In a park engulfed by the greens of grass, leaves, and tree trunks a multicolored cloud of balloons pops out over the shoulders of a person walking along a path. Nearby, to the right, there are a few people on basketball courts. The person wears wedged heels, dark blue jeans, a long-sleeved floral top with a brown bag slung over the left shoulder. Where hair might have appeared there’s the word "HAPPY" on a balloon with a rainbow background, and a swooning Minnie Mouse on another. An onlooker, sitting on a bench a short distance  ahead, is the sole person lucky enough to see the person’s face.

— Sibongakonke Mama

There’s something satisfying about capturing reality unaltered and being able to notice things in a photograph that I hadn’t seen while capturing it. Something that leaves me inquisitive about the subject matter. 

This photograph was taken in Astoria Park, New York, sometime in June 2023. It was a hot and humid summer day and some friends and I decided to go on a walk. We walked around the neighborhood and headed to a park. A curved concrete path cut through the park and, as we crossed from the grassy area to the pavement, I happened to look to my side and saw a lady walking on the path. The balloons slung across her shoulder drew me in. I happened to have a film camera on me.

Film photography has been a pivotal part of my process over the past few years. Sometimes the image isn’t as clinical as digital and this has made me embrace and appreciate imperfection more. My approach mostly relies on intuitively and spontaneously capturing a moment and relying on an emotional connection. For this reason, I tend to oscillate between street and documentary photography styles. It could be something as mundane as walking down a street, people talking to each other, or even the juxtaposition of our built environment with the presence or absence of people. 

There was something nostalgic about the moment as the lady was walking away. The balloons brought back a child-like feeling of joy and happiness. I think it was also something about the minnie mouse balloons, which I hadn’t seen in a long time. I wondered where the lady was off to, a birthday party or perhaps another celebration. 

— Tracy Keza

Tracy Keza is a Rwandan freelance, multi-media artist working in photography and video. Through her work she sets out to explore notions of identity, culture and conservation. Tracy hopes to use her work to document stories that inspire people’s connection to each other and the planet. More of her work on her website.