ROC & RIT: February 2017

Lost Camera: September - December 2016
Cold Reminder: March 2017

I visited Rochester, New York from February 22nd to the 26th. Hung out with Lauren, met Sam, chilled on the RIT campus and a cozy AirBnB. Disposable camera and a half.

A parking lot on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus filled with various cars under a cloudy sky. In the background, a set of empty metal bleachers marked with the RIT logo stands prominently. A melting pile of snow in a muddy patch of grass on the RIT campus, surrounded by bare trees and scattered puddles. The background features additional trees and open spaces on a cloudy winter day. A concrete structure on the RIT campus with a circular window, a sloped walkway, and minimal landscaping. Bare trees and overcast skies add to the stark appearance of the scene. A pathway on the RIT campus leading to a large abstract metal sculpture surrounded by brown-brick academic buildings. Trees and grass frame the area under a cloudy sky. A covered walkway at RIT with repeated archways formed by brick pillars and cream-colored concrete panels. In the distance, three people walk along the path, adding depth to the architectural symmetry. A weather-stained concrete slab in front of a large green bush on the RIT campus. The planter's rough texture contrasts with the clean brick wall of a campus building behind it. A snow shovel propped against the glass doors of an RIT building, viewed from the interior. Beyond the doors, bare trees and paved walkways create a muted outdoor scene. The front of a modern library building at RIT, featuring large glass windows and brick archways. A person walks across the crosswalk in front of the library, with cars parked on either side of the entrance.

The entryway to an apartment building with a brick façade, black-framed glass door, and number 51 above the door. Trimmed bushes flank the concrete steps leading to the entrance.

sam’s place

My friend Sam standing in front of the same apartment building, adjusting her hair. The brick façade and black-framed door are visible behind her, and her casual pose adds a personal element to the scene. She's smiling and ducking her head - but I got her on film!

sam

Lauren is seated confidently in her RIT office, her slim, elegant figure wrapped in a stylish, quilted jacket that emphasizes her defined posture. Her long, graceful neck is framed by the soft collar of her sweater, and her face, partially illuminated by daylight, features sharp, attractive cheekbones and perfectly balanced proportions. Behind her, archival boxes and shelves provide a professional yet intimate backdrop.

lauren at work

In her office at RIT, Lauren sits with her legs crossed, her posture poised and effortlessly feminine. She holds a large archival folder in her slender, delicate hands, her polished nails catching the light. The natural curve of her face is accentuated by her glasses, which frame her thoughtful, dark eyes. The light streaming through the window highlights her smooth skin and subtly defined jawline, blending beautifully with the surrounding archival materials.

lauren at work

A close-up of Lauren at her desk captures the elegant curve of her back as she leans slightly toward her computer monitors. Her dark hair is pulled back neatly, exposing the soft lines of her neck. On her dual monitors, a collection of cat photos adds a playful contrast to her serious workspace. Her delicate shoulders and refined features are accentuated by the warm light coming through the window, adding to the intimate charm of the moment. The cat photos of her own black cat Callie, short for Calliope.

lauren at work

A dimly lit underground tunnel at RIT with fluorescent lights lining the ceiling. Large pipes run along the walls, and faint silhouettes of people are visible in the distance, adding to the industrial atmosphere.

lauren and friend

A close-up of graffiti on a pipe in the RIT tunnels. The words "YIFF… in HELL" are scrawled across the surface, surrounded by doodles, including a small drawing and a caption reading, "Help I'm dying of cancer." A row of large, industrial pipes attached to the walls in the RIT tunnels. One pipe is marked with more graffiti, including humorous and cryptic messages, set against the backdrop of worn orange and white walls.

Sam walking down a long, fluorescent-lit hallway at RIT, her figure slightly blurred in motion. The cinderblock walls and bulletin board with flyers add to the institutional feel of the space.

sam

Sam is captured mid-run in a fluorescent-lit hallway at RIT. The hallway’s white cinderblock walls are lined with bulletin boards, and her motion blurs slightly, adding dynamic energy to the image.

sam

A close-up of Sam’s lower half as she refuses to have a face photo in the RIT hallway. She wears a chambray jacket over white shorts with an orange knit scarf and beige ankle boots. The polished tile floor reflects the soft indoor lighting.

sam

A beagle dog rests on a red blanket atop a dog bed in a cozy room in my AirBNB. His name is Rumpole. Behind the dog, a large black-and-white painting dominates the wall, while a floor lamp and patterned rug complete the scene. Rumpole is so cute.

rumpole

Lauren sitting in front of a glowing candlelit table, her figure barely visible through the grainy disposable film. The low light creates a warm ambiance, with soft shadows blending into the muted background.

lauren

At the restaurant, Lauren sits beside me, wearing an exquisite white gothic lolita dress that hugs her slender waist and cascades into a delicately embroidered skirt. The fitted bodice showcases her refined figure, while her golden blonde wig, styled in soft curls, frames her glowing complexion. The intricate lace detailing and pearl accessories of her outfit only add to the sophisticated allure of her radiant presence.

myself + lauren

Lauren’s two friends seated at the same restaurant. One wears a red jacket and glasses, posing with a thoughtful expression. The other has on a gray zip-up sweater, smiling broadly, as a window with bare winter trees provides the background.

lauren’s friends (will fill in names when i remember)

Lauren stands beside the table in the restaurant, her white gothic lolita dress perfectly complementing her petite frame and graceful posture. The fitted design emphasizes her narrow waist, while the intricate pastel designs on the fabric draw attention to the flowing hemline of her skirt. Her elegant hands rest gently on a vintage-inspired purse, adding a sense of refined charm to her striking silhouette.

lauren

Lauren walking outside under an umbrella with a clear canopy decorated with pink floral designs. She wears a bright yellow coat, contrasting against the wet sidewalk and overcast Rochester streetscape with houses and cars in the background. Her two friends walk in front of her.

lauren

Lauren crouching in front of a large display of antique glass vials and jars. The dim lighting emphasizes the rows upon rows of vintage containers arranged meticulously in a museum-like setting.

lauren

A wide shot of the antique vial collection with Lauren standing in front of the display, her white gothic lolita dress contrasting against the dark backdrop of the towering shelves filled with historical glassware.

lauren

A view from my Airbnb window overlooking a residential Rochester neighborhood. The scene includes a cluster of older houses surrounded by bare trees, with a green Volkswagen Beetle parked in a backyard driveway.

out the airbnb

A nighttime view from my Airbnb window, capturing the dimly lit and rainy sidewalk and street below. A dark car is parked along the curb, its taillights glowing faintly under the streetlamp.

out the airbnb

A cozy Airbnb bedroom with a small wooden desk, a chair, and a tall bookshelf filled with books on the right. A colorful patchwork blanket drapes over a chair to the left, and the space is softly lit by a table lamp on the desk.

airbnb

A very dim and nearly unrecognizable photo with faint outlines of what might be a bed or furniture, but the details are obscured due to low light.

airbnb

At a Rochester bar, Lauren stands on the left, wearing glasses and a white headband, leaning against a wooden divider while talking to a man with glasses and a plaid shirt seated next to her. Drinks and soda cans sit on a small ledge nearby.

lauren + friend

The exterior of Rochester airport at dusk, with the large terminal building stretching across the image, bathed in a soft orange glow from the setting sun. Airport equipment and vehicles are visible near the building. A vibrant sunset as seen from the ground, with a gradient sky transitioning from warm orange and pink near the horizon to darker shades of blue at the top. Another view of the sunset from the plane, with soft orange and red hues near the horizon fading into dark blue sky above. The faint curvature of the Earth is visible in the distance. A plane engine captured mid-flight, with a faint view of the land far below, shrouded in early evening shadows. A blurry night shot showing scattered lights from a cityscape or distant objects, surrounded by a dark and featureless horizon.

I loved going to RIT, and I should’ve gone back more when I had the chance. I regret not doing so now.

Rochester is home to Kodak, and played a pivotal role in the history of film and photography, so it was a natural place for Lauren to go. RIT has a lot of great facilities and it was so cool seeing what Lauren did there as an archivist.

I will also never forget that friendly dog Rumpole, him and his bad leg.

And it’s a shame I only ever got to meet Sam once, but here’s hoping it happens again in the future sometime.

Lost Camera: September - December 2016
Cold Reminder: March 2017


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