Snapshot of the Urban Jumble by Chipka
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Description
The feeling of enclosure is complete here. The street—little more than a clotted and clogged snarl of traffic and pedestrians—makes its way between skyscraper walls. Train tracks run above—mimicking the course of the street for a span, until they veer sharply in a different direction. They skirt the river for a bit, before crossing it later on. At one time, steam driven trains used these tracks, but the city barely remembers that aspect of its past. Electrical contrivances clatter and clack along the tracks now: stopping here, there, or there, at rude little platforms intended for the use of public transit commuters. The platforms are old. Wooden. Deceptive in their appearance of frailty. Pigeons coo and strut among support beams and around the feet of people who scarcely see them. They peck after crumbs and litter, then take flight at the loud approach of a train.
At Adams and Wabash, there is an enclosure of false glass. On rainy days, the platform is washed in gray and featureless light. Raindrops splatter on the transparent roof. Weather and pigeon poop has rendered the plexiglass cloudy. The rain clears it up. But for only a short time.
On rainy days, you can look up at the towers defining Wabash Avenue stretch of the Loop. You can look up in rain, as your face remains dry. What you will see is a bewildering jumble of support struts and false-glass panes. You’ll see rivets and rust. You’ll see buildings beyond the transparent barrier, and at that moment—if you mind works in that particular direction—you’ll think that you wait (patiently) for your train in the heart of a hothouse city: a green-house on the south-western tip of Lake Michigan. The feeling of enclosure is that complete, and even though there are no barrier walls to block the flow of air, you feel them…you think that they are there.
The Loop is, after all, the most enclosed part of the city: and as you walk at ground level, in the shadows of monster towers, you may realize that there are whole stretches of urban concrete that have yet to ever see the light of day. There are rooflines and walls and rusty girders supporting el-tracks like some strange, serpentine roof. That’s the way of things here, where thunder is perpetual and metallic in nature, where traffic gorwls like some slow-witted animal in dream-addled sleep
As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting, and hopefully you're in the midst of a great mid-week.
Comments (26)
Sea_Dog
Great POV. I always enjoy your shots of Chicago along with the narratives because they work together so well in expressing your vision of the city.
dashboard_jehovah
Awesome POV and presentation. from the thumbnail, I was expecting a top down shot!
MrsLubner
Life...what will it think of next?
Crabbycabby
Awesome work.
auntietk
Love the industrial vibe, the dense mood. Well done!
faroutsider
Great POV and lighting. Thanks for bringing the city of Chicago so vividly to life.
whaleman
Interesting shot and story.
helanker
Yeah, It looks rather dreary there. You described the atmoaphere very well in both picture and in words.
kgb224
Thank you for sharing my friend. I try to avoid Pretoria City at all times.I just go there when needed and when i have time i will explore the City maybe on a Saturday or Sunday when it is mo0re quiet. I will share it my friend.One think that i always remember about the city .One do not see to much sun as the buildings is so high and in winter it can be quite cold in winter when one wonder the city streets. Outstanding capture my friend.
Sepiasiren
a feeling of enclosure is an apt statement--one completely "gets" that from this image--I love your "eye" slices of experiences...like when you are in an elevator and look over and see something some may consider a bit mundane but it sparks the imagination and stays with you, like a rain soaked window for example--don't know what to quite call such a moment but you seem to capture it quite well with your work...!
jmb007
bonne photo!!
zulaan
Great POV my friend !
lucindawind
excellent POV ~! nice work
MrsRatbag
A view from the gritty underbelly...wonderful shot and ruminations!
durleybeachbum
You make a great story out of the sort of place that could lead me to suicide.
flavia49
fantastic image!! great POV! I love the rusty, grunge urban mood!
Meisiekind
I read your narrative and look at the awesome image depicting claustrophobic enclosure and all I want to do is flee to the Namib... to wide open spaces where I can breathe freely... where I can laugh and love and just be me without worrying about the millions of others in my immediate environment... Wonderful thought provoking work Chip!
minos_6
I looked long and hard at this image for some time before reading your narrative, unsure of what I was looking at, or the viewing angle. this is an excellent capture, and once again you show us Your Chicago. This is a unique and compelling presentation!
jocko500
wonderful pov here. cool shot as the rain comes down
sandra46
very cool image!!!!! i like the feeling of rain when i'm indoors, i must say much less when i'm outdoors. This one is a really greaT SHOT, AND I LIKE THE BLUR of the different temperatures on the glass.
moochagoo
Looks like a SciFi atmosphere. Matrix ? Bravo !
romanceworks
A monster, to be sure, living in the city. Great shot and narrative. CC
Ilona-Krijgsman
what a wonderful pov.......love it
watapki66
Very cool photo!
Daz1971
This is sensational! I love it!
danapommet
At first I thought that you were looking down but I found my bearings and all is well in my head again. Love your narrative and this capture. Dana