Project 365
2025 - Issue #17
Towards the end of May I went to Palm Springs with some friends for a mahjong weekend. “What is mahjong”, you say? Only the best game ever! There are several styles of mahjong played throughout the world. It originated in China1 but my friends and I play American style which has a zillion and one rules and a card of hands that changes every year. - It’s too much to explain and this post isn’t about mahjong. - But seriously, seek out a mahjong group in your area. Learn how to play! You’ll love it, hate it and become addicted to it all at the same time.
So anyway, my friends and I went to Palm Springs for a weekend that wasn’t a weekend, it was actually mid-week. “Palm Springs”, you say, “isn’t that the picturesque town in the Californian desert that’s known for its mid-century modern architecture, cotton-candy colors and kitschy style?”2 “You must have had a great time photographing there!” “Why, yes, yes it is”, I reply, and “no, no I didn’t.” Reason being - this was a mahjong mid-week weekend. We barely left the room and played many, many rounds of mahjong. (Please refer to the last sentence in the first paragraph.)
Still, I brought my camera because my daily film photo project must go on! I loaded Cinestill 800T thinking it would be the perfect film to shoot with indoors, since that’s where we’d be spending most of our time.
We actually went out to dinner on our first night there to a fabulous mediterranean restaurant, Lola Rose. On our walk back to the car these bicycles and cacti caught my eye.
And this is what I shot on the following day. - The hallway right outside our door.
Below is the last frame of the roll, shot at home. Don’t ask me why the little wooden dude is in there, I just wanted to finish the roll and realized I hadn’t used him as a subject in a while.
And there you have it, my trip to Palm Springs! But, just in case you don’t believe that I actually went anywhere, here are some iPhone photos.
I hope you weren’t expecting to see that cool architecture I mentioned before!
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And here are some mahjong shots taken throughout the years.
Did I mention there are always snacks and treats?!
Part of the reason I love the game is because the tiles are so beautiful.
Thanks for reading!
Never stop looking. No matter where you are, there are good photographs. – Art Wolfe
That Hallway photograph is amazing!
I've heard of Mahjong and I'm sure it's a fascinating game. However, I'm trying to avoid anything that will become addictive. A very interesting and enjoyable photo series, though, Alicia....