Signs of Urban Spring by Chipka
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Description
Spring’s assertions have been timid until now. There has been moisture in the air. There have been flashes of thunder. There have been splatters of rain and rolling masses of fog, blown in from the lake. There have been all manner of meteorological phenomena. Warmth, however, has been slow in coming.
When winter fades in Chicago, many of the locals—as if in desperation—will hurl themselves into the open air, often in little more than shorts and flimsy tee-shirts. There may still be snow on the ground, and as you walk down certain North Side streets, avoiding snow-remnants in the urban colors of yellow and gray, you’ll see guys in shorts. If you’re near the lake, you’ll find the occasional sun-bather: skin tinged ever-so-slightly blue by the chill that remains in the air. You see this commonly, and know that spring is on its way.
Chicago is a distinctly closed-toe city—at least among shoe-wearing men. When you start seeing guys wearing sandals, you know that the season has truly changed and that warmth is here to stay. It seems as if certain elements of the male population of Chicago are endowed with strange circadian clocks—something embedded in the hypothalamus, I believe. Though they’ll wear shorts in snow, it isn’t until Spring-Proper that they begin to wear sandals. I think this is due to the fact that sandal-wearing is the result of a subtle biological trigger: something in the air, something in the water, something in the food stocks available at Trader Joes or Whole Foods...something in the tenderness of Chicago Male feet.
At any rate, sandals mean spring: a fact confirmed yesterday, as I took the el to visit Corey.
I took this picture, while hunting for photographic pigeons on the elevated tracks in the Loop. The pigeons were skittish, as were a number of humans on the opposite platform. I focused on buildings: they were moderately cooperative, and as I moved, I caught sight of a lone commuter, reading something. The original picture I’d taken was good enough, but I was in the mood to tweak and twiddle, and this is the result.
I saw a guy in sandals. Outdoors. Warm weather is here to stay.
***
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you're all having a great weekend...what's left of it.
Comments (32)
MrsRatbag
Wow, bare toes and all...it reminds me of when I was living in the Twin Cities, and that point in late winter/early spring when the temperatures climbed to anything above zero. Off would come the coats, and some people would be out in shorts, doing their walking or running or biking routines around the lakes without proper (to the rest of the world) outer clothing. I remember because my coat would come off too. There's a thing that happens when you spend many weeks in below-zero temperatures, your interior thermostat gets reset, and anything warmer than than becomes almost unbearable. Warm. I never understood it until I experienced it myself. Seems almost unthinkable now!
ToniDunlap
Warmth!!! I know it makes my life happier. I like the bare toes too! lol Great as usual Chipka!
kgb224
Outstanding capture and post work my friend.
CoreyBlack
Yes, I recoginize this type of creature. And it is definity spring in Chicago. Whether the weather stays warm or not-and it probably wont because Chicago is such a capricious place, it is none the less spring. Nice bit of post work to brighten up a station I know only too well.
danapommet
Not only sandals but bare feet in those sandals. Sweet ninja shot Chip. Dana
tennesseecowgirl
Great image and postwork on this one.
watapki66
Wonderful shot!
auntietk
Our local insurance company has a string of ads where they describe some of the different sorts of people who live here. One is "50-degree-shirt's-off guy" and boy, is THAT the truth! Another type is "sandals-and-socks guy." I can SO relate to your image! Life in a northern town, huh?
beachzz
You mean they don't wear flop flops all year round? How odd!!! Guess I might have frozen footsies if I lived there for long!!
MrsLubner
I gotta tell you, I love your postwork. You have to give me some hints on how you do this!
zulaan
Fantastic artwork !
helanker
Nobody can discribe a situation or an atmosphere as you can. YOu always make me smile. And the image is awesone.
durleybeachbum
I for one am suffering from interseasonal clothing disorder. Furlined slipper boots first thing in the morning, walking boots by coffee, flipflops by mid afternoon. But then I live in England, the source of the Cardigan!
minos_6
Excellent post work as usual - I really like the way the sandal man stands out from the colour-muted background, depicting the arrival of spring. Very nice work indeed!
jmb007
bonne photo!!
0rest4wicked
Growing up in New England you would see these ceatures as well. It was said they were ill, it was called spring fever! Think the candid shot is great, but I have to say the postwork makes the shot.
bmac62
Well, here to stay into late September or early October if you are lucky. Hey, that's five months of sandal wearing time. Not bad. BTW, off track, but I googled for the sunniest cities in the USA earlier and by happenstance came across a list of the 10 windiest cities too. Chicago wasn't on that list. What's up with that? Anyway, Chip...both your photo and narrative are highly descriptive...great read for the start of my day.
flavia49
fantastic capture and postwork!! Fantastic springtime mood!
Sepiasiren
wonderful treatment, mood and capture!
faroutsider
Another character of great character steps from the shadows in front of our lens. Excellent shot. (We're heading into closed-shoe weather...)
MagikUnicorn
EXCELLENT
sandra46
i like the evocative mood of the picture, as if the guy was reading the program of a theater event and was pondering whether to go to work or to the theater... as if he's seen his car coming in and decided he's going to miss it.
Hubba1
Very cool effect and feel! I love this :)
Meisiekind
Oh what a wonderful image Chip and I love the digifiddle!! So sandals in spring eh? It reminds me when us "inlanders" go on holiday to the coast - even in July which is mid-winter here. We always swim in the ocean - whether the water temp is 14C or 24C... So, almost like your sandal guy, if you see people in the ocean swimming in July, you just KNOW that they are "inlanders"... hehe... People are so predictable!
mickeyrony
Beautiful work on this my friend. Cheer and mile mercius. A mercy special for your visit ((5++)) Beau travail sur ce mon ami . Bravo et mile mercius . Un merci spécial pour ta visite((5++))
romanceworks
Great shot. Yes, the sandals are very telling. I wear them, too, and we still have snow. But I don't care if my toes get cold - it makes me feel like Spring is here. CC
Alex_Antonov
Excellent!
lucindawind
wonderful shot !
aksirp
wen men are naked feet in sandales, they have no more socks or shoes - or rather springtime is near! love the composition of picture and the postwork, just great!
moochagoo
Such a good mood with an excellent postwork and composition