Four Chimneys by Chipka
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Description
Winter comes as a colorless promise: a smear of gray in the direction of Austria. Exhaled breath condenses into steam and then fades. Smoke—drawn from a hand-rolled cigarette is more substantial and more appropriate to the chill. Other smokes linger in the air as well, though their sources are attenuated—fireplaces dotted in houses or restaurants here...there...or way over there.
On certain days, the air is heavy with brew-stink: yeast and hops, and the faintest whiffs of biological processes undertaken on microscopic scale. Beer has always come from this place, and it is in the air, in the lungs of those who breathe deeply. Similar smells linger in Prague, and in other cities throughout the land. Each city has its own brewery, it seems, and each brewery is a treasure, worthy of protecting.
“I like coffee,” a friend once declared. “I like the American obsession with it. I think coffee is why Americans are being so afraid to frown. You get stoned from it—and from Coka Cola too...and when you are caffeine-drunk, you feel like a hero, you smile, even when you're saying no...even when you're pissed off.” He'd spoken these words in Prague, in echo of another friend who shares this sentiment. Strangely, they'd never met one another, and yet the share so many ideas, ideals, and idle ruminations.
“Beer is very European; it has alcohol, though...and that's a depressant.” Though unspoken, she'd just delivered a piercing, honest commentary on the social nature of her own people. Smiles are not uncommon in the Czech Republic, but frowns, scowls, and expressions of bland neutrality are more readily seen.
Because of the golden stuff that is brewed in buildings like this.
The breweries are a treasure, as is their output; and as one from America, where—negation is accompanied by bland, unctuous smiles, more places like this should stand.
Of course we have our own beers in the newer land of America, but we don't have the beer history, or the somber, sometimes unwelcome honesties that accompany it. It is those small, shadows of grim truth, much like the advance of winter, that add beguiling textures to the strange riches already here.
***
This was a perfectly good color image, but I was in the mood to play with Photoshop, so I did...this is the result. As always, thank you for viewing and reading, and commenting.
Comments (19)
beachzz
Your postwork give this a timeless look-it's perfect!!
potrimpo
Interesting trivia, one of the smoke stacks on the Titanic was a non-smoker. It was fake.
photostar
The way you have fooled around with the photo in PhotoShop has added much to the accompanying narrative....the onslaught of Winter and the darker character of beer.
MrsRatbag
I like what you did with this photo; it really does suit the narrative perfectly. And I never thought about national obsessions with beverages before...
texboy
fine picture and sentiments, Chip; the strongest cup of joe I ever had in my LIFE was at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna....maybe Turkish? Kept me going for days!!
auntietk
I love playing with perfectly good photos. :) Great effect with this one!
romanceworks
Marvelous photo and narrative. It does have the silent and rather ominous mood of winter approaching. We have a giant brewery here in Colorado and the smoke from the massive chimneys become strange clouds, and the 'brew-stink', which I rather like, permeates the air. CC
marybelgium
superbe !
Janiss
Fantastic postwork and POV Chip!
ladyraven23452
love yor work.
MagikUnicorn
GR8 SHOT
Rainbowgirl
Beer. Beer is the sheer existance of all parts of Europe that are too cold, to northern to grow wine. Beer is essential to their being. Beer is their past, their presence, and their future. Sorry, Chip, you dig deeper than most, see more behind the curtains, but beer. Beer is Europe. What you brew in the US has some beeriness - but it's far from beer ;-)
Lunastar
Great words and image.
L8RDAZE
Moody shot..You sure have a way with WORDS...
"On certain days, the air is heavy with brew-stink: yeast and hops, and the faintest whiffs of biological processes undertaken on microscopic scale. Beer has always come from this place, and it is in the air, in the lungs of those who breathe deeply."
Can almost smell it myself!
Zamanuirileski
Beautiful and gothic! Take to fav!
smillinfaces
great nothin more to say
anahata.c
Chip, this is an amazing melding of image & reflection because the image could be all kinds of things and not necessarily a brewery or anything related to coffee—yet it fits. (Well, it has a coffee color, that certainly counts for something!) I love what you did with the image: You've given it fine grain, giving it a stained-with-age look; and the sepia-browns work extremely well with the structure & shadows of the building. All-told, you've created a kind of fine-moss look, like the walls grew their own private 'carpeting' over the years. And your thoughts? Well you obviously understand the story inherent in reflection itself—I'm noticing that more and more as I see more of your work. You've captured the old-feel of breweries in Europe & the darker shades of soul they carry with them; and you do set up a nice contrast between E.European culture & American. Very evocative, both visually & verbally, and, really, along with your novels, you have a form here for a book or series of books: Ie, reflections & visions organically tied to visuals. I'm amazed at how organically you do these.
Geoaskier
Is works perfectly in sepia.....as far as beer.....I'd rather drink coffee....but overall prefer tea which still is a stimulant not depressant...yep I smile.
nikolais
love your sepia, Chip! wouldn't even try to beat what Mark has said.