November 10, 2007
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Over Hill and Dale
I'm lucky enough to live in a city neighborhood which is surrounded by sprawling parkland. Lately one of my favorite occupations is to explore the outreaches of my immediate territory, which often takes me for miles through winding wooded paths and over hills and across hidden meadows. I usually go with a thermos of hot tea and digital camera in hand. Besides the hundreds of acres in the city Arboretum, as well as the cemetary which backs onto my hill, there are miles and miles of conservation land and paths. I almost have more places to roam than I did growing up in a rural town.
Last week I found a meadow, sort of tucked unexpectedly between the back of the Arboretum and a fenced-off train lot. Weird juxtaposition. I was at first drawn off course by the open spread of green tufted grass, sun dappled by clumps of short trees. I found a small marsh which was fringed by a willow grove on one side, and a path wound through the tall grass, across a dry streambed, and up a short slope. I startled a deer out of her hiding place in the reeds. When i looked back around, i saw a long concrete wall covered in fantastic graffiti art. Presumably the area is secluded enough so the urban picassos could paint without interruption.
I like to take close-ups of spraypaint art, composing something entirely separate from the original design. Plus, there's the added texture of the peeling paint, cracks and lumps in the concrete, and spatters and drips. I spent some time at my newfound plein-air gallery collecting colorful abstract photographs. I'm thinking maybe I'll sell framed prints. Yeah, artsy-fartsy, i know.
Today Matty and I took advantage of the clear November weather to walk around the arboretum in Jamaica Plain. After wandering a few miles though the woods, we came across a huge hill from the top of which we could not only see the panorama of the city, but also the the neighboring hillside, where our house is.
And then we goofed off.
Hey look! That dog has his collar popped.
And after that, we chilled for a bit in our neighborhood cafe, and took interesting pictures of each other.
Comments (3)
the first one of the trees, that's an amazing photo. the colors are fantastic.
That first photo might be my favoritest fall/tree picture, evah. And we all know that my 'evah' is a very long time, indeed. What pretty, fun days you've had, lately. Peut etre, c'est l'amour.....peut etre.
PS: Be Careful ! - You'll poke someone's eye out.
Thanks!
The arboretum- being a place devoted entirely to trees- has some very photogenic specimens, natch. Matty actually took that first picture because he liked all the colors, and I looked over his shoulder and suggested he turn the camera just-so. We make an excellent team, we do.
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