After the Rain by Chipka
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Description
Though I couldn't tell you the date, I remember the day. It began early; I had to be awake and at the truck yard at 6:30 in the morning. Rain had been predicted for the day and it was already in full-on downpour by the time I reached the truck yard.
It promised to be a two-truck day, and a full crew was required. One crew with one truck was to deliver a massive load of equipment to a newly refurbished dental office somewhere west of Chicago. That was to be the harder job as it involved moving old dental chairs out of the office and moving the new ones in. The office in question was on the second floor. There was no elevator. I was not to be a part of this job.
The second job was to deliver a new compressor and vacuum pump to a dental office in Pontiac, Illinois. Downstate. Far, far away. I was to go with a smaller crew to this more remote, though easier job.
It rained all day. I spent most of the time in a small van, watching the gray, flat countryside roll by. We passed farms. We passed fields. We passed mud. Lots of mud. And after hours on the road, we finally reached Pontiac. It was a small town, almost a throwback to an earlier age. It had that small town feel, that small town look. It could have been any rural community with a name like East Treestump, or Road's End. There was a Starbucks there. I saw bait shops and feed stores. But little else.
It rained all day.
We delivered the compressor/vacuum pump duo and removed the old ones to turn in for scrap. We drove back to Chicago. In doing so, we passed the same fields, the same telephone lines, the same lonely farms. And never once did the sun dare show itself. The rain, so vehemently promised, was determined to live up to expectations. And so it did.
But as we returned, exhausted and road-sore, to Chicago proper, and to the truck yard, the clouds broke. The sun, absent for the day, colored the western sky with brilliant, eye-searing light. In total truth, it was no brighter than any sunset, but it was such a contrast to the featureless gray day that a person had to squint when looking west.
The clouds that had been so featureless all day long were breaking and thrown into strange fits of turbulence. And as we made our preparations to return home, I took a picture: my only picture that day.
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As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting. And I hope that you're all having a great week.
Comments (30)
flora-crassella
wonderful colors!!!!! Fantastic picture!!!!!!!
Mavrosh
Oh my, this is PERFECT! Thank you for sharing!
MrsRatbag
Wow, what a sky! Beautiful!
mandloks
Wonderful colors. I like the street lights or what it is, in the background. They are a nice touch.
Sea_Dog
Breathtaking image, Chip. Great colors and depth. More than the usual "look at the pretty colors" sunset image. Well done.
helanker
And it was a perfect shot, chip. Then you got atleast one wonderful thing, that day :-))) I am sure you went home with a smile :-)
durleybeachbum
Marvellous read as usual, and a stunning pic! thankyou for sharing them both!
jac204
The reflections in the puddles add an interesting touch. Very nice picture.
Grizabella
Gorgeous shot!
MrsLubner
That's quite a combination and I commend you on your memory. I couldn't tell you the date of the last major earthquake in my area. :-) Beautiful drama on display in this shot.
willpee
Great pov Nice capture
starfire777
Very colorful photo!!!
wrpspeed
beautiful
elfin14doaks
Well that only picture of the day is totally awesome. I only say that when I truly mean it. This is a really great shot and that sky is really cool.
geirla
Great picture! (and text). Nice reflection in the puddles.
auntietk
Wow. That's gorgeous! I love the colors, the reflections in the puddles, the feeling of standing there, seeing that after such a long day. Beautiful!
wysiwig
Red sky at night... Stunning, gorgeous, outstanding! I know it's probably just a break in the skyline but the white figure in the center add an air of mystery to the image.
bmac62
Ah, the famous truck yard...now, the image will stick in my mind. Where's the big trailer with the yellow jackets? Good read as always...
beachzz
One of the things I really love about this shot is the contrast of that huge, gorgeous sky, and all the vehicles sitting around. A perfect juxtaposition, I mean, the sky is there and so are the trucks, so of course it just makes perfect sense!!
kwami
fantastic shot, didnt read the story, as you know, but love the picture ...xxx
Hubba1
Boy, fire in the sky! Awesome shot :)
Meisiekind
Oh Chip - how amamzing! Verbal and photographic art at its best! Well done my friend! :)
Amosicho
Gorgeous shot
blondeblurr
'The sky is burning, my soul's on fire' (Bad Company) Would you remember this song ? or were you too young to grow up with this or do I show my age ? in my own words and thoughts... and as sure as night follows day, day follows night again, forever changing - until the sun grows cold... and then there will be no more sunrises or sunsets; (I am no poet, never will nor want to be, it was just a feeling.) I am glad you captured one of them, we all have some hidden photos with unbelievable, but beautiful evidence of these amazing spectacles, happening here on Earth. There are never two alike, that's for certain. *** Even in a small, far-away town like Pontiac, do they have needs for dental care :-) Your pic is a good composition, including puddles and all. BB
kgb224
Well this is a gem of a sunset.The colorful reflection in the small pools add something special to this picture.Composition is spot on.IOt is your only but outstanding capture for that day my friend.
CoreyBlack
WOWSER!! This is seriously cool! On first blush it appears to be the photo-realistic illustration on the cover of a Big Name Author sci-fi novel, but then you look at it harder and it still looks other worldly and mystically sureal. If I didn't know from first hand experience what dramatic skies we get here in the Midwest, I'd swear it was all done in post work, but I don't think even that could compare to the reality of the moody and artistically random high drama we get on a near daily basis. A great shot and wonderful capture. It's all so vivid and intense that I looked down once or twice to see if I'd gotten my feet wet from stepping in the puddles. Fantastic work!!
xpersona
Bardzo piękna praca
Z przyjemnością oglądam Twoje prace ,serce się raduje patrząc na Twoje artystyczne podejście do tematu. Serdecznie Cię pozdrawiam Katarzyna *** Very fine workwith pleasure I am watching your works, they are warming the heart looking to your artistic approach towards the topic. Warmly I am greeting you... KatarzynaNefariousDrO
That is a magnificent picture, the light, the reflections in the puddles, amazing. Your description of the day really strengthens the mood, too.
romanceworks
Such a beautiful reward after a day of hard work. Gorgeous shot and interesting contrast against the trucks. CC
Richardphotos
brilliant sky and capture