I felt the leaves crunching under my feet, crisp like the afternoon breeze on my face. Above me were gangly branches, some still outfitted with brilliant oranges and reds. Calm and appreciation washed over me. I felt rejuvenated and empowered.
If you have been following my Instagram at all, you know that I was in the Boston area last weekend visiting friends and family. A yearly trip to Salem has become a tradition– celebrating the spooky history of the witchy town is more than just a chance to be touristy and buy some nice candles, it’s also a reminder of the great progress that makes America the place that it is today.
In the years 1692 and 1693, over two hundred people were accused of witchcraft in New England. Historical analysis points to many causes of these accusations– political dynamics, religious zeal, scarcity of resources– but none capture the day-to-day experiences of those in the colony at the time. While the aforementioned concepts were the root cause of the witchy accusations, the easiest way to demonize someone is to paint them as different. Humans are creatures of habit; we like what we know. Change and difference is scary, and it’s easy to immediately start hating something that we are not familiar with.
Fast forward to today, and you see Salem has turned a new leaf– the entire month of October serves as a long celebration full of witches, the paranormal, and spooky decorations. Pride flags are proudly displayed in most business windows. The city of Salem and state of Massachusetts also issued public apologies for the trials. To me, Salem is one of theist accepting and celebratory towns in America– quite a change– an evolution– from before.
I had a day and a half of time in Massachusetts when I was not visiting Salem, so I made every effort to enjoy the sights and smells of Boston in the fall. I walked through the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, strolled through Breakheart Reservation, and even found some time to visit Connors Farm in Danvers.
Thanks to Dylan for being my model last weekend! Go check out his website and Instagram if you are looking for any custom made audio gear or if you are itching to record a sick EP.
If you are looking for portraits, lifestyle photos, or event coverage, head over to my contact page or shoot me an email to set up a consultation!
