I rode the light rail to Five Points to meet up with Jackie at the festival’s main stage late Saturday afternoon. Her day started at 5:30 a.m. shooting the infrastructure set up. Conjunto Colores had just started their set when I arrived. They were outstanding. Many people were salsa dancing in the street. I regretted not getting down there earlier.
Jackie and I got caught up between sets. She introduced me to the other photographers, the production manager and the sound crew. I was tasked with documenting Jackie working by photographing her with her iPhone. She also asked me to take pictures of interesting people in the crowd which was a cross section of society. All races, ages, shapes and sizes were in attendance. It was easy to find subjects to shoot.
Hazel Miller was the final set of the day. She’s a Colorado treasure. It’s always a treat to see Hazel. She’s a dynamic personality who owns the stage and works the crowd. Her shows are amazing. Hazel did Aretha in the second half of the set. The crowd went wild when she sang Chain Of Fools. Hazel took us to church. Aretha would have been proud.
The festival ended around eight but Jackie needed to film the dismantling of the stage and the event strike. The closing shot of the time lapse was a flatbed truck hauling away the porta potties while the light rail train disappeared around the corner. After filming wrapped I helped load the camera gear into Jackie’s Mini. Jackie drove me home around ten.
I took a shower and watched part of Saturday Night Live to unwind. I went to bed with the windows open again. I laid there listening to the water cascading down the waterfall in the pond. Memories of the day ran through my mind. I could hear Hazel singing. Chain, chain, chain.