Winter Gothic by Chipka
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Description
There are times when the City throws its desperate glamour. On nights when sleaze condenses from low-hanging clouds, beading on window-glass and metal, the city shakes itself from winter-time doldrums and colors clouds with the colors of pressurized sodium vapor, halogen, and stuttering, garish neon.
Now, there is ice on the river, jagged and broken masses like some bored geologist’s experiment in plate tectonics gone horribly awry. Beneath the sound of traffic, Paul hears ice grinding and crunching, breaking itself as the river (always sluggish and always sullen) makes its indolent way to the lake. It is cold. Somewhere in a westerly distance, sirens wail at the onset of some emergency.
On the river-tracing curve of the Drive, Paul walks with hunched shoulders and down-cast gaze. It is necessary to keep ones eyes lowered. Winter’s chill has diminished, though snow will—again—blow from the north, from across the lake, or from an arcane distance ill-defined on any map. But until then, the city revels in near-springtime warmth. The river has largely melted, leaving only a fine scum of broken ice on the surface. A glance left might reveal this ice in milky pallor at odds with the orange glow of high-pressure sodium vapor. Paul is no tourist, and so his gaze will not rest on the shock and awe of looming towers—some older than others—in the colors of night-light and metal, night-light and stone, night-light and the a glamour that Maxx Vogue has deemed “beautiful.” Paul knows the nature of the building, unlit and so their distractions of glamour-light are meaningless. He keeps his gaze safely lowered. Snow-melt reveals minor treacheries—dog drops and grime-splatters cast by the hurried passage of cabs. There are paper cups, emblazoned with the logos of competing coffee bistros, and occasionally—just barely so—the foot-tearing sedition of broken glass.
Maxx Vogue and Lady La say that the city is a magical place, where all of your dreams come true, if you pay enough for the right shoes, the right coat, and any number of knife jobs and collagen packs at your local Face Boutique. Paul has his own face, an accidental ideal bestowed upon him, courtesy of natural genetics. Mom and Dad—at home on the Baltic Coast, have no need for Maxx Vogue, Lady La, or the life that spotters have granted their only son. They are a librarian and a teacher; they don’t understand how their son’s eyes and hair and the near-luminous pallor of his skin are requirements for a job that grants him fame and money enough to save for later. He will return to Ǻbo, soon enough, and with money enough for something else in Helsinki, but now—despite life as Style and Maxx Vogue paychecks, Paul walks with eyes downcast, because life in the city (despite Maxx Vogue’s declarations) is riddled with coffee litter and dog drops, and though his shoes are new, they will not protect against the threat of damage wrought by a bottle—broken—and forgotten until winter’s snows begin to melt.
It is cold. He walks—hunched in a long, black coat, courtesy of Lady La—with a garish, faux-gothic sight to his left. Somewhere behind him, women squeal and giggle, and though he doesn’t look back, he imagines that one of them has stepped in something that might ruin her $10,000 shoes.
He smiles.
He feels sadness in his expression.
***
Yet another photograph taken as I meandered around downtown Chicago recently, and as always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting.
Comments (19)
acam
As I grew up in this city and still consider it a second home; you have captured it wonderfully. There is no skyline like it. No feeling like. It is the city of Big Shoulders indeed.
watapki66
Beautiful shot!
Sea_Dog
Great work. The image is stunning - a wonderful capture of a city at night. As usual the story superbly meshes with the image - you have a marvelous way with description, I can almost feel the cold and hear the ice chunks grinding against each.
myrrhluz
Excellent image! The gold hazed sky is as described in the narrative. I love your description of the city! As you tell your story of Paul, you also go deep into the character of his city. It's also wonderful that we see it in a moment in between. The prevailing winter has loosened its grip but it is still a long way from spring. The city seems in a holding pattern waiting for the next extreme weather to make itself felt. Deliciously rich contrast between the glamour facade of Maxx Vogue and Lady La (a facade that seems to be laid on with a heavy brush), and the dirt beneath. It made me think of the later years of Elizabeth I of England, whose heavy white makeup and persona of eternal youth, hid an aging frame. I like the reference of his parents. They are little described yet give the impression of shining with an inner beauty quite illusive to those who worry to much about their outer shell. I love the ending, the squeal, the smile and the feeling of sadness of expression. I know that feeling well. For me it centers around the eyes. If my eyes feel sad, it permeates my whole mood.
kgb224
Outstanding capture and story my friend.
Kaartijer
Wonderful night shot! It's the kinda shots I like to take in a large city...
beachzz
It's odd that how often we walk, we look at the ground. I do it a lot, maybe because the ground itself is uneven and I have to be careful. Paul probably does it for the same reason, though in the cold, you have to wrap yourself in whatever cover you can, head down to get out of the wind. In a big city, maybe you have to stay in visible and that's one way to do it. At any rate, as he walks, and as you tell us about him, I can feel the cold, hear that ice and hear the distant sirens and sounds. Another very visual, very powerful foto with your amazing story.
MrsLubner
The silver glitze of the big city is dazzling. So very well done.
helanker
SUch a wonderful shot.... and the story. Man where do you get it from? Amazing!!
durleybeachbum
It must be great to be overflowing with creativity like you! Cityscapes like this image and as described in your story have always made me feel uneasy and even unhappy..probably not unlike Paul.
dakotabluemoon
Very beautiful image and great story.
ladyraven23452
love it all.
MrsRatbag
Beautiful image; and compelling storylet!
auntietk
Paul could easily be a character in a much longer book. He's compelling, even with this little bit of information. Really excellent writing, and I love the image! Your night shots are wonderful, and I can spot your work in a second ... it jumps out at me from the gallery page and creates instant excitement and attraction.
MagikUnicorn Online Now!
Superb shots !
Meisiekind
Oh Chip - what a wonderful night image of Chicago! It does have a wonderful glow! I think there is a Paul in all of us!!!
Roxam
very distinctive, very chipka
JaneEden
This image pops out in your gallery, it is an excellent night time photography, you really are so creative and amazing. Your intro too is so interesting and yes I believe there could be a Paul in all of us. hugs Jane xx
blondeblurr
I imagine Paul to look a bit like Keanu Reeves, from 'The Matrix', wrapped in his long black coat, stalking, head downward through the streets; perhaps there is even a bit of 'you' in Paul's demeanour ? Wouldn't it be great, being able to fly through the air, without a harness and still look immaculate, when landing...all you have to do then, is fight Hugo Weaving and 100's of his clones. BB