Metal, Wind, and the Coming Storm by Chipka
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Description
There is no darkness here. There is no light—such concepts are little more than artifacts of perception. I perceive this place, as do the other members of my team; but tomorrow we will move on. There is so much to explore, so many pieces to a puzzle we scarcely knew existed. Later, or perhaps later still, others will sniff along our ion trail, fall into orbit, and land here. Perception will reign once again, but in the interim, there will be nothing.
I remember, once, I heard a question: If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?
I remember my shock and existential dismay at the answer. No.
A tree falling in a forest with no one there to hear it makes no sound at all. Sound, is—after all—a matter of perception, the interpretation of auditory data. A tree falling in a forest makes no sound, though it may generate plenty of noise. In the absence of a mind, sound cannot exist, cannot inform one of the falling of a tree or the sigh of wind through metal and foliage. How profound a difference a single mind makes.
There were minds here, once. Millions of them. There were people. Men. Women. Children. They are all gone now. Their cities stand empty. We cannot imagine what their buildings must have meant: we know which were dwellings and places of work. We’ve found their libraries, their museums, their factories and warehouses. We’ve found their temples to the strange gods they worshipped, and we’ve found their tombs. They were human—these people—like us. They came from Earth. Originally. But we have no record of them: we don’t know their leaders or their reasons for coming here. We don’t know why we’ve forgotten them. We may never know. Most tragically—for me at least—we don’t know what these places meant to them: which were loved, which were despised…where did shy lovers first meet and clasp fingers for the first time, giddy with adrenaline and fear? Where did boys play their stupid bravado games? Where did girls laugh and gossip?
A storm approaches; I can smell it—a vague tinge of ozone. It is a cloying, acrid smell. Storms rage across the face of this world, proof—perhaps—that things have been set profoundly askew. Something in the atmosphere has shifted and in some strange way the wind and rain elementals are restless. A picture of what happened has begun to emerge. Remnants of a world-spanning radioactive blanket tell us of violent conflagration, and indeed, there are entire ruined cities, seas of glass, black scars that were once whole, virgin forests. Here, to the north of the largest continent, cities remain relatively unscathed. Their towers fall—not from warfare—but from natural elemental erosion. Who fought whom, and for what reasons? Perhaps in time we will learn this, but for now, there are only haunted towers, hollow cities, and rivers swimming with strange, mutated fish.
Jonas Muir/Unpublished Journals
***
This is yet another shot of the infamous vertical lift railroad bridge spanning the Chicago River at Canal Street. The mood of this picture is a direct result of music I’m listening to as I write this. It’s no secret that I love science fiction, and adore the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. I often listen to the soundtracks that accompany each season of this now-ended show, and as I considered where to take this image, I cued up a rather haunting track that seemed to dictate the visual (and emotional) course of this image. Though I can’t claim the music as my own, it is most certainly an intimate portion of this image, and the story that accompanies it.
For a more intimate glimpse into the inspiration of this picture (and story) please click HERE.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, commenting (and even listening if you've followed the link) and hopefully you're all having a great week.
Comments (31)
Osper
Moody indeed! Love the sky!!!
alessimarco
A very existentialist theme, my friend. Let us hope that if a civilization falls that its crashing down does not go unheard, or its lessons unlearned. A fantastic image....and thanks for the music reminding me of the great tv series I loved so much too.
LovelyPoetess
Bravo! Well taken, great story line (which is rather scary as it is a scenario that may well one day happen), and nice postwork on the photo.
MrsRatbag
Wow! What an image and story! This is fantastic, Chip!
myrrhluz
Of course I followed the link! What wonderful music to read your story and study your image by! The story made me think of stories I have read of ghost cities. The automated houses on Earth in Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles". The empty towers that John, son of John found in the dead Place of the Gods, (ASHING, Licoln, Biltmore and Moses) in Steven Vincent Benet's story "By the Waters of Babylon" The haunting nature of these stories resonated deeply with me many years ago, as does your story tonight. I also think of Deserted Medieval Villages (DMVs) of the United Kingdom. So many that they have their own acronym, though not all are from Medieval days. I think of all the lives, stories of joys, angers, betrayals, loves, frustrations all so important and all lost in time. All of this rambling is to say I loved your story and was deeply moved by it. I don't think I shall ever get tired of your images of this infamous bridge! This is another tarnished, beautiful gem to add to the others. I love all the masts! They stand like tiny skeletons before the massive skeletal tower. Wonderful atmosphere and lines! Being captivated by this image, while listening to Bear McCreary - The Cult of Baltar was a memorable experience!
ToniDunlap
WOW WOW WOW!!! What a picture. And again he writes so very well. So special!
KatesFriend
"How profound a difference a single mind makes", I like this line. It cuts to the heart of some of the basic principles of nature. The notion that the act of observing an outcome can directly influence it. The music is certainly mesmerizing and haunting much like the story. Perhaps Mr. Muir will find a Rosetta Stone for this world some day.
auntietk
I'm listening to the music ... (not up to Season 4 yet in my viewing) ... it's wonderful! I can see how it provided inspiration for your tale. Really fine work, my friend!
gonedigital
Your stories are always so wonderful and this is no exception. I have been seeking and searching recently and your words fit nicely into my current train of thought. Thank you for that! The image mixed with your words give a person something to think about...perception... Nice to see you back here again! Love and light.
minos_6
Your photograph broods. Not just the sky, but the structure of the bridge itself. You say this bridge is infamous, and I believe you've captured that with your camera.
Crabbycabby
Love this work. The abandonment, the tones, the sky. Could stare at this for hours.
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
beachzz
I don't know why, but often your fotos take me to a place that has NOTHING to do with your subject matter. This one takes me back to Woodstock (well, the movies, as I wasn't there, though I sure wanted to be!!). It's the scene right before it start to rain, and towers like this are swaying in the wind and people are scrambling all over the place. The guy on the sound system is telling everyone to "be cool" or something, and then the sky opens. This is a great shot, and your words make far more sense than mine!!
blinkings
You know mate a friend of mine from work gives me those Battlestar Galactica DVD's and she loves them just like you do. I've tried and tried, but I just don't get the appeal. I'm really not into Sci-fi anywhay...the problem I have is that I can't suspend my disbelief!!! I love astronmy...but that's real. My mind says that sci-fi for instance is not true, and then it ruins the whole thing for me. lol I remember going to the launch of that Star Wars movie a few years ago. That latest one...everyone in the cinema got it, but I HATED IT! I tried to like it but I couldn't!!!!! I absolutely hated Avatar, so maybe there is no hope for me. Give me a boring old doco, especially if it's historical........... and I'm in heaven! I can see that you get sci-fi, and I envy you!
zulaan
Great !!! And love Battlestar Gallactica too ; my favorite scifi series !!!
jac204
Makes me think of a similar highway drawbridge around here that has been closed for repairs. Great image and story.
durleybeachbum
Two0 splendid pieces of work! I enjoy your work and Coreys in the genre you both love much more than the movies you mention: I can't take the VOLUME in the cinema.
flavia49
fantastic image!! I love this rusty industrial ruins, with LIFE incrusted in any scratch, rivet, hole. And I love Battlestar Galactica too.
lior
Superb image!
helanker
A really fantastic capture Chip. And I see the heavy and dramatic clouds coming. But if the noice is not there, because we are not there to hear it, what about the tree? wasnt it there after all, as we were not there to see it? I has desided, I was too tired to read you today, but I just had to have a little look and got hooked :-)
sandra46
EVEN IF IT'S INFAMOUS THAT HEAP OF OLD STEEL HAS THE POETRY OF THE DAY AFTER. I LIKE INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY. IN SOME WAY RUST PURIFIES EVIL, LIKE THE OLD MEDIEVAL PRISON TOWERS HERE...
watapki66
Excellent image!
RodS
Man, I really LOVE this image! It touches something inside me - I'm not sure why, other than being a striking image. One of the things that makes one a true artist IMHO is the ability to take an item that many would consider an eyesore and make an object of beauty out of it. You have done a masterful job with this one! That music is SO haunting. I have to admit I've not seen much of the new Battlestar Galactica, but maybe I need to give it a look. As a bit of trivial information, I have the ENTIRE series - every episode - of the original Battlestar Galactica........ on BETA tapes! Gah....
Djavad
A l'échelle des "Grands bâtisseurs" !
Alex_Antonov
Remarkable work!
0rest4wicked
Great story line and imagery
Daz1971
Wow! A superb image, and an engrossing story to accompany it.
ragouc
GREAT.....
popeslattz
If you include a link to music and no one clicks, does it make a sound? When I see a fallen tree I can imagine the noise it made. Does that count? Awesome image. I can smell the ozone. Will I be rained on?
Sepiasiren
this is where I Ooo and awww cause, I know how much time and effort you must have put into this image. The metallic structure standing in stark relief against the smoke colored background is wonderful--almost puts you right there. Very, very nice...