October in Uptown Saint John

Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, is my hometown. I was born and raised there, and for the first 23 years of my life, it was the only city I had lived in. As the city where I was born and raised, I have a certain connection to it. It just feels familiar and always will. I didn’t know what made it distinctive, or what it was missing. But after being away from the city for so long, I can see it from both an outsider’s perspective and one of deep familiarity.

I was excited to come back for a few days. See family and friends, catch up, and take some time to explore the uptown area (it’s “uptown” in Saint John, not downtown).

Photographing the place you grew up is harder than photographing somewhere new. It’s a different mentality. When I travel, everything is unfamiliar, which lets me approach it with a fresh perspective. At home, it’s different. I know these streets very well; I’ve walked them countless times over many years at many different points in my life. It’s a mental shift; I need to be familiar enough to capture how I remember while incorporating the changes that have occurred.

Uptown Fall Colours

Saint John has some very old architecture, and much of it carries a pretty interesting history. Germain Street is uptown and unique for its homes; along the rows of homes, the street is lined with large, old trees. Knowing what this street looks like this time of year, with pops of fall colour, I walked up and down a few blocks and captured what interested me.

The brick facades and autumn leaves share a warm palette, so the colours sit well together, framed by buildings well over a century old.

The light helps too. In October, days are shorter, and the sun stays low for much of the day, creating interesting shadow compositions. I didn’t use a shot list, just a few streets I wanted to explore. Uptown is relatively compact, and it’s easy to walk through. I could spend more time in these limited areas.

I walked, and a short time later I cycled back to the same streets. Even then, I noticed a change. Uptown Saint John has no tall buildings, but because it’s mostly built on hills, it’s easy to find interesting shadows in the alleys and on the inclines.

Cruise Terminal and Area 506

Like any city, Saint John has transformed over the years. It still retains its historic character, and that is evident to visitors.

Cruise ships dock adjacent to the historic core, and the fall schedule is full, with ships arriving every few days, sometimes two on the same day. Right beside the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal is Area 506, a waterfront village built from shipping containers, with local food and drink vendors, shops, a performance space, and public art. The containers are painted in bright colours, and the colours and art contrast with the views just a few blocks away.

Market Slip and Tidal Steps

It takes only a few minutes to get from the cruise terminal to Market Slip. Between the two, a new residential building is under construction beside the terminal, and a public walkway wraps around it, leading to Market Square and recent public developments.

The area here with Market Square is a huge part of what I remember from growing up here. I remember running around here as a kid, going to the IT Store, getting popcorn at Kernel’s, and, as the years passed, visiting restaurants and bars.

Market Square, the shopping complex, has changed a lot. Like many shopping complexes, it used to be filled with a variety of shops and services. That era has mostly disappeared; however, some restaurants from years ago remain, while others have been replaced with newer ones, and it still retains its character and brings back many memories from when I was 10-11 years old right up until my early 20s. It’s always interesting to go back and take a walk through. Much has changed: the large food court is long gone, the clothing stores have closed, and the arcade has too, but the hallways remain. I’ll never forget the impact this place had on me.

The Tidal Stairs are part of a recently completed development, with steps that let you walk down to the water, and the structure is part of an ongoing waterfront revitalization project.

Conclusion

Saint John will always be my home, and I think I’m getting more nostalgic over time. Many of my friends have left, and I’ve lost contact with others, but my family is still there. When I get back, part of me will understand why I moved away, but I’ll also see what kept me there for so long. It’s a small city, and it has its issues, like any city. But no matter what changes, it’ll always be a big part of who I am. I’ve changed a lot since I left, but part of me will always be in Saint John.