Wordless Journey by Chipka
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Description
It ends as it began.
In silence.
As a night at the Cross Club fades into memory, you walk—yes, with your camera—into the bowels of the metro station at Nadraži Holéšivice. You are aware of the time—almost painfully so—since your bed, your roof, and your scant possessions lie quietly in Prague 1. You are aware of the time—almost painfully so—because at Holéšivice, you are well into the grimy, urban heart of Prague 7, where blood splatters cobbled and concrete sidewalks like sneeze-dabs of ferrous and oxidizing paint. Violence is not the cause of this; the blood you see is the result of accident: a wrong step, a shadow misjudged, or a warp in the ground underfoot. You recognize it as beer-blood, booze-blood: a shocked and unfortunate spill of warmth drawn from collisions with walls or headlong quarrels with gravity and granite. Prague 7, for all of its grime, is a strangely passive region of the city, as rakishly gentle as the the whole of Prague in general. You may walk, as is common, with your camera, and encounter nothing more violent than a punk-boy in combat boots offering advice on the best angles for a cinematic shot. And yes, it happens commonly.
Everyone has an opinion.
Everyone has advice. Some of it is even helpful.
Prague is like that.
Would-be art critics lurk in obscure corners with pocket-crinkled cigarettes pinched between lips, or between fingers with black crescents of grime revealing the absence of nail clippers. Homeless veterans may tell you of their time in Tunisia, and offer killings knives in trade for a roll of tabak. “You can eat with it,” one may declare (as one has declared) revealing a butterfly knife, it's handle as black as 21st Century polycarbon, its blade as long as a large man's hand.
At two minutes past midnight, however, you don't think of these things.
You simply take a picture, aware of an approaching train—the one you need, and the last one of the night. You see another last-minute commuter, descending the steps you've just descended. He eats pork and bread: defense against the night's inebriation.
You understand his need, as you've just finished your own pork-burger. An errant glob of ketchup still flavors the corner of your mouth, a fragment of raw cabbage has wedged itself between two back teeth....
You take a picture.
And later, by only a few seconds, you ride home.
***
As always, thank you for viewing, reading and commenting on this and previous works I've posted.
Comments (28)
ElizaB
wonderful capture and narrative
jocko500
got to see the places you been and look at the moods the images you make. if these walls could talk they tell stories of blood and guts. of happy times too. and all the times you can think of. This is the mood this image tells me
photostar
Great capture to go with the mood of your narrative.
MrsRatbag
Wordless? You? Never...and some of us are very, very glad. Thank you for your narrative. It makes the picture look a bit different after reading it!
Fred255
WOW the POV and the colour is perfect!
RobyHermida
Perfect!
CavalierLady
Very nice pov and shimmering light and the grainy texture is a creative touch!
Fidelity2
Very cool. 5+.
auntietk
I'm so glad it wasn't wordless in fact. Your narrations are always welcome!
beachzz
A stark foto, with a narrative that is just as plain and straightforward. Life at its grittiest.
MrsLubner
A shot that gives such a solitary feeling. The grain is good to back that mood. Fabulous shot.
SSoffia
EXCELLENT WORK :)
Zamanuirileski
Looks like sepia shot! Cool concept!
Heathcroft
Your narrative takes us deep into the bowels of the city at night and I too would be painfully aware of teh time in that situation. Excellent shot too, to accompany this. Dave
durleybeachbum
What talent you have!
NekhbetSun
Tha one lone man sure captures the mood and feel of what you wrote....as always, captivating writing Chip ~
ladyraven23452
love it
romanceworks
Wow - beer-blood, booze-blood. How chilling and so descriptive. You capture everything so well in your observations, words and photo. There is a starkness, a lonely hunger in the scene in sharp contrast to the feast of your prose. CC
MagikUnicorn
COOOOOOOOOL
junge1
Cool image!
kasalin
Simple but a beautiful image, dear Chip !!! Very well captured and your descripton is fantastic too !!! Einfach genial deine Gallerie !!! "V":5*** :):):)
tofi
Incredible narrative and image! So very well done Chip! ..... you certainly master the art of setting the mood and atmosphere. The vastness of the "scene" itself is incredible, yet in some ways alarming at the same time. The descent of the man, seems rather ironic, in contrast to the very "ascent" (which could also be perceived) of the image. The perspective, mind you is absolutely terrific, with a great depth. The very effect and colours set a very dramatic tone; one that is obscure, and eerie, sending shivers down my spine... yet simultaneously intriguing and makes me wish I was there. It seems as though more is going on that meets the eye within the image; or should I say in the "backwoods" of it. Your description and very style of writing is phenomenal; pros, yet read poetically. Short, and yet captivating... sad to see it come to a close. Truly marvellous artwork and creativity. Wonderfully executed, my friend!
Janiss
Oh Chip, such outstanding capture... I adoreeeeeee!
pixelmeister
Awesome image!
nikolais
awesome choice of title. wodnerful work indeed!
Lunastar
I just love the narrative. This image is wonderful. Captivating.
texboy
Chip, so many wonderful words and images in your gallery; sure glad I discovered it; a man after my own heart!!
marybelgium
excellent !