I scanned some of the color slides I made when I was a first year student at the New England School of Photography. This was for my color projects class with Pam Edwards. The assignment was to make a slide show that is accompanied by music. I used Puccini’s "Vissi d'arte, vissi d’amore" from Tosca, which is beautiful music. I don’t know what the song is about but it is beautiful.
I learn about things by going to the edge of what it is capable of doing. It is the eternal five year-old who broke their toys as a way to play with them. My classmates and I would just go out, exploring the city of Boston, and take pictures as a group. This was my idea of street photography. Shooting 400asa slide film didn’t always lend itself to perfection, but we didn’t know any better, and we were happy!
Looking at images I made about 27 years ago, which was a whole lifetime, reminds me that what I found interesting is what I still find interesting. I like how a camera can bend reality and present things in ways that aren’t accurate representations of what exists. I like the chance and and mystery photography has when I just let the camera do what it does, and see what happens.
The street photography I did at night was probably under the suggestion of Lisa Garner, my girlfriend and future wife. She had some amazing night photography, so maybe I was trying to impress her too.
I attracted to the delightful imperfection in photography. I don’t know if my street photography is going to win any awards, but I had fun making it, and. I learned a thing or two.