back bay, brownstone, boston, christmas, commonwealth avenue

Searching for some Christmastime in the city (tell me that doesn’t automatically make you hum the popular Christmas carol)? Look no further than Back Bay in Boston. Strolling up and down Commonwealth Avenue is an experience in any season. The brownstones are accented by gorgeous trees and window boxes in the spring, pumpkins in the fall, and beautiful wreaths and garland at Christmastime.

The architecture of each brownstone is unique and the craftsmanship and detail that went into making each of these exquisite homes never ceases to amaze me. I simply can’t get enough! Come along and see just a few of these brownstone beauties from last Christmas.

boston, back bay, comm ave, brownstone, christmas
The warm glow from inside is so tempting on a freezing cold January day.

Although I certainly enjoy having company, when I’m walking through an interesting neighborhood like this I don’t mind being alone. I can stop and gawk as often as I please, and of course, take a photo every twenty feet or so.

boston, back bay, comm ave, christmas, brownstone
Love the oversized arch above this door, filled with windows.

Taking photos of architecture may not seem that challenging (buildings don’t move, after all) but I enjoy trying to compose a nice shot. I try to find something in the foreground to help frame the architecture to give it a little interest, like the fence and gate in the photo above.

boston, back bay, ups, comm ave, brownstone, christmas
Catching the “Man in Brown” in action delivering packages at this busy time of year.

I rarely have people in my pictures, but I couldn’t resist snapping a shot of this UPS man ringing the doorbell. I might also enjoy street photography but the thought of taking pictures of random strangers makes me nervous. Random houses, no problem.

boston, back bay, brownstone, christmas, comm ave
Most homes have elaborate door and window surrounds though materials vary.

Photos of buildings are almost always slanted or distorted in some way although some very high-end lenses specifically made for shooting architecture can aid in eliminating that. I use Photoshop or an app to straighten my photos as much as possible…not always perfect but pretty darn close!

boston, back bay, brickwork, comm ave, christmas
Brickwork patterns and unique carved door and window details make this home special.

I use symmetry quite a bit in my photos. It’s a technique that’s very pleasing to the eye, and given my Type A personality it’s not surprising that I like it. Nice and orderly and under control.

christmas, back bay, boston, brick, row house
Poinsettia and other greenery fill the window boxes of this lovely brick row house.

Sometimes there is something in the way of a shot, like this tree. I couldn’t stand in between the tree and the house because then I was too close to get the shot. Nothing to do except take advantage of the tree. Trees have become my favorite props in composing nice photos.

boston, brownstone, christmas, back bay, wrought iron
An elaborate wrought iron grille dresses up this brownstone doorway.

Of course, lighting is a huge factor. If the lighting is bad there’s no hope for the photo, at least for my intermediate capabilities. I try to make life easy on myself and get out and shoot very early or wait until later in the day. The old “Golden Hour” rule.

back bay, brownstone, christmas, boston
Another beautiful arch carved in stone above this extra wide door.

It may not be considered “good” photography, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? I love when I see reflections of the sky, clouds, and trees in windows, or when the glass reflects back the light. I think it adds a nice glow to the photo.

boston, back bay, brownstone, christmas
The trees in winter are like sculpture. I have learned to appreciate their beauty.

Sometimes shadows cast by brighter sunlight can add an interesting effect, so I will use that to my benefit at times. And take advantage of those mid-day moments when clouds pass overhead! Cloud cover is my friend if it isn’t too dark out.

boston, back bay, brownstone, row house, christmas, comm ave
Love how homes that are attached to each other look entirely different from one another.

There is no rhyme or reason to how I choose my subjects. It’s really just whatever appeals to me at the moment based on the details of the home. I sometimes worry that a home will feel bad if I don’t take its photo, but we can’t all be winners all the time, can we?

boston, back bay, christmas, brownstone
Somehow this simple wreath with the plain white bow suits this home perfectly.

What are some of your photographic tips? There is so much to learn in the world of photography and I think we all have something to share. Just for fun: In the feature photo of this post, can you spot the difference between the set of two twin doors?

Please note that below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click-through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Did you know that I have an Amazon shop featuring my favorite picks for your door decor? Take a peek at my selected Christmas Wreaths, and don’t forget a wreath hanger or wreath storage container. I also created a list of some of my favorite Etsy gifts for Boston lovers. Enjoy!
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9 Comments

  1. Handsome doors, and it’s always nice to see how and where the 1% live. 🙂 The only thing I see in the first photo is it appears that the figure in the planter is different from one side to the other. I have no photography tips because I have so much to learn. Enjoyed the post. 🙂

    1. Thanks, Judy! You are right about the 1%! Although a surprising number of the buildings have been subdivided into condos, apartments, etc. as they were too expensive to maintain on their own. Still pricey no doubt though! The difference I saw was in the door handle placement 🙂

    1. The doorways are just fantastic, aren’t they? And it doesn’t take more than a simple wreath to gussy up one of these Boston beauties!

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