Leading a Walk with Harman Technology
Speaking of Phoenix 200, a film I recently tried out and wrote about a little bit, I recently had the opportunity to host a film photo walk in Waltham, MA with Harman Tech to celebrate the launch of Phoenix II, their second iteration. I’ll write less about the film this time and more about the photographs for everyone’s sake. This is NOT a review site.
I stood on the bridge overlooking an artificial waterfall on Moody Street as I wondered when the buildings were from, where the water flowed from, who was in it, where to fish it. This is a different section of the same river I visit each morning to sit with the Geese. The Charles River is the big one in Boston, and changes vastly depending on where you are.
The sun was bright just before sunset, the time many seek for photographing. It seems a little bleaching to me, as though there is only one way worth keeping a memory. I looked into black water and tried to smell the wild as it moved through cement.
Moody Street is the liveliest place in this quiet town West of Boston. Many of the businesses have been here longer than my parents have been alive, and people are always walking. The roads were full of people, mostly locals. The businesses are diverse, with food from everywhere. The sun peaks over the buildings of one side and paints those of the other. It is warm, even in the shade.
The promotional walk ended back at the top of the street and I said goodbye to the students and the Harman rep. I still had some photos left and used them the following day.
I visited a public garden available for rent sandwiched between the Charles River and Soldiers Field. The sun shined high overhead, and Phoenix II seemed to perform better under these conditions.
The flowers of the garden were beautiful and the bees were eager to pollinate. I had finally escaped the smell of concrete and oil. I just had to get a little closer to the flowers and the bees.
Eventually I moved on from the garden. It was closed at the time so all I could see was from the outside looking in. I’d rather be part of things.
I finished up the walk with some water pancakes.
I tend to push aside the opportunities to photograph passively like this. I’ve been looking for the right thing to shoot for some time, but I think the best way to create is to create constantly. The more I photograph, the more I photograph. I’m not sure that makes sense, but I understand.