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I am back from the Mausoleum, showered and alll my stuff is in the washing machine. Man, the place hasn't had a leak problem that bad in ten years! I've been there a lot. My mental map of that place and it's various staircases and it's very limited elevators is almost too good. Some of my earlier shoots are from before repairs began. I've seen it in worse shape, but not in a loooong time.
After I was out I bee-lined for a coffee shop to get something to sooth my poor throat after that air.
It was more crowded today that I'd ever seen. More crowed by like a lot. They heavily promoted it this year and had secured overflow parking lots. Some people on reddit were all 'don't worry about it being crowded, just go, it's so big it can't get crowded' Oh yes, oh yes it can. Multiple staircases can have traffic jams.
Also the elevator that is the only way down to the very bottom floor, many levels down from the street? It had a line. When I saw it open it was crowded with people. I have literally never been on that elevator without it having a brief stall-out on the way up. This is the first time I've skipped the most remote bit, because a crowded elevator that I expect to stall for three seconds? That'll be a big nope from me. For extra fun, there is no cell reception in those sections of the place. Even current year, I checked.
That was one challenge in doing any reshoots, the people. In other places I'll line up a shot and wait, but I can't do that in a mausoleum. I know that 99% of the people there are just locals hungry for a Portlandy event after the past two years (or edgy teens wanting to make out in a ~place of the dead~), but just in case a lingering person is a mourner I can't lurk. Or seem even unintentionally lurky. So when there was a window I'd whip out my camera and try to line up the shot and get it before.... oh here is more people. I hope I got a good shot or two, and I am glad I went. But wow, super crowded and super... wet. One area was blocked off due to water damage, which I've never seen before. So that made for nice shots until, you guessed it, people went into the no-go sections anyway.
Also, my camera kept switching between showing full battery and showing 'about to die'. Olympus cameras tend to be terrible at showing accurate battery life. They claim to be full until about 20% remains. But I know this about my camera and do a full check of my gear every 3 outings. It's possible I goofed and didn't recharge, but this was acting more like a problem with the battery or the battery contact. The battery is I think 7 years old now, so if it's dying I ain't mad at it. Actually, I just pulled it and the actual contact points look worn. I'm going to go ahead and order a back up. I haven't carried a back up battery since like '11 because I am that serious about keeping my gear prepped and Olys are good with battery management.
On my walk home I grabbed some vegan samosas for dinner. I figured I could carry food home since I wasn't going to be looking for shots with a dying camera... but then there were cats, and a rose bush tangled with mossy branches... So I kept putting down my food and drink, haul the camera back out and hope it would do one more shot.
Anyway, pics soon hopefully. For now, I am pooped
After I was out I bee-lined for a coffee shop to get something to sooth my poor throat after that air.
It was more crowded today that I'd ever seen. More crowed by like a lot. They heavily promoted it this year and had secured overflow parking lots. Some people on reddit were all 'don't worry about it being crowded, just go, it's so big it can't get crowded' Oh yes, oh yes it can. Multiple staircases can have traffic jams.
Also the elevator that is the only way down to the very bottom floor, many levels down from the street? It had a line. When I saw it open it was crowded with people. I have literally never been on that elevator without it having a brief stall-out on the way up. This is the first time I've skipped the most remote bit, because a crowded elevator that I expect to stall for three seconds? That'll be a big nope from me. For extra fun, there is no cell reception in those sections of the place. Even current year, I checked.
That was one challenge in doing any reshoots, the people. In other places I'll line up a shot and wait, but I can't do that in a mausoleum. I know that 99% of the people there are just locals hungry for a Portlandy event after the past two years (or edgy teens wanting to make out in a ~place of the dead~), but just in case a lingering person is a mourner I can't lurk. Or seem even unintentionally lurky. So when there was a window I'd whip out my camera and try to line up the shot and get it before.... oh here is more people. I hope I got a good shot or two, and I am glad I went. But wow, super crowded and super... wet. One area was blocked off due to water damage, which I've never seen before. So that made for nice shots until, you guessed it, people went into the no-go sections anyway.
Also, my camera kept switching between showing full battery and showing 'about to die'. Olympus cameras tend to be terrible at showing accurate battery life. They claim to be full until about 20% remains. But I know this about my camera and do a full check of my gear every 3 outings. It's possible I goofed and didn't recharge, but this was acting more like a problem with the battery or the battery contact. The battery is I think 7 years old now, so if it's dying I ain't mad at it. Actually, I just pulled it and the actual contact points look worn. I'm going to go ahead and order a back up. I haven't carried a back up battery since like '11 because I am that serious about keeping my gear prepped and Olys are good with battery management.
On my walk home I grabbed some vegan samosas for dinner. I figured I could carry food home since I wasn't going to be looking for shots with a dying camera... but then there were cats, and a rose bush tangled with mossy branches... So I kept putting down my food and drink, haul the camera back out and hope it would do one more shot.
Anyway, pics soon hopefully. For now, I am pooped
no subject
Date: 2022-05-31 05:27 am (UTC)From:I'm glad you went, but I'm sorry it was as crowded as it was. Damn! That sounds super packed. I would definitely have noped out of the elevator experience, yeesh. Bummer that the crowding made pictures difficult. I hope you got some good ones anyway!
no subject
Date: 2022-05-31 11:22 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2022-05-31 11:27 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2022-05-31 11:31 am (UTC)From: