Wow, a bright and sparkling shot! I look forward to many more views of your world from the photographic perspective!

What a beautiful neighborhood. I have never been to Chicago, but it looks like there are some nice brownstones.

Beautiful capture my friend. Cameras are new eyes to use into the soul of your art. A way to take a split second in time and freeze for posterity. A tool to use for creating more art than you dreamed was possible. A new adventure to make each day a wonderful experience. Have fun. I cannot wait to see more. :o)

Mark this is such a lovely capture of your beloved home and I can say it is such a pleasure to see you upload again. you have been missed and I hope to see more of your photos of Chicago also

Lovely photography,Mark. I have only been to Chicago once, and just passing through. Welcome back!

big smile, you remind me of one of my Grandchildren running outside to play with a new toy. Oh dearheart what new doors will be opened to you now. Wait until you download and start playing around with your images! Get the gimp program it's free to download. Am thrilled for you and laugh with you in glee!

Not bad a tall!!! Love the shimmer lights :)

A beautiful sparkling scene with great lighting.

Photo #1. You're on the board, so to speak:) It is pure pleasure for me to see this upload of your front yard and home street. Your photo reveals a sense of transitional history. I like the way the three story homes, c.1900, mix seemingly easily and elegantly with the much newer high rise apartment buildings. I imagine the original residents of the rather grand, old homes could never have foreseen the changes that the 21st century would bring to both their neighborhood and city. Am looking forward to many more Mark.

Haaaa!!Great Mark!!Glad to see your new Eye v. hand:-))I love esp.the golden trees in the end of the street,because the light:sunlit and foggy...i love your point of view:like in your paintings we crossed it all, down the road:-))) Wonderful starting,Mark,enjoy the most you can and play around:)))it is a beautiful challenging!

Pretty cool shot glad to see you settling in and getting back online!!!

• claps wildly * This is wonderful, Mark! Your first post to the photography gallery! :D I am so proud of you, my friend. The pov is great, as is the composition. That afternoon light is lovely -- you make me want to walk through those shadows on the sidewalk and watch my own shadow interact with what's already there. Of course in order to do that, I would have to be in Chicago again, so the other thing your image has done is set up a yearning in me to return. Not to the cold chill of Chicago in November, but to that sunny day in September, just as the seasons were about to change, when there were still palm trees on the beach, good friends all around us, and Persian food for dinner. I think it's the sidewalk gardens. I'm looking forward to seeing you post more photography! You have a wonderful eye, and I'm glad you're sharing your vision with us!

I just love this, the light, that sweet soft, autumnal glow we see this time of year. I also love it because I remember this street, or one very much like it, as we walked and walked and walked that day. Persian food, friends, all of it--as Tara said, it just makes me want to come back!! Welcome to this new world--beautiful first foto!!

I love this photo and your view of Chicago. It's a gorgeous area that shows the positive side of what big cities have to offer. I like the contrast in architectural styles and time periods and how the two sides of the street are tied together with rows of trees. The iron fences are wonderful as are the dark almost silhouettes of the tree trunks and branches. You've captured it all in an inviting light with soft reflections. Is that a person at the end of the street? I like how there's only one and they seem to be in motion. Congrats on your first photography upload.

a very fine photo to start with, mark. you learn fast!

Oh, you are already having fun with digital photos! It is a whole new world. And what a wonderful shot. I like how the grass is so green contrasted with the almost naked trees. Looks like a lovely avenue to walk along. CC

OHH WOW ! Welcome in the Photographers Gallery, dear Mark. This is so beautiful and glittering in all its happiness. It is such a lovely light/shade capture with so many details. You are indeed speedy in learning. I am so happy for you. And I agree with all comments here. :-)))))

This may be your first photographic post, but it clearly shows your artist's eye. Super capture, Mark.

SUPERB! It will soon be an extension of your body! No-one would ever guess this is your first posting, it shows that a craftsman can cross skills when they have the tools. Tara has said it all, and it is a very beautiful view, so unlike my preconceptions. I so look forward to more!

Oh how fun! Its a wonderful capture Mark! Congratulations on your first and welcome to the photographers gallery. I can see already you have a great eye for this! I went thru Chicago in the late 60's on my way to Michigan. I didn't see any of this beauty so its wonderful to see it thru your eyes! I love the little fenced garden areas, something you rarely see in big cities. That alone makes this a very welcoming shot of your home. The sunspot at the top of the photo is a plus and the reflections in the taller building windows are super! Awesome first post Mark! I look forward to seeing more!!!

Huge applause Welcome to the "new" world Mark!!! It is so good to see you in photography!!! Great first effort my friend. Ahh - lovely Chicago - with the glow of autumn seen everywhere! I will have to go back in better weather!!!

EXCELLENT!!!! i like the parallel lines on which it's construed! AND WELCOME IN THE CLUB!!!!

Hey! Here it is! I think I recognize this from some of Tara's or Marilyn's posts. Is that possible? Fabulous perspective, giving the street that long stroll-able feel. (I see someone strolling at the very end!) You'd not see this view if the trees were full out with leaves. Nice job as you are shooting toward the sun for those wonderful shadows. This is a good start with tons of promise. I can tell you're having loads of fun! Let's see more.

excellent !

this is something i hardly can relate to, all my respect to all photographers out there, i just never had the right feeling for it! have no idea of the right moment, the view, the light, i am lost with a camera. and it is all the more wonderful to see you starting to make photos, mark, and i wish you lots of fun and joy with your new passion. its a wonderful refreshing view to look at and i am looking forward, with a smile, to more of your work here! have fun and be well, mark :)

really wonderful, you goit the light just right to take a reamrkable appealing shot...smile

This is my kind of town, Chicago is My kind of town, Chicago is My kind of people too People who, smile at you And each time I roam, Chicago is Calling me home, Chicago is One town that won't let you down It's my kind of town My kind of town, Chicago is My kind of town, Chicago is My kind of razzmatazz And it has, all that jazz.... Stellar ambiance, which includes the great POV, DOF, perspective and lighting effects, in this, your first attempt in the endless and tantalizing world of photography, Mark! You alsoo have the innate advantage of an artist's eye, which should help launch you out onto the vista of another visual media to have fun with.

Very nice scene. Great lighting and atmosphere! Excellent capture!

WOW! Welcome to the weird world of photography! It's been so long since I've visited your gallery and I'm glad to be back. I have a lot of catching up to do, but that's the wonder of galleries at times...having to catch up is so much fun! And WOW! This is an excellent shot. I love the composition of it as well as the wonderful details. The sun, where it is, has that wonderful "flare" effect you see so much of in J.J. Abrams' version of Star Trek and I like that because it adds a certain "realism" to the scene; it removes the artificialness, and in the case of this photo, it reveals something of the atmosphere of the neighborhood, especially in terms of that slight veil of moisture (or car farts) hanging in the air. I especially like the light/dark byplay, especially on those little front garden fences and on the parked cars. It's very cinematic. And speaking of cinematic drama...those angular columns on the left make an excellent byplay with the diminutive fences enclosing the flower beds bordering the street. That pedestrian way down the street adds a nicely human touch to the image as well. I love it! Of course I'd love to see more! Welcome to the world of Photography! I most definitely look forward to more! And you know this means that you, me, and Corey should get together and go scrounging around for more subjects to photograph...and that reminds me, I have precious few near north side photographs and I must rectify that situation as soon as possible.

wonderful image!!!