Three Blocks. Through Eggleston Eyes. (Part II)

Three blocks... just steps away from Harvard Yard. Streets I walk down just about every single day. Though I feel like I know these streets very well, I actually had never taken a really close look. In part II of this assignment, I set my camera to optimal settings - using auto when necessary to avoid the often unintentionally blurry images of previous assignments - and took in a wider scope of the streets rather than focusing on up close details (of course, that is my personal style, so, a few of those close-up shots snuck in). This adventure around the same three blocks featured in part I - revealed additional quirks about the little college town I have come to love so much. From the Left and Up, Down, and to the Right side of the path and Up - this is my walk . . . seen through Eggleston Eyes.

Map of Harvard Square and the path I took for this assignment.

⬅︎⬅︎⬅︎ THE PATH FROM THE LEFT.

To the left of the start of my walk, art imitates life in this rather mixed depth of field flower-field-like image. Do you see the sunflowers in the distance? While everything is not in focus, I like the composition of this shot and how the real flowers frame and complement the painted flowers across the way.

(Auto) 1/800 | f 4.5 | 26 mm | ISO 500

A beautiful mess outside One Brattle. Chairs and parade barriers so close to the street just waiting to be used soon are signs that life is flourishing once again in Cambridge.

(Manual) 1/20 | f 16 | 26 mm | 500 ISO

One man's treasure is another man's trash which becomes another man's treasure. (Yes, you read that right.) While, I do not litter and I don't approve of those who do -- sometimes someone's inability to discard of their trash properly makes a visually interesting photo.

(Manual) 1/20 | f 16 | 26 mm | 500 ISO

While not fully symmetrical, the position of Lizzy's in between its two red-bricked neighbors on either side gives the viewer a glimpse into the doors and windows that make up the facade of one of the busiest ice cream shops in town. (It was nearly 40 degrees fahrenheit and there was a line inside!)

(Manual) 1/25 | f 16 | 50 mm | 500 ISO

⬇︎ THE PATH LOOKING DOWN ⬇︎

What's in the bag? Luckily, I didn't have to snoop because this bag had no flap! It was just wide open to reveal a perfectly matching helmet. I have a feeling this bike might belong to a Harvardian.

(Auto) 1/160 | f 4.5 | 27 mm | 200 ISO

Looking down and looking through a window to a fantasy world off-set by the cold reality outside it's warm faux snow. The fake tree may have leaves all season - but the bare tree outside is truly alive.

(Manual) 1/25 | f 16 | 50 mm | 500 ISO

"Ain't no river wide enough to keep me from you." - Diana Ross.

This Harvard local was determined to get her flowers from the Brattle Square Florist and no leafy puddle was going to stand in her way. She stretched her legs a millisecond after this shot and crossed with dry tennis shoes ... other patrons (their eyes glued to their phones) weren't so lucky.

(Manual) 1/25 | f 16 | 50 mm | 500 ISO

THE PATH FROM THE RIGHT. ➡︎➡︎➡︎

On the right side of my path lay an alternate universe of education and entertainment seemingly miles away from the mostly business-centric images gathered from the opposite side of my path. Resting on a memorial stone, a little plush cat seems to have big dreams of a degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education. I wonder how many miles he traveled to get to that very spot in that very moment.

(Auto) 1/60 | f 5 | 32 mm | 100 ISO

Hidden behind one of Harvard's famous steel gates is this beautiful statue. Perhaps, she is afraid of heights? With her hand in the air and her mouth agape - one must wonder what is she seeing down below? Is there a war of ants? A discarded cigarette butt? Or lessons from her past?

(Auto) 1/160 | f 5 | 32 mm | 640 ISO

The Harvard Coop may have moved out - but others have moved in. Remnants of a bed of cardboard boxes and a trash bag pillow can be seen resting outside the shuttered door. The unhoused population is strikingly large in Cambridge but there are multiple groups trying to combat the situation like Y2Y Youth Shelter and the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. So much more help is needed though.

(Auto) 1/160 | f 5 | 32 mm | 640 ISO

⬅︎ ⬆︎ ➡︎ ⬇︎🏅 THE HONORABLE MENTIONS 🏅⬅︎ ⬆︎ ➡︎ ⬇︎

Right Side of the Path - Wrong Way to Register at Harvard Extension. Frame within a frame.

(Auto) 1/60 | f 4 | 16 mm | 400 ISO

To Puddle Jump, or Not to Puddle Jump? That is the Question. (Because it was too blurry this shot taken very quickly was placed in the honorable mention section - because I loved the curiosity of the child and the energy of the image. Had my autofocus actually recognized him - this would have been a winner. The depth of field is too shallow at f 5.6.)

(Auto) 1/160 | f 5.6 | 50 mm | 400 ISO

Probably my favorite of the entire set. But I decided to put it in the honorable mention section because although you can see the neighborhood through the crystal ball - you may not be able to figure out the exact location I am at. This picture was too magical not to post, though.

(Auto) 1/80 | f 5.6 | 50 mm | 640 ISO