I went to a Steampunk Festival expecting goggles and brass gears. I did not expect to find an antique barber chair sitting inside a bank vault.
As a photographer, I’m always on the hunt for the next great scene — sometimes I have to chase it down, and other times, it taps me on the shoulder and says, “Hey, buddy… get your camera.”
One sunny Saturday afternoon years ago, I headed into Providence for a Steampunk Festival. I had visions of top hats, goggles, corsets, and brass gears glinting in the sun — you know, the usual weekend fare. It was a beautiful day, and I was eager to photograph the creative chaos.
The heart of the festival was inside an old bank building downtown. I wandered through displays and performances, camera in hand. Then, I passed a heavy steel door — the old bank vault — and did a full double take.
Inside the vault, framed by concrete walls and heavy shadows, sat… an antique barber chair.
Just sitting there. Waiting for its close-up.
The surrounding walls were scrawled with chalk scribbles and equations — not exactly what you expect in a bank vault. It looked more like Einstein’s lab… or maybe the waiting room of a very eccentric therapist.
I later learned the vault had been converted into the “office” for the king of the steampunk community. Naturally. The scene was bizarre. Unexpected. Perfect. I couldn’t not photograph it.
That’s the thing about photography: sometimes, the best moments are the ones you never planned for. So keep your eyes open. Wander off the path. Peek through the odd doorway. Life has a funny way of placing weird and wonderful surprises right in your viewfinder — if you’re willing to look.
The takeaway: The best photographs are rarely the ones you plan for. Keep your eyes open for the doorway you weren’t looking for.
This oddball little scene — equal parts mystery and humor — makes for a genuinely fun, conversation-starting piece for anyone who likes their wall art with a story attached.