My Refrigerator Door

Last night, I attended the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year’s Parade. It had been more than a decade since I last experienced the event, so I was excited to have an opportunity to enjoy in the festivities. Before the parade began, I wandered through the alleyways of Chinatown in hopes of peeking “behind the curtain” as parade preparations were underway. Whenever I photograph any sort of event, especially one attended by thousands of photographers, I attempt to take pictures that are different, unexpected and a little offbeat. I am not always successful, but it is a blast to try. Chinatown is boisterous on a normal day. Yesterday, it was even more electric as tourists congregated in the community and interacted with locals who were delighted to share their culture. My favorite image, from an afternoon of shooting, was of an elderly woman watching a lion dancing performance through a window from the safety of her home. Behind the pageantry and opulence of the Chinese New Year’s Parade is an Asian community of people who are proud, joyous and hopeful that the year of the Dragon will be their finest yet.

San Francisco – Jackson Street and St. Louis Alley