The Stream Between Two Bridges.

As I continue to recover from my back injury, my walking radius and my intentions for my walks remain limited and focused on regaining my stamina/mobility. Because of this, aside from taking snapshots with my phone over the summer, I haven't been taking any real 'photo walks,' and my environment has been on a loop as I walk the same measurable circuit every day to get my steps in. The one place of solace, and the point at which I start every walk, is along an exposed section of the Bouchard stream right next to my apartment on the west island of Montreal. Along the short 1/4 of a kilometre section of the stream, there are two small arched bridges for pedestrians to cross, going to and from condos and apartment buildings. Crossing these bridges and watching the stream change from a trickle to a torrent depending on rainfall is a highlight of my day, and the best part of every walk I take from morning to evening, getting to experience the changes in light, temperature, weather, birdsong, insects, critters and every other minute detail of life that exists along this tiny stretch of daylit stream. There are three spots to sit between the two bridges, and I enjoy sitting there to write sometimes, letting ideas come to me like a leaf floating downstream towards the river. It's a small blessing I try to be aware of every time I cross those two arches over the stream, watching light filtering through the leaves, listening to the myriad birds chatting away in the canopy, laughing at the squirrels playing with each other, holding my breath when the local beaver is gnawing at the young trees growing along the banks of the stream, or marvelling at the stillness of the wild rabbits whose black marbles stare back at me. Ants march all around me as I sit on my favourite bench, the only one that faces the stream directly, and jumping spiders curiously watch me, doing that cute thing with their front legs when I put the tip of my pen out in front of them, hoping one will climb aboard so I can have a closer look. This place is a tiny world of miracles that can so easily be overlooked, and yet, after seeing it three times daily for months now, I haven't grown tired of it one bit. In fact it is what motivates me the most to get my ass out the door to work on my physical health, day in and day out, something I try not to take for granted as I feel overwhelmed, anxious, distraught, defeated, depressed, and many other ways that have only been heightened since my injury. This small video, filmed on my phone using the Super 16 app to emulate a Super 8 or Super 16b style camera and film stock (because I can not afford the real thing), is meant as a little visual poem for this place I love dearly. Enjoy, and take care. Matt Thanks for reading A consistently inconsistent body with a camera! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Share Leave a comment