I often find myself feeling like a moth in the night. Attracted to anything that throws out some sort of warm tones in the darkness. In this brief moment around midnight, I lingered on around the area I first lived in when I arrived here in Armenia. I have a soft nostalgia for the area. There's something about it that just oozes soul to me, despite the endless development taking place in the area. I think some of this is that Armenia was incredibly new to me, and this was the first are of exposure I had to it: the old Soviet era bus I would take into Yerevan. The strange mall that sat in the area that is dedicated oddly to cars, despite having a supermarket and food court in it as well. I think much of the Soviet era apartment blocks also held some soul, it was an interesting experience that felt so different to all I had previously known. I don't come to this area often anymore, mostly because I haven't really had a reason to do so. But I think from now on I will make attempts to visit it, roam around it, and enjoy that nostalgia. This area has a lot of attractive areas to photograph in the night. A lot of different tones that come from the old apartment blocks and the small shacks that once sold various little produce to the inhabitants of the area.
I shot these images when I was waiting for a taxi to arrive. The shops nearby had just started to close as it hit midnight. A lot of the lights remained on in a series of intense light pollution. One area had a huge blue light that just filled the street around it. Being a pointless advertisement from what I recall that I am certain many aren't happy about in the opposite homes. The rain from the day remained at the roadside, puddles accumulated from the rainfall and reflecting the emotion and light back above. Tones of red, blue, tungsten light were met around. The blue and red from police cars, normal cars, and various stores. Few people seemed to be out still, as many moved to and from the shops in the last few minutes. Though most at this point had closed a little too early. It was a surprise to find so much potential to shoot. I look back at the area and feel I didn't really try to capture it all that much for some reason. Though maybe in that moment I didn't feel the motivation. More interested in exploring Yerevan itself rather than shooting the apartment blocks endlessly.
Armenia is insanely old, it's a decayed nation with a lot of growth on the development side, despite a plethora of abandoned and shabby homes. Somehow they find new uses for these buildings, turning them into phone and electronics shops and plastering them in various LED lights to attract customers. There's an odd cyberpunk sort of feel to Armenia sometimes. That aspect of high technology met with low quality of life. Pretty lights in rundown environments, stray dogs. Tired faces. Weathered buildings. I actually really love it. It feels different to other countries I've been in. And part of me doesn't really want things to change here. Though, unfortunately, all places are in heavy pursuit of self-destruction through endless migration and GDP growth.
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Those neon shots on rundown streets really give me flashbacks to that Eye of the Tiger music video...it must be very surreal to actually be able to live and walk around a sight like that. Although I hope that it was all safe to walk around there at the dark of the night.
I also find myself like a moth, I can get completely lost in my own thoughts just watching lights. This pictures caught my attention right away, they're great