Here in Boston some of us call this a bubblah. I personally call it a water fountain, but bubblah works too. I would say it almost looks like a torture device of some sort, but I actually saw some runners drinking from it so I can attest to the fact that it does provide “water”. In fact they sort of looked at me like a fool when they saw me hovering over it with my tripod, but I just smiled and pretended to be fidgeting with my camera. You’d be amazed how many looks I get for setting up my 6 foot tripod in this city, as if its actually a rocket launcher. I think I’ve even seen some people stop, turn around, and run the other direction when they saw me coming with the behemoth swung over my shoulder. But hey, it gets the job done (which is photography, not launching rockets).
Now as for this bubblah… water fountain, I can’t say that I would ever drink from it. The idea of a small pipe running up a moldy concrete block filled with Boston water doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in living after a drink. But it certainly caught my attention so kudos to the engineer who designed it. I think it’s attention grabbing properties are probably a function of the command it seems to hold over the surrounding area. I could envision a battle which ensued between the bubblah and the dead leaves on the ground, the bubblah of course emerging victorious. The benches in the background were likely used by spectators as they cheered for their team of choice. Since concrete usually wins out over leaves I’ll have to say that I’m all for the bubblah. Come to think of it I think this thing would win out over just about anything… be it leaves, runners, a bus, or a rocket launcher. So here’s to you, bubblah!
I can’t make it to the sunset after work anymore due to daylight savings time and the approaching winter. Even though I leave work at 4 PM, by the time I get home at 4:30, the sun is well on its way to setting. But that’s ok because it means more night shots like this one which I love anyway 
You may have noticed that I haven’t taken too many photos of foliage over the past month. This is mainly because I have been sick and secondly because I spent a good deal of time building a new computer so I can process pictures faster and maybe even play a *few* games. Now that I am all better and my computer is all built, most of the leaves are on the ground (dramatic irony). Regardless, there’s still some color left in this city be it on the ground or otherwise and I fully intend to capture some of it before winter takes hold.
This photo was taken on the Esplanade in Boston (where else) and as you can see there is plenty of color. My last post was about having the courage to take the path less traveled… the divergent path, if you will. For this post I am going to switch gears a bit and discuss our rights of passage across whatever path we choose.
Rights of passage are defined by more than the desire to pass. For everyone has desires, but to have a right one must have nobler intentions. It is a common misconception that rights come with birth, that we are somehow entitled to a life of moral righteousness on our own terms - this is not true. Without the moral constructs of society rights fade away to nothing more than desires. Only when desire transcends selfish intent does it become a right. Only when it upholds tenets that are deemed noble, true, and just by the common populace does it become necessary. But history has shown us that the common populace is far more uncommon and divided than one would hope. Who then has the right? The dominant power, those suffering, or neither? There is no answer to that question because it is false… we are all suffering. So long as there is a winning and losing side we as a race will suffer. So long as right and wrong are dictated by the whims of the powerful and neglected by the efforts of the merciful, we will falter. Until right and wrong are forged by the human race as a whole, our rights of passage will remain as elusive and ever changing as the wind. Perhaps such thoughts are too idealistic. Perhaps we are doomed to an eternity of fallen empires and rising rebellions. If that is the case I can only hope that more bridges are built than burnt in my lifetime and that my desires remain congruent with my rights.
These shots are from a recent photo shoot down at the Esplanade in Boston. This is probably one of the few places you can watch a sunset in the city, which is why half my photos are tagged with Esplanade 
Regardless, the sunsets from here are always beautiful.
Cleatset
I took this shot by resting my camera directly on the dock, sans tripod. Considering the camera weighs close to a ton, it’s not surprising that it remained still for the 9 shots required to create this photo.
River Path
This shot shows the bike path that runs along the Esplanade.
Creamsicle Dreams
I couldn’t really think of a better title for this one. I wanted to express the shift in colors in the sky from the sunlight on the right to night’s beginning on the left with the transfer between the two happening somewhere midway. That was my intent at least, but all that kept coming to mind when I looked at this photo was, “creamsicle, creamsicle, creamsicle.” I must be hungry.
Sunset’s Reception
Sunset’s Reception 2
Break Time
Here is a shot from the Esplanade in Boston - one of the few places you can see the sunset in the city. I felt like writing a little story, so here it is. It’s kind of long, perhaps overly romantic, and definitely a bit sad, but that’s what I see when I look at this photo. Oh, and it’s not a true story. It may be, I have no idea, but I wrote it more from the perspective of the person sitting on the bench - there was something very bittersweet about the whole thing.
I Remember
I remember the forest’s edge where we used to linger on midsummer days as we watched the sun’s light yield slowly to the beckoning night - a beautiful combination of yellow hues, jaded skies, and fiery reflections burning in her eyes and lighting mine in turn. We tried desperately to hold on to what was never meant to stay, whispering slowly as lovers often do in hopes that their love will echo on for eternity - an eternity that only they can hear.
I remember the tree and the bench underneath where we used to sit, just laughing for hours. I would watch her delicate smile form carefully as her hair cascaded around her face, revealing beauty with every movement. And though our laughter would fade with the sun, we could still hear it in each others eyes.
I remember when I lost her, when they took her from me and said that our time at the forest’s edge was at an end. She would look at me with those eyes and say simply, “Remember.” Those were her last words to me, and they will echo on for eternity as I return to the forest’s edge to sit by our bench under the tree… to see her smile once again, hear her laughter fill the air, and watch the sunset in her eyes. And I remember. I remember and I smile back in hopes that I will see her once again.
This title doesn’t really have anything to do with the photo, but it does have to do with my circumstances. My D200 finally arrived from the Nikon service shop yesterday after a week of patient waiting. Thinking all my dust problems were gone I went outside to happily start shooting on a gorgeous May afternoon. Upon looking through the viewfinder I became horrified to find that there was STILL dust on the focusing screen, even though Nikon said it had been replaced. I began using my air blower in an attempt to get rid of the dust, but it was not to be - the most prominent pieces would not leave. And so it is with great frustration and only one hour’s use that I send this camera back to Nikon again for service. At least they are paying for shipping this time. Let us truly hope that second time, rather than third, is a charm. I am going to switch over to my D50 for the next week… I can’t go another week without taking any photos.
I did manage to snap one shot before my dust discovery robbed me of my picture taking will. No poem this time, I’m still trying to relieve myself of my pissed-offed-ness. Anyway, there are worse things in life, so no big deal. I sat under this tree for 20 minutes before the wind died down enough to allow me to bracket the shots. It was a great 20 minutes.
Come and Gone
Just when I thought I was going to go an entire day without taking any pictures, my roommate Jerry called to tell me there was going to be a nice sunset on the esplanade (an area directly by the river in Boston). Well, he was sort of right. While we didn’t really get to see the sun set per se, the light scattered by the sunset into the cloud formations above made for a truly beautiful sight. This is sort of like that Tom Cruise movie, “Vanilla Sky,” but without the crazy.
Oh and as for the technique, this would be my first photo which uses Orton - a technique which combines an out of focus image with an in focus one for a very soft and sublime result. I think it suits this shot nicely. For more information see the excellent tutorial written by a fellow photographer here.
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