October 24, 2004

Generation Gap

About a week ago, a contact e-mailed me and mentioned that he and his "crew" were going to attend Northbound Leather's Fetish Fashion Event  held down at The Docks in TO ( Oct 23) and said why not join them.

Hmmm, could make for an interesting photo op, so why not.  A dress code was in effect but no problem there since I have some um.... well, let's say putting together something in 'leather'  wasn't going to be a problem.

I arrived just after 9pm and the parking lot was already filling up.  While I was unpacking the camera I glanced over to the vehicle parked next to me where a thirty something couple were "lighting up". ( As if there wasn't going to be enough to boggle the mind once inside.)   I shook my head, thinking that kind of thing was only done by young "kids".....  I'm beginning to feel the cumulative effect of the passing years.

Okay a quick make-up check in the mirror and the face looking back didn't look too bad for some one "over the hill".  I headed for the entrance and wound my way inside. The place looked almost empty with the monstrous cavernous interior, even with the number of cars in the lot.

Lighting conditions were extremely poor but "visibility" was great. While waiting for the "crew" to show up I mingled with  a few of the patrons and a number of them were very accommodating when asked if I could take their pic.  One outfit stood out amongst  the entire crowd for the night... a horse of a different colour or perhaps "persuasion".   However, trying to compose an image  in the near dark proved to be a challenge since I couldn't see anything in the display. It was kinda hit or miss.  Unfortunately the rider/owner of the steed wasn't available at the moment to be included in the shot.

When wearing two and half inch heels I hit the six feet mark, but felt dwarfed when I saw this particular body. I think she was easily six and a half feet. Maybe it wasn't just the heels that made her stand out above the crowd........

Without realizing it, the place had been rapidly filling up as the time drew nearer for the "fashion show" which was scheduled for 11 pm.  Around 10:30 I managed to locate the "crew" and we attempted to find a spot around the stage for a "clear view".  The view was further hindered by the over abundance of  theatrical smoke -  a deadly combination for flash photography.  An image of a couple of the crew appears to be looking through the lens of a blurry eyed drunk.  And NO, the only thing I drank during the entire evening was ginger ale.

Conversation was impossible and the noise masquerading as a sorry excuse for "music" along with the excessive bass pounding in my ears didn't help along with the "heart palpitations" they were creating.  At this point, I  was really wishing I'd brought along some ear plugs while the others seemed to revel in their "environment".  You can take a "classic rock n roller" out for the night, but gimme some of that old time rock and roll any day.

The swelling crowd prevented a clear view of the stage at eye level but I managed to catch a few decent images of the show  which was FANTASTIC. ( The six feet in height, plus one long up stretched arm came in handy)  An oriental theme choreographed with precision was well worth the wait. The crowd went berserk when fetish diva Midori was introduced for the balance of the performance.  I had accidentally turned the camera mode dial  to video just prior to that and only realized what was happening when I hit the shutter and the camera kept rolling.  Here's the  'mistake'  in its raw format. (  ya, ya ...  so you have to crank your head 90 degrees to the right until I find a way to edit the entire file.)

 CLICK HERE for Midori video clip

Shortly after the show was over,  I lost the crew in the wall to wall sea of moving pressed flesh and decided to call it a night not long afterwards.  My ears thanked me for it this morning.

My souvenir for the evening - black ice nail polish and  ticket...

To view more photos from the event, CLICK HERE.