It’s independence day in the United States today and one of the highlights of the holiday is the fireworks that accompanies it. Andrew Waits’ series entitled Boom City seems to have come at the perfect time.
His photographs shows the colorful fireworks sold for this very occasion. His images specifically cover, the fireworks purchased north of Seattle, Washington in the Tulaip reservation. It’s there that families visit hundreds of vendors to obtain cherry bombs, roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and more. After they’ve made their purchases, they can set off them off in the open field that’s next to the stands.
Andrew Waits’ ongoing project covers a selection of these small items that dazzle adults and children alike. We see a mixture of combustible powders and wicks that are tightly bound into a neat package. There’s an odd beauty to each photograph as the candy-colored hues rest against a pitch-black background. The photographer creates an interesting juxtaposition between their presentation here being simple, harmless and quite with their intended use as bright and boisterous celebratory objects.
