Getting these pics for you guys came with some sacrifices. For one thing, it was the coldest night of the year (so far). For another thing,
my patience was definitely tested as a photographer that evening.
An hour before closing (and with five cars left in the parking lot on a weekday night), I stood in front of those old familiar arches to take
a few quick exterior shots. Even as a shadow of the mall's former self, the architectural design is still cool to look at. But I digress.
As I pulled out my camera, a woman in a parked vehicle nowhere near the entrance bluntly asked "can you move from there?!".
Her husband then made his way to their vehicle. Apparently, he was sent in to the mall to look for the Hudson's Bay just around the corner.
I shrugged and went on about my business.
Not 10 minutes later, one of the front doors pops open and a older woman begins talking noticeably loud. Without thinking anything of it, I just
assumed the woman was having an intense conversation on her phone. No big deal, I thought and continued snapping.
A minute or so later, the woman began walking through the parking lot to the bus stop on Highway 27 and Queens Plate. Wanting to take a few shots
from a distance, I walked a few steps in her direction when all of sudden, I make out an excited shout from her thick accent "He be followin' me now!".
It was only then that I realized that the woman wasn't having an aggressive phone conversation with a loved one. Just an aggressive, in person conversation
with her new favourite urban photographer: me.
As the woman trailed off into the distance, the woman's harsh words and excited tone followed soon behind her. Where she ventured off to that fine evening
and how many other photographers she interacted with I can't tell you.
And that's the story behind the recent exterior shots. Thanks for reading and drive safely.