PHILIP HARRIS, OBSERVATIONS SUBURBAN

“None of the Polaroids in this series was planned. I like to think I observe as much as I can, but of course I obsess about the things I might have missed. That said, when I'm walking, waiting for the train, at the park with my nieces, or what have you, I'm always looking for what might be an interesting shot. Most of the time I don't see anything worthy of creating an analog image as expensive as a Polaroid, but once in awhile I get lucky. I'm thinking specifically about the way those bananas are lined up at that Chinese market and that pair of old, discarded shoes on the trash can. And in an admittedly cloying way, I think coming upon a giant stuffed rodent on rickety bleachers at the local park is kind of a miracle. Even though I know I miss stuff, I'm always hoping with these kinds of images that I'm creating a slight pocket for a moment that may have been lost had no one else looked at it.”