Alan
Lake
This was all a magical “accident”.
Never intended to be. I’m convinced our
paths take a detour for a reason. I’m not
sure why yet, but I’ll take the ride and
see.
In November of 2001, an old friend had called
and asked if I could help him for the busy holiday
season he had booked at his restaurant/nightclub
in Zurich. I’m a chef, and we’d worked
together before in the States.
Within the week, I was there!
Armed with a Eurail pass and a borrowed camera,
I planned to travel to Tuscany, Paris and Provence
before returning to the States, after I had
finished my “stage”.
What I hadn’t planned was that the timing
coincided with the celebration of Carnevale
throughout Europe. That’s how it came to
pass that I was where I was, when I was. I didn’t
seek this out. Carnevale was a by-product of
my travels.
Overcome by fantasia. Instant awe!
The dream like quality of the sights and sounds
of revelry of a quarter of a million partygoers-and
the strong surreal images that I had never before
envisaged, compelled me to record as much as
I possibly could.
I shot these photos for myself and for that
reason only. Not to show or sell them later.
I imagined myself to be on assignment from National
Geographic, clicking away and buying more and
more film. When
it was over I continued on to France and kept
taking what I thought were pictures of my
vacation. And they are that…and more.
I couldn’t get the Fellini movie I’d
just watched out of my head though. It kept
haunting me.
When I got home and had the pictures developed,
I was shocked. I’d managed to capture
some pretty surreal visuals. I showed them
to a few of my friends, and they encouraged
me to exhibit them.
One thing has led to another, and here I am.
The response has been overwhelming and these
images seem to have taken on a life of their
own.
If you join me on this journey, you will surely
be captivated by this veritable wonderland.
Here’s hoping that you enjoy and remember
them.
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