Past the Place I Missed

Thirteen years can change a town, its people, and the memories we carry. Yet some places linger, shaping who we are. For me, that place is Oneida, New York, where I spent my middle and high school years, formed friendships, and discovered myself.

This photo project grew from nostalgia, not just for the town, but for the feelings it gave me. Returning after more than a decade, I found a place both familiar and changed. Buildings were gone, streets shifted, and a quiet stillness had settled in, but the shift was not sad. It was grounding.

Photographing these spaces became a way to sit with both past and present. I was not trying to reclaim what was lost, only to recognize what stayed with me. In walking these streets again, I found a quieter, more lasting connection to Oneida.

A welcoming sign for the city of Oneida, with a blue background, orange and white text, and decorative details, surrounded by greenery.

Partly cloudy sky with scattered white clouds.

A discarded plastic cup on a dirt road with small rocks and dry grass.

Black and white photo of an empty rural intersection with road signs and power lines overhead, trees on both sides in the background.

Backyard scene with an old building wall, overgrown bushes, a concrete patio, a small shed, and a large tree on the right.

Empty playground with slides, swings, and spring riders surrounded by trees and grass.

Photo of a plain exterior wall with paired windows and a door, with a blue sign indicating a restroom.

Overgrown and cracked outdoor sports court with weeds and grass growing through the lines.

The back of an old brick building with boarded-up windows and doors, overgrown vegetation, and a construction cone on the ground.

An overpass bridge with rusted guardrail over a curving road in a rural area.

Marquee sign for Kallet Theater advertising high school seniors' event, with brick and tiled building exterior.

View of the side of a beige house with vinyl siding, a brick chimney, and a small garden with green plants and bushes, alongside a paved driveway leading to a detached garage in the background. There are trees and lush greenery around.

Residential neighborhood street scene with a large tree, parked car, sidewalk, and landscaped yards.

A residential street with a dirt road section and orange traffic cone in the center. Houses, lawns, trees, and power lines line both sides of the street.

A peaceful park scene with green grass, trees with lush foliage, and sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Yard under trees with a row of red warning signs, a yellow 'Dead End' sign, and a small orange warning light in a suburban neighborhood.

Street corner with stop sign, street signs for Tilden and Coe Ave, and houses with trees in the background.

Outdoor signboard advertising a strawberry festival on June 24 from 5 to 7, with a grassy area and buildings in the background.

A narrow backyard between two residential buildings, grass with patches of dirt, a large leafy tree, a flag on a pole, and a parked vehicle in the background.

Four-story brick building with six white-framed windows, three on top row and three on bottom row.

Three American flags are attached to a pole in front of a red brick building with multiple windows and curved balconies.

Street view of a small diner named 'Morey's Diner' with a sign and flags, adjacent to a brick building, and an outdoor picnic table with a red umbrella in front; overcast sky.

A two-lane road with yellow center lines curving to the right, surrounded by green trees and grass, with black and yellow chevron signs indicating a sharp right turn.