denver through a lens: a freelance photographer's chaotic notes

just got back from colorado and my camera roll is a beautiful mess. spent five days chasing light and local flavor like a caffeine-fueled squirrel. the air here? thinner than my budget after buying that vintage leica. speaking of which, i just peeked at the weather app and it's a dry 18.4 degrees outside, feels like 16.61-so pack more than a hoodie if you're coming, unless you enjoy looking like a sad tumbleweed. humidity's at 12%, which makes my hair happy even if everything else is crying out for moisture. pressure's sitting at 1013, so no storms brewing unless you count my existential ones.

first stop was *riNo district, where concrete walls wear street art like high fashion. this place smells of spray paint and expensive IPAs. i shot 800 frames before realizing my lens cap was off the whole time. classic.

someone overheard at the coffee shop: 'avoid the blue bear sculpture during lunch. tourists use it as a backdrop for 20-minute photoshoots. you'll get trampled.' later saw a grandma doing interpretive dance around it. she had the right idea.

denver's got this weird energy-part frontier town, part tech startup. i was shooting at larimer square when this dude told me the ghost train still rattles through the tunnels beneath. asked him if he meant the light rail, but nope. swore it was real.

bartender at the denver chop house: 'if you want the real denver vibe, go to the buffalo bar. they have a taxidermy moose head that judges your drink order. also, their green chili is a weapon. bring antacids.'

if you get stir-crazy, boulder's just a mountain hop away. or colorado springs if you're into rocks and military history. personally, i drove to golden for the brewery tours because priorities.

heard through the grapevine that the denver art museum's new exhibit is basically a nap zone. also, a local warned me that moffat tunnel* is haunted by railroad workers who died building it. great for atmosphere, less so for sleeping. you know where to find real denver chaos? check out this reddit thread or yelp's hidden gems. for attractions, tripadvisor's denver list is decent but skip the 'mile high' tours too cheesy for even this blogger.

gonna sleep for 14 hours now. my back hurts from carrying camera gear that costs more than my car. peace.

You might also be interested in:

• https://votoris.com/post/acua-coahuila-a-border-town-that-feels-like-a-secret
• https://votoris.com/post/ljubljanas-rainy-vibe-and-coffee-that-hits-different
• https://votoris.com/post/aleppos-chill-a-budget-students-messy-take-on-1383c-days
• https://votoris.com/post/seasonal-weather-in-atlanta-a-drummers-guide-to-not-ruining-your-kit
• https://votoris.com/post/wanderings-in-saltillo-messy-notes-from-a-latenight-coffee