Colin Czerwinski, armed only with his Fujifilm X100V and a rare solar event earlier this year in Hudson, New York, decided to visit the city and document its people, landscapes, and everyday life. He chose to focus on the subtle, often overlooked details that make Hudson unique instead of the celestial event.
Hudson, located near the Catskills and just two hours away from New York City, is sometimes referred to as the “Brooklyn” of upstate New York. Hudson has a rich and colourful history. Its streets are lined with Victorian homes and Queen Anne-style mansions. The city is known for its beautiful charm but also has a complex past marked by prostitution and gambling. This creates a contrast that gives it a modern identity.
Colin’s photography is a combination of spontaneity and observance. He explains that despite the shortness of his visit, Hudson provided a unique chance to explore new landscapes while creating fresh visual narratives. He captures what catches his eye rather than following a plan. Colin’s approach is reflected in moments such as when a neighbour brought out a welding mask to watch the eclipse. This is a practical yet quirky solution which perfectly captures the type of absurdity Colin enjoys.
Hiding in Hudson continues Colin’s exploration of the mundane. He focuses on aspects of everyday life that would otherwise be overlooked. Old cars are a recurring theme in his art. When asked what catches his attention, he replies, “Cars.” I always notice them, particularly old beat-up cars. “I’m not certain why they appear so frequently in my work.”
Colin’s decision was not based on a grand idea but rather a simple love of the charm of Hudson. The city was a place he and his girlfriend visited several times and felt like an obvious choice for the series. He admits that the decision to visit there for this show was not particularly special. “I do work wherever I’m at. “The series was an idea that developed after the event.” This honest admission shows Colin’s creative approach, which embraces life’s unpredictability and lets the story unfold organically.
The solar eclipse coincided with the birthday of his girlfriend, but it played a surprisingly minor role in the entire series. Colin was more interested than ever in the human side of the event and chose to photograph the people gathered together to witness the eclipse rather than the eclipse. “The eclipse was cool, but I focused on documenting the people who watched it rather than documenting the eclipse itself. This is a little counterintuitive,” says he.
Colin’s method of working in Hudson was simple, spontaneous and based on deep observation. He says that overthinking can hinder the creative process. “I like to keep things simple and spontaneous.” “I prefer to keep it simple and spontaneous.”
Colin has compiled all of his photos into a magazine to preserve this experience. “Each photo, immortalized, becomes a testimony to the relentless pursuit of the essence of our changing world,” he says. Although his stay in Hudson was short, it gave him the opportunity to explore new territory and document an ever-changing city. Colin believes that photography is all about freezing moments in time. Colin reflects: “In my opinion, this is the purpose of the photographer – to explore the unknown and capture images of an ever-changing world.