The Winter of Boston

These photographs were taken in January 2025 in Waltham, on an afternoon when the air was bitterly cold. While crossing a bridge near my friend’s home, I was struck by the golden light of the setting sun reflecting off the feathers of geese and ducks below. The scene was so radiant and serene that I stood there for at least half an hour, photographing the moment as it unfolded.

The river was still covered in snow and ice, giving the landscape an almost arctic atmosphere. What moved me most, however, was the quiet coexistence of the geese and ducks—an image of harmony that reminded me of the beauty of nature when untouched by noise or pollution. For me, this series captures not only the stark stillness of a Boston winter but also a fleeting glimpse of peace.

- Qiaochu He