Chinatown: The Gate by Chipka
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Description
There are times when encroaching shadows remind me of traveling somewhere at close to the speed of light…everything narrows to a single point: an odd sort of fish-eye distortion in which everything is in front of you. Even things that are behind you remain in your forward view. As you race forward, things you pass simply move from center to the right, the left, up, or down…and then fade. As simply as that.
This was originally supposed to be a radically different picture: with colors. Boredom impelled me to play around with it. Well, actually a chat with a particular someone in Russia inspired me. He’s got a photo shoot (it’ll be over by the time you read this.) And as I thought of one particular, lanky Russian dude, armed with his swanky (professional) camera, I wondered what he was planning to capture, what he’d been commissioned to create. I’ll find out, but for now he’s being hush-hush about the whole thing. He usually is, before producing something deliriously colorful or enigmatic…or something else that probably has no word of expression in English.
At any rate, Victor—that certain someone—is a part of what became of Chinatown (at least in the reality of this picture.) We spoke of writing, Victor and I. We talked about Russian cinema. He’s given me “homework;” I’m to familiarize myself with popular and classic examples of Russian cinema from the Soviet Era until now. It’ll help me to understand the common Russian mindset (or something like that.) It’ll help me to better write for a Russian audience and capture photographs for Russian viewers. As I plan to live in Moscow, I’ll need to do something other than teach English, and so Victor has hired himself as my guide. It’s also because of Victor that I learned an odd fact. One of the most revered television adaptations of Sherlock Holmes is Russian made. Somehow that really doesn’t surprise me. It’s achieved global fame…sort of. Kind of…in a way. And well…in thinking about Sherlock Holmes I got to thinking about mystery in general…and that led me to think about Chicago and how it might look with a bit of “mystery treatment.”
That’s where the darkened entrance to Chinatown comes in. As I fiddled and fiddled a bit more, I began to see a familiar place shrink and distort. Though I am unable to travel at (or even near) the speed of light, I found myself fascinated by the sort of “relativistic effect” this picture began to acquire. Though nothing shrinks into a fish-eye distortion, there’s a weird corridor of light that seems to compress itself and rob definition from everything around it. This particular “relativistic effect” also made me think of Film Noir, and what hard-boiled detective might be wandering Cermak Street, and what femme fatal was lurking (in a red dress) just off screen. As I look at this prior to posting it, I still wonder.
There may be a story with this image, later…but for now…here’s Chinatown Noir, and the bizarre thought of Humphrey Bogart speaking in Russian, while traveling somewhere at close to the speed of light. If he does that on earth, he might just get there before he leaves. Hmmm…wouldn’t that be a story! Funny how my mind works and what associations bloom like strange, vigorous fungi! I like that, however, since it’s allowed me to revisit Chinatown (with Corey and with Victor) in a slightly different way.
This photograph was actually taken on the day Corey and I wandered in search of a bridge, and so Corey is as much an inspiration here as Victor. Now if only the three of us could roam that part of Chicago, searching for good food and interesting subjects, while just to our left, in an alternate reality, a private investigator got tangled up in webs of deceit woven by a woman named Magnolia (Maggie to her friends or victims who won’t live long enough to ever call her that.)
***
As always, thank you for viewing, commenting and reading.
Comments (39)
elfin14doaks
This is really cool. Awesome photo and fiddling! Wow.
dadon72
I love what the monotone brings to this image... It enhances the mood you were striving for perfectly... A fine piece of work.
anaber
Your image is challenging to my imagination after read you:-)i think i can say that i'll go to look for a "mistery";I'm impressed with the way both are related...what i see in your picture and what i read:a permanent feedback,yet, an interaction between your thoughts from past,in the present and about future ...this is fabulous, all around! Love your choice of colours and the surreal here. Great work,once more!
MrsLubner
There is a China Town in every city in the world, I think. The people and the culture is alive everywhere.
wrpspeed
beautiful image
Sea_Dog
Great work, chip. This image just knocks me out. The tonal range and deep shadows adds mystery and a hint of danger.
Roxam
very rich results from your "playing"
myrrhluz
It's odd (or perhaps not) that when I saw this I thought first of old movies and then of Humphrey Bogart. There is a wonderful seedy and gritty atmosphere. I love the way the light on the pavement give a gritty texture which matches the feel of the image. Great contrast! While there are medium tones, the over all impression is of stark contrast of dark or light. Excellent use of shadows! They close in on the sky, shroud all but the center in darkness and even in the center, capture doorways, windows, and the interior of the bus. Shadows lurk everywhere. Wonderful image and narrative!
bmac62
Sepia and Chicago's old China Town just seems to go together. Both the image coloration and the old gate says 1930s to me. And of course Humphrey Bogart fits perfectly in that mileau. Oooo, really like all the threads you've begun here and then pulled together so neatly at the end! You'll have to give us some progress reports on Russian movies as you begin to get into your homework assignment:)
ws_smpsn
Very moody and cool.
watapki66
Beautiful shot!
KatesFriend
Okay, because I was trained to be a physicist (no, I don't make a living at it) I have to tell you that traveling close to the speed of light (even on Earth and even if you are a Russian speaking Humphrey Bogart) will not get you to your destination before leaving your starting point. The trip will seem much shorter to you than everyone around you though. They'll age faster than you (but not by much because this is a short trip). And all the red lights ahead of you will blue shift to green - BONUS! But you'll still arrive after leaving regardless of who's watch you check. You must travel faster than light to get to your destination before your leave. But to do that, you must acquire "imaginary energy". Not to be confused with "dark energy" which is a completely different phenomena. Something to do with the square root of minus one. Think about that for a while and see if your head does not role off its shoulders. This has been my public service for the day. It's part of my duty as a citizen. Vive Le Canada! Oh yeah, exquisite photo. The Chinese architecture in silhouette is apt and imposing in its ancient style. Full of the skill and wisdom that is acquired by a civilization over four thousand years old.
beachzz
More noir from you and this one ROCKS. There's Victor in a doorway, waiting for you. Corey and Pavl are across the street in that tiny cafe, and then you finally come down the street, camera in hand, ready for that next shot. Oh yeah, I'm there, too, looking for the redhead. The elusive redhead, I WILL find her--or him. This is what your fotos and stories do to me, Chip. They simply transport me to other worlds, other places. And they make me write these silly little tales. But I guess that's what art is all about, we all see it and react to it differently.
Meisiekind
Your written word and wonderful image come together in the most wonderful way Chip! I feel like I am there! Wonderful PW on the image and the effect you tried to achieve is spot on! Well done my friend! Hugs, xx
blinkings
Lovely/moody shot.
CoreyBlack
I've seen the original of this picture and it doesn't look anything like this. This one has a kind of Chinese Dante's Inferno kind of thing going. Actually it looks a bit like a movie poster: one of those Asian action thrillers or maybe something offbeat and American, but an action thriller, nonetheless. Speaking of Chinatown detectives, I have to go with the original: Jack Nicholson's J.J. Gittes: it doesn't get any better than that...ditto this picture. Freakin' awesome.
nikolais
wonderful all again! ...special tones on the capture. most graphical!
helanker
OH that image is indeed beautiful. I dont know how you did it and you probably dont either, but a super image it is. I like your little (in between) imaginative stories.
SoulEatar
I started reading your comment - but stoped to see your photo and I think I like it just fine with out any words - Thank you for the image It was better than I had hoped :)
durleybeachbum
Before I started reading I thought much as Lucinda did..seedy, Maltese Falcon sort of feel. It is a spectactular piece of work, Chip, a masterful topnotch digifiddle. And what a revelation, that Victor is a pro snapper! If you'd told us before, I missed that. Part of my degree was 'Modern Art from 1848 to the present, its styles and Social Implications ', and when it came to the written exam I suffered a blank about Russian words. I couldn't remember which of them were styles, towns or people...LOL! Must have guessed right as I passed, but I can still recall the hot flush of panic.
flavia49
fantastic work, text and picture are superb!!!
auntietk
The sky has a sort of apocalyptic feel to it that gives this a wild touch, like the Chinatown gate won't be there for long ... consumed in a wave of whatever-it-is that made the sky look that way to begin with! Ominous and foreboding. Perhaps a distant explosion, and Chinatown will be the only safe place left for Bogie to ply his trade. Fabulous image and narrative!
claude19
I can only appreciate this wonderful photo, so two or three American films in this part of Chicago, have marked my mind there is far less than forty years! Print this exotic film is well made here in CASABIANCA ... with the same H; BOGART! A great actor, for a scenario with an exceptional talent ... amazing how the photographer for this photo! Original and talented! thank you friend!
zoren
the narrative adds to this image a 'dimension nior'.. very nice.
Eresther
I've no words when you talk about others, and my woman too. You're a great person through your artwork and your maner to talk! Thank you! Serge Excuse my faults, I'm French ;o)
MagikUnicorn
WELL DONE...EXCELLENT SHOT !
kgb224
Outstanding work my friend.
NightGallery
Looks like a movie poster. Really cool shot and postwork.
sandra46
spectacular work a great choice of monochrome, which adds to the 'hard boiled' mood...
mbz2662
Fabulous Chip! Now I am imagining a detective chasing a serial killer through the macabre back allies... (I have adjectives galore running through my mind!)