A striking aqueduct in Northborough, Massachusetts. This early 20th century structure provides a sense of permanence.
Sometimes I come across a structure that really stands out in the landscape and it’s not intuitively obvious to me what it is; I’m curious if this ever happens to any of you. In the town of Northborough, Massachusetts, there is a bridge across the Assabet River that took me a bit to figure out what its function is.
Take a look at this image from 2009…
Wachusett Aqueduct
I walked to see the bridge from a different angle to realize that this indeed is an aqueduct; it was constructed around the beginning of the 20th century. Water is carried from the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton for 9 miles through a combination of hard rock tunnel and underground aqueduct to a water treatment plant in Marlborough. This aqueduct carried 300 million US gallons of water each day until the 1960s. In 1965, a new tunnel (Cosgrove Tunnel) replaced it, and the old aqueduct still serves a backup role, in case the tunnel becomes unavailable.
Part of what attracts me to this site is the sense of another time that this arched aqueduct provides; it’s a reminder of times much earlier, such as we might get from Roman aqueducts. It gives that sense of permanence that not all of humanity’s structures have.
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
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