Foley Photography

The fighter in the picture above (Mark Sheehan) saved my skin (from frostbite, at least).

Backing up:

There were no free parking spots near the Washington Avenue Armory. I circled and cirled, hoping to see someone pull out of a spot so I could glide in. It wasn’t happening, though, so I took a deep breath and pulled into a pay lot, which I hate doing.

I find it discouraging that Albany (and many other cities) charges you to park when you’re trying to partake in their downtown activities. It just seems counterintuitive to me. I think that the mayor or whoever makes those decisions would want to make it as easy as possible to come into the city and spend money. Anyhow, that’s just my opinion.

So, I parked and hustled up to the ticket dispenser. It was about 10 degrees and a little windy out. It was 7:45 p.m., so it was pretty dark.

I had no gloves on because I knew I’d need to fumble with my wallet and some cash. It was $5 to park.

The people in front of me were trying to slide a single dollar bill into the ticket dispenser, but it wouldn’t take it. They let me try. I fed the machine a $5 bill, but it got kicked back out. I tried a credit card. Ah, it worked. The machine told us to wait as it printed a ticket. I snatched the ticket and dashed back to my car. I tossed the ticket onto my dashboard (so the tow truck driver — who would inevitably visit the lot — could see that I paid), grabbed my gear from the trunk and headed into the Armory to photograph Cage Wars, an amateur boxing and kickboxing card.

The event went fine. I saw lots of friends and made a few nice pictures (depsite the difficulties of shooting through a cage).

At the end of the night, at 11:30 p.m. or so, after packing up my equipment (most of the crowd was gone by this point), I braved the cold and jogged back to my car. Except my car wasn’t there! Another group of people milled around the lot, trying to find their car, as well. They called the tow truck company listed by the lot — we had both been towed even though we’d paid to park.

I called the company, too, only to be told by the tow truck driver that my ticket had been placed upside down on the dashboard, which invalidated it.

“It clearly says on the ticket, sir, that the ticket is not valid if it’s upside down.”

Are you kidding me?

It was dark and freezing when I’d purchased the ticket. And I’d simply tossed it on my dash without reading it. I never knew I had to read the fine print on a parking lot ticket!

“Sorry, sir, I had no choice but to tow you,” the tow truck driver said. He then gave me the address where I could pick up my car.

Great, the car was only about 10 miles away. Oh, and there were no taxis running. Oh, and the temperature was down to about five degrees.

I started the walk back to the Armory, hoping I could find one of my friends still there. Before I got there, though, a woman called out, “Where are going?”

I didn’t recognize her, but I told her that I was headed back inside to try to find a ride to the tow truck company. As I explained my situtation, I looked at the other three people with her. One of them was Mark Sheehan, who’d fought on the card and won. He and I knew each other in passing. I’d photographed a training session of his months prior.

“We’ll give you a ride,” Mark said. “Hop in with us. You’re part of the team.”

Ah, were kinder words ever spoken? Mark and his family (it was his mom who had called out to me) drove me up Central Avenue. We talked about Mark’s fight and the ridiculousness of my situtation. Then, when we got there, they let me wait in their truck for the 15 minutes or so it took the tow truck driver to arrive.

Finally, I paid the $135 fine and walked to my car. There was the ticket, still on the dash, still upside down.

Regardless of the upside down ticket, I very much disagree with my car being towed. I feel quite taken advantage of, and very disappointed that they’re allowed to do that.

However, I’m appreciative of the opportunity to experience the kindess of near strangers and to have made a few new friends.

You can see more photos from the fights and purchase prints at http://jefffoley.nextproof.com/galleries/cagewars. The gallery will be active until Feb. 30, 2010.