The Bridges of Cook Country by CoreyBlack
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Description
Today marks the 1-year anniversary of my very first photo-posting on Renderosity. To celebrate, I thought I would go back to the beginning of my photography "career."
I'd been taking pictures with my dad's 1973 Nikromat SLR (one of about 10 cameras he owned at the time) for exactly a month when I snapped this shot on July 6, 1986. By the same random chance that had informed so many of my photographs, I happened to be walking north on the Michigan Avenue brigde (over the Chicago River) when the lights began to flash and the alarm bell began to ring. This warning means that the bridge is about to rise and you should get off of it as soon as possible. As the rest of my fellow pedestrians made a bee-line for terra firma, I braced myself against the bridge rail and began to snap away at the rising Wabash Avenue and State Street bridges. By the time I finished, the bridge had begun to rise and I had to run to keep from being flung off of it. An irate city worker had some choice words for me at that point, words that are not printable on a family-friendly website. Even then, I was a ninja photographer, long before I'd even heard the term.
Comments (9)
beachzz
You got a great start--I mean you HAVE to ride one of these bridges to get this kind of foto. That irate worked simply didn't get it!! Congratulations on a wonderful year--looking forward to MANY more!!
blinkings
Wow I've never seen a bridge like that go up. How long does it take? Its an amazing concept really. I find it fascinating, and I wonder if these boaties had to pay for the privilege. Does it do it whenever they want or is it only a once a day thing? Anyway you are definitely Ye Ole ninja photographer of the highest order my friend.
Chipka
Those bridges are so strange...they don't exactly feel substantial when you're walking across them...a single bus will make them sway and wobble so I can imagine how strange it must have felt as it was moving on purpose! This is a winning shot! I remember when Chicago looked like that (yep, in black and white too! Well...maybe not, but still...some of my memories of Chicago at that time are better in black and white.) This is a winning shot, and the Thomson Center looks like a UFO landed in the midst of it all...but then people do call it "The Mother Ship." Great work.
Meisiekind
OMG - you're a brave soul Corey! Glad you made it off in one piece despite your ears having to bear the wrath of the city worker! Hehe... Wonderful to see some of your first images!! Great work!
durleybeachbum
What a corking shot! So glad you survived to make the print and show us! BRILLIANT!
bmac62
So, Corey, twenty four years of shooting Chicago and its' surroundings. I really like this old B&W film shot...I've never seen the bridges all up but here come the sail boats. Congrats on completing your first year here on Rendo. We're all richer for you being here:)
Sea_Dog
Great story and image, Corey.
auntietk
That is just too cool. Whatever danger you put yourself in for this, it was totally worth it! Excellent image. Congratulations on a year here on RR ... it's been quite a pleasure from this side! :)
watapki66
Wonderful shot!