Blue Umbrella, Katmandu, Nepal, 1983 In 1983 I was invited to be a support climber on the 1983 American Mount Everest Expedition. The goal of the climb was to repeat the ascent of the ridge which was first climbed in 1963. The trip started in Katmandu, the capital of Nepal. At the time the city seemed to be locked in a turn of the century time zone. Rickshaws outnumbered cars and the ever present sacred cow roamed the streets. The temples and squares were the gathering places of the people of the city. The restaurants and hotels catered to the mobs of tourists. Thankfully we arrived during the height of the monsoon season and there wasn't a foreign face around. I wandered over to the market as it was setting up passing legless beggars and hand-drawn carts. Chickens and goats were eating grass growing in the square and flies were buzzing over the butchered meat hanging in doorways. Women spread blankets and laid out displays of peppers, flowers were weaved into garlands for temple visitors, and people started to crowd in from the side streets. I spent the morning photographing what was a rich visual tour. For the locals this was just going shopping but for me this was a foreign experience. Unfortunately I get the same feeling walking into our local Von's supermarket on a ski season Saturday. The L.Aliens as they are called swarm into the store wearing neon skiwear and ski boots. I am sure that a citizen of Katmandu would find the scene just as foreign. The street photography was something I enjoyed very much. I let my reactions tell me when to take a picture. The people did not seem to pay too much attention to me and I did not feel self conscious. The Blue Umbrella struck me at the moment as a place to stop and take a picture. I did not hesitate to consider the framing shutter speed, or depth of field. I worked on intuition and moved on.