit those inevitable–and sometimes long–plateaus.

I feel like I’ve been on one of those plateaus personally as I’ve had not much time to photograph. Sure I can give you excuses like that pesky day job (hi Boss ) and I can point to things I have been working on for others (like the recent issue of Rear Curtain) but in the end, I am the one responsible for making stuff happen for me. As it turns out, making stuff is like our own version of magic, the ingredient that makes wishes come true. If only I could take credit for it but Ray is the one who reminded me to go out and photograph, to stop worrying about making something serious, something meaningful, and to just have fun. That’s what I did on the weekend at the Richmond Night Market.

Other than the scare I had when I dropped my D700 for the very first time, I had a ball. I love the night markets and don’t know why I never visited them before this year. There’s great food and lots of fun things to photograph. It’s packed which can make it a challenge to get something that isn’t messy but I don’t mind. Creativity is messy and besides it’s more important to just make stuff, right? There’s a momentum that takes over when you pick up the camera and just begin photographing. Inspired by Eli Reinholdtsen’s recent sharing from her trip to Venice, I even plucked up the courage to approach perfect strangers to photograph them. Not everyone agreed but those that did gave me a chance to practice a much needed skill.

This summer I’ll be going to the market every weekend I have the chance. If you’d like to hook up, let me know.