Self Portrait with Bricks by Chipka
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Description
When I think of bricks, I think of Vyšehrad, an old region of Prague. It is dominated by the remains of a fort upon a hill. It is surrounded by a wall. You enter it through a huge and forbidding gate. You climb stairs. Lots and lots of stairs.
As you crest the hill, the city spreads out around you, like a promise of adventure. It is a maternal home as my friend Štepán calls it. He was never specific on which maternal home it is, but it’s one of them, for sure. It’s “that hill” according to Pavl, who likes hills—and hedgehogs, unless they’re depositing poop behind his bookshelf. It makes me wonder just what Pavl has experienced in his life? What excremental horrors have shaped his childhood. Hedgehog poop? I don’t even know what that stuff looks like! And he has experience enough to declare that he doesn’t like it.
It’s hilarious to think that so ancient and gorgeous a spot as Vyšehrad makes me wonder about what comes out of the back of a hedgehog, and how disgusting it must be, in relation to a bookshelf. It is comforting to think that bricks remind me of the ancient ramparts of a now-fallen fort. Very little remains of the original structure, but there is a walkway that meanders along the crest of a wall. To lean over the railing—precariously, as guys with dreads rollerblade past you—is to see just how high up you are. To see just how high up you are is to see just how many bricks you’re standing on top of. And now that I’m back in Chicago, far from random maternal homes and hedgehogs, the sight of bricks reminds me of other places. Far away places.
I saw bricks when I visited Corey last month. It was sunny, and though I hadn’t intended on thinking about Vyšehrad, I thought of that place. Smetana is buried in a church yard there, Dvořak and other Czech luminaries too. I’ve seen mist rolling along the contours of the Vltava, and heard stories told in paint peeling from doors. The Czech Republic’s friendliest cat followed Pavl and I around, during one of our meanders, only to vanish abruptly before dozens of sparrows erupted from underbrush in the distance. I think I know where the cat had gone. I saw bricks. Lots and lots of bricks. Red bricks. Ocher bricks. Bricks with cryptic etchings of graffiti carved into them. Since that day, I’ve been fascinated by bricks, and during a visit to Corey’s place, I saw my shadow. On a brick wall. I liked the pattern. I liked the fact that on the other side of that wall—right here in Chicago—people speak Romanian.
I like bricks, and I like the way my shadow plays across them.
****
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope that you're on the verge of a fantastic weekend. I think we're gonna have a thunderstorm tonight, and so I'm glad (for yet another reason) to be surrounded by bricks...they keep you warm and dry, if you're nice to them.
Comments (27)
MrsRatbag
And I like the way your mind wanders into other lands while your shadow plays on the bricks...
Sepiasiren
u copied me with the self portrait idea--well--not really--but kewl idea and execution--rawks!
jocko500
was some of these in the big fire? wonderful shot
watapki66
Wonderful capture!
KatesFriend
Interesting twist on the concept of the self portrait. I'm not certain, but I believe the bricks are imposing a fedora onto your shadow. And your shadow seems to be fly fishing from the balcony, perhaps in quest of an elusive rainbow trout from the river of light. Such occupations would necessitate a hat of coarse.
beachzz
And I like the hat you're wearing--that IS a hat, isn't it? And yes, you also seem to be fishing, imagine that!!
whaleman
Yes, he does seem to be fishing...fishing for bricks to make into a fish. These are very interesting bricks and the pattern seems somewhat random. I once took a masonry course to learn how to do this. The pattern is not a Flemish bond or a running bond; it appears the mason made his own patterns. It would be interesting to see that brick closer.
wild_child
Wonderful shot!
helanker
LOL Hedgehogs Poops behind a book shelf LOL ! I like your "selfportrait" alot. Very original and exiting shot.
zulaan
It is a very graphic image !
durleybeachbum
That was one hell of a ramble! I love it! And your shadow looks positively Spanish. An inspired pic!
faroutsider
Wonderful warm bricks... I live in a wooden house and have to be nice to the timbers, for the same reason as you. :o)
minos_6
The subtle colours and textures really come out in this capture, and the addition of pure sunlight with your shadow brings life into an environment that should be quite sterile. I don't believe you were wearing a hat, but the happy coincidence of an intersection between your shadow and a couple of dark bricks adds even more interest. This is a VERY nice piece of work. I'm also confident that should you ever discover the history behind your friend's aversion to hedgehog poop, the story will find it's way here eventually....
kgb224
I agree with you my friend.I do like the shadows reflecting on the brick wall. Stunning idea and capture.
bmac62
Ah yes, a Spanish bullfight fan gone fishing...I know, not too original to steal Marilyn's and Andrea's thoughts and stack them together but they are right. And bricks! You know your bricks. The thought just crossed my mind...I wonder how many bricks there are in the world? Afterall, bricks have been made almost as long as man has been around. Mud plus straw in the old days...and sun baked them then. And in more recent times Winston Churchill prided himself on being an accomplished brick mason as a hobby. Loved this ramble and whoever would have thought that hedgehog poop could be a topic of interest but you wove it in just right:-))) Today, antique brick sells for a lot more than plain red brick...maybe if Corey gtes a little short he could sell some of those bricks from next door!
auntietk
Do you know, in all the millions of things I've ever thought about in my life, hedgehog poop has not been one of them. Bricks? Yes. Many times. Bricks are a fascinating thing to think about, to look at, to speculate upon. Hedgehogs themselves? Yup. Cute little things. Nocturnal. The hedgehog my ex-co-worker had ... perhaps I had vague thoughts of shredded paper and a cage, but never the actual poop. You expand my horizons, my friend! :) Did I remember to tell you how much I like this photograph? Well seen, and a great capture.
flavia49
wonderful play of shadows, colors, shapes and words!!!
romanceworks
It takes a lot of patience, time, and skill to build such a structure of bricks, but when finally completed, it is there to stay. This is how I see you, building your words, carefully, skillfully, one at a time, built on memories, and thoughts, and visions, and when they are all together they become something that includes all of these things, something strong, something undeniable, something that is here to stay. CC
danapommet
Cool shot Chip - to catch your own shadow. WOW!!! So cool! Your narrative about Prague is inspiring - as are all your narratives, my friend. I am going to have to get off my retired butt and plan that long overdue trip across Europe. Dana
jmb007
bonne photo!!
sandra46
very beautiful, intriguing image!, great work! one can imagine every sort of stories. I like the sharp lines between light and shadow and the pattern of the bricks interrupted by the windows!
EBSPhotographic
Awesome shadows; it looks like a guy with a top hat standing there on the first balcony; up to a bit of shady business I guess:). Very cool shot!
Alex_Antonov
Beautiful work!
CoreyBlack
OH, i LOVE THIS! I remember the afternoon you took it. It looked cool then but is some how more intense here. I love how those dark bricks make you look like you're wearing an Oliver Hardy hat. I can see that the drooping power line really does make it look like you're fishing. For what I'm not sure. Perhaps that '57 Pontiac mouldering below? Inspired shot!
Bettina_Aufgebauer
This is so cool. To take a picture from a shadow is an unusual idea. It`s very well done!!!
MagikUnicorn
Magical Shadow Shot ;-)
Meisiekind
Ooeee - I like this very much! You just have to check out this month's Forum challenge!! It is "Shadows" and this image will be perfect to post!!!