Photowalk Withdrawal: A Boston Street Review
Photowalk Withdrawal: A Boston Street Review
Man! I Miss Walking the Streets! 💡
Its been so long.. more than 8 weeks now since I walked on both feet. I am just anxious to get out and spend a few hours on Photowalks, peeking around corners, being invisible like Joel Meyerowitz has professed is possible, (I believe him. It works!), and capture compelling moments in time.
I am still amazed at how you can stand at a pedestrian crosswalk, completely still, and no one notices you. Thank you Joel. I am a believer.
City of Boston - In Two Quarters January to June.
This post covers some of my favorite shots around Boston Streets. Some of them are from events and holidays, and others are just the result of Photowalks — afternoons or mornings walking 20,000 steps+ around different neighborhoods.
Boston’s Chinatown for Chinese New Years!
Its such a fun holiday. It never disappoints in terms of color, happy people, crowds, noise, and smoky streets. As the image below shows the “offering plate” of oranges and lettuce, it was one of the first that day. I have a thing for capturing people smoking; the way it lingers and curls. And, I do smoke cigars occasionally.
The colors, even on cloudy, rainy and sometimes snowy days, are bright, loud, and “Pop” just like the firecrackers. And the lions and tigers? They never disappoint, especially when you get a glimpse inside.
The day started with a little rain after a snow. Before I reached the parade and Boston’s Chinatown, this moment caught my eye; after grabbing coffee with some photographer friends.
February New Faneuil Hall Boston
Boston is still lively in the cold. As the third-largest startup hub in the world, there’s always something interesting to stumble into. One startup promoting colon and gut screening set up a hilariously odd market research booth. Let’s just say people looked skeptical.
Still, I think it would be a great photo for a bathroom wall. Would you hang it? In your guest bath? Restaurant? Dive bar?
Nearby, the outdoor fresh market gave me a great composition — rows of people walking the narrow lanes between stands.
I really love color, as many of you know, but I chose black and white for this one. Does it work? Or fall flat?
The Boston “T”
Getting around Boston by train isn’t bad. Especially when I walk to the corner of my block, take a right, and head down the stairs to an underground Silver Line bus in the Seaport. Rain or shine its a covered space that takes me right to the Red Line trains at South Station.
In this relatively new station, (8-10 years old), it is full of new metal signage and fairly new glass elevators. Between two street entrances, there’s this wide open area — and it’s become a warm-weather playground.
I caught this at the right time as the plywood has come down and the new station entrance will be opening soon. I’ve never skateboarded myself, but its a thrill watching the boarder get air and hop over cones and other objects.
And even on the busiest of days, sometimes its just time to chill.
In usual Boston fashion though, this new station entrance started more than six years ago, just when I moved here, and several 30-40 story high-rises have been built in the meantime, before this one additional station entrance, one block away, is yet to be completed. Boston Works! Or so they say.
And yes — self-portraits are always part of the fun. Wherever there are reflections.
St. Patrick’s Day - Green Galore
Another great holiday to celebrate in Boston! We have one of the largest Irish immigrant populations in the country. In my experience in living in New York, Chicago, Boston, and in southern Illinois, EVERYONE is Irish on St. Paddy’s Day!
So this time, I wanted to cover it at the heart. The St. Patrick’s day Parade in Dorchester. I got many more that I’ll share closer to next year’s event. Should I?
I took the “T” two stops to Broadway Station, parade central. The first train that arrived? Wall-to-wall green.
When the subway doors opened, on this somewhat chilly day, a swath of warm fog from inside the car poured into the cold air. The train was packed, but a couple people got off and I squeezed in.
The crowds continued and it was time to leave the train. t Broadway Station, we shuffled off — packed like human sardines. Up the stairs, through a police checkpoint, and into the parade. Officers were confiscating gallon jugs of “Bug Juice” from eager celebrators.
When we got to the surface, its was fresh air that greeted us.
At events like this, I’m drawn to the crowd more than the parade itself. Candid strangers — happy, elated, maybe even in love.
Do you prefer crowd scenes too?
Boston Commons & The Boston Public Library
One of my favorite neighborhoods to Photowalk around in Boston is the Copley Square area. Around the square is the famous Boston Public Library which has a long standing history as well as new sections. The streets are wider than most Boston streets and the light and shadows make shooting quite interesting.
At the library entrance, people gather in small clusters — each oblivious to the others. Human pockets of stillness and chatter. I love that.
On my way home, I always walk through the Commons. I caught this: two friends, their dog, a picnic. Warmer days feel like a gift.
Still, I don’t understand the moment: a puff of a cigarette… then a bite of burger and chips.
Random Interesting Shot
And a couple of months ago, I was visiting a friend who had an exhibit at the Liberty Hotel. I captured this shot right off the lobby. Its quirky, but interesting. What do you think?
Back in the Seaport, on a Bench
At the end of June, there was a beautiful day at the Seaport waterfront. I had to get out with my buddy Stan Lee. We sat on a bench just a few blocks from my place, harbor breeze and all.
II’s a little awkward — I left my boot in the shot. But hey, I still “got my street on.”
Boston in the 70s or 80s (Fahrenheit) with a harbor breeze? Doesn’t get much better. I decided not to crop to parallel. Goofy?
Lessons Learned 🧠
It was an interesting first half of 2025. As I looked through my collections in Lightroom, I focused in on Boston Street Shots as the theme. But some other questions pop into mind:
Color or Black & White (or Both): I’m drawn to and mainly shoot, print, and publish in color, but black and white has its own impact. Is it jarring to include both in the same post?
How and When to NOT Over-Elaborate: I had dozens more from both St. Paddy’s and Chinese New Year. But when is enough? Is one image more powerful than a flood of them? When do you stop and show just ONE photo? I always want to go with more, but I know… “less is more”. NO One likes the feeling of TL:DR
How to Organize Photos and Curation is HARD! In this article, I started chronologically, but realized it was better to show the “T” pictures together. And I started with a March picture from Chinatown. What makes more sense? Perhaps I should start posting by events or days? Do you like my theme based around the 14th Floor Boston Views?
What Projects Should I explore over time? I am evaluating projects as a way to cut across my body of work. A deep dive into my neighborhood, living, working, and playing in the Seaport? Or do I focus in on travel events and days?
If you have never visited Boston, did this give you a chance to see what is here and should be seen?
Your Turn 💬
Ok. Tell me what you think, and don’t hold back. Help me understand how you as a buyer or viewer of photography prefer to read, view or put artwork on your wall? Or, as a photographer, what are your habits and practices?
How do you organize your photos, by time, event, or location?
Would you prefer more or less text? More or less images?
Why are you here and doing this? Because you are a friend? You are looking for inspiration? You are looking to learn? Made a Mistake?
So, its your turn. Tell me something really important to know, at least for me.
Do any of my images, evoke feelings in you?
If so, is that a good thing?
I have spent most of my life, since I was 12 years old, working on making a living. And for the first time, I have given myself permission to not monetize what I do.
But I am working. Just in a different way.
But I do know that I am exploring the possibilities as a photo — mechanic, creative, artist, or HACK?
Some feedback said my writing felt “salesy.” That surprised me. What am I selling, exactly? Maybe just the invitation to look. To remember. To feel something.
Thanks for walking with me — even if I’ve been stuck in a boot.
Whatever this is, I’m grateful you’re here and engaging with me as I navigate, without a compass or destination, but enjoy what I am doing… as guiltless as possible.
Till next week!
📷 Copyright & Image Use Notice Stuff
All photographs and images were taken by me, David Rosen and are © David A. Rosen / IMAGE FRONTIERS. You are welcome to share the full post using Substack’s share tools or direct link. However, images may not be downloaded, copied, reposted, or reused without written permission.
💬 Interested in licensing, collaboration, or featuring these images? Message me on Substack or email: click@davidrosenphoto.com.
Great shots! I thought the fresh market photo was up in the mountains before I realized they were tents. Nice shot and works well in black and white. Last one with your foot in it is great. The diagonal lines up perfectly with the people, building and your foot.