Photographing the Soul of Seattle at Pike Place After Dark
International travel creates these strange moments where time feels completely warped, like in departing Tokyo at 5 PM and landing in Seattle the morning of the same day after a ten-hour flight! My body knew it should be tomorrow, but the calendar insisted otherwise.
This was my stopover on the way back from my Japan photo tour, just one night in Seattle before the final leg home to Miami. It felt as if I were between worlds, and a bit disoriented, no longer in the adventure, not yet home. After checking into the hotel and grabbing a quick lunch around the corner, I managed a brief nap before the pull of exploration became too strong to ignore.
It was my first time in Seattle, and I'd deliberately booked the hotel just a few blocks from Pike Place Market so I could easily walk there. As evening approached, those famous neon signs I'd seen in countless movies were finally within reach. The cobblestone streets seemed to whisper stories of fishmongers and flower vendors, of tourists and locals, of a place where authenticity still thrives despite how much the world has changed around it. The cold was sharp but refreshing.
When Instinct Takes Over
The best photography often happens when I'm running on pure instinct rather than careful planning.
This Seattle evening felt manageable, immediate, like a story that wanted to tell itself without the weight of expectation. I grabbed my Fuji X100VI in a small bag. Compact, yet powerful enough to deliver professional results, the X100VI is my go-to camera when I want to simply photograph what I see, roam light, and have a good time without the weight of heavy gear holding me down.
The short walk didn't disappoint. The streets around the Pike Market felt like a movie set. Post Alley beckoned with its turquoise glow, while the famous market corridors stretched ahead, their warm, inviting light spilling onto the pavement.
What struck me most was the quietude; it wasn't particularly late, but the vendors had closed for the evening, leaving the corridors empty of their usual bustle. Without the daytime crowds and merchant calls, the market revealed a completely different character. The neon signs became the performers, casting their colorful glow on weathered floors where countless conversations and transactions had taken place just hours before.
Every corner revealed another layer of Seattle's character, from the weathered brick buildings that have watched over these streets for over a century to the modern skyline rising behind the market like a reminder of the city's tech-driven present.
Knowing I'd be chasing neon and capturing that ethereal glow against Seattle's evening sky, I used a ProMist filter on the camera – it softens harsh LED edges. It creates gentle halos around light sources, which works particularly well at night to make artificial light feel more cinematic and dreamlike.
The Soul of a City Revealed
Pike Place Market opened in 1907 as a way for local farmers to sell directly to consumers, cutting out the middlemen who were driving up prices. More than a century later, while the market has evolved from its purely agricultural roots to include a broader range of crafts and flowers alongside fresh produce, it remains one of the few places where the original spirit of direct connection between makers and customers persists. From the fishmongers playfully tossing salmon to the farmers offering fruit samples, there's still an authenticity here that draws both locals doing their weekly shopping and visitors discovering something genuine.
Walking through those corridors after dark, when the daytime crowds have thinned and the neon takes center stage, you feel that history. The LoBACK Meat Company sign glows with the same pride it has for generations. Maximilien Restaurant promises spectacular views along with its seafood. The Raven's Nest offers jewelry and curiosities that reflect Seattle's quirky, creative spirit.
Coming Home to Process
Japan awaits in my Lightroom catalog, temples and cherry blossoms, bustling Tokyo streets, and serene mountain villages.
But amidst these grand narratives, I also need smaller stories to remind me why I fell in love with photography in the first place. Seattle, with its vibrant market and rich history, gave me that gift in just a few hours of wandering.
It's a reminder that the essence of photography lies in these personal stories, not just in exotic destinations or perfect conditions.
It just requires showing up, even when logic says to stay in my hotel room. The soul of a city reveals itself to those willing to walk its streets and really see what's in front of them.
Next up: I will be diving and editing those Japan photos and the stories they're waiting to tell.
That's all for now. As always, feel free to leave a comment if you like my work.
