Red by Chipka
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Description
Spring is an intangible, hypothetical thing in Chicago; you’re never quite sure of when it’s here. Things turn green, they bloom, and then a cold-front comes in and causes all new growth to wilt and turn yellow.
Autumn is a more concrete season. Things turn red or brown, and then a cold-front comes in and stays for a few months. It brings snow and sleet, sleeze and other weird forms of chilly, half-solid precipitation. Just before this happens, however, things blush. Intensely. It’s Nature’s way of heaping on the color before it all vanishes.
Now, in Chicago, it’s Spring—at least according to our calendars. It is cold, however: a bit windy. Tulips wilt in their beds as if they’ve been touched by frost. Woodlice, so numerous a week ago, have burrowed underground. Rover and Blondie, the truck-yard dogs have yet to begin shedding, but they’re Chicago dogs, they aren’t going to shed until July. They’ll get their winter coats in August. It is cold here, but in a strange way. Winter coats aren’t required, and random commuters at el-stations downtown are wearing jackets (and even scarves) and sandals without socks. Warmth is coming—so the weathermen say—but it feels as if Winter isn’t far away.
***
I took this picture last autumn, shortly after the Renderosity Ninjas brightened the Winded City for a while. As the West Coast contingent returned to the west coast, cold weather came in with a vengeance. I took this picture moments before a cold-front blew in from the lake. It sat in my “to post” file for quite some time, and as a chill wind prompted me to close my bedroom window today (amid curses in some mangled combination of Russian, Czech, and English) I considered getting into bed and burrowing under the covers. On days like this, it’s easy to contemplate the joys of hibernation. But it’s a sunny day too…and I want to be awake. And so, as a compromise, I’m posting an autumnal picture. In some way, it may bring warmth to the city. I don’t know how, but here’s hoping.
As always, thank you for viewing and reading, and commenting on this and on previous postings. Hopefully you're all having a great week.
And yeah, this photo has been post-worked: Chicago is a largely grayscale city, but not as grayscale as this picture seems to imply...well...in seasons other than winter.
Comments (26)
MrsRatbag
Nicely done, Chip! I like the selective colour, it really fits...
Bothellite
You are a man for all seasons - whenever - torn - caught between languages. Can't say that things aren't dynamic. Wynd Walker in Tulsa says that if you don't like the weather, there, wait 10 minutes. Here, we say that if you don't like the weather (gooh- wet) you better leave because it ain't gonna. Really enjoyed this and related.
mbz2662
I like that bit of color you left there. Very nice work. How funny you should choose a photo you took last fall, as I just finished post-working a photo I took last fall, hoping to upload it today, if I can think of title.. lol.
beachzz
I guess we used up all the good weather when we were there--sorry!! Spring here is pretty crazy too, and this one has been cold, windy and wet. Today gave me a break, and I took full advantage of it. Fall is my least favorite season, but the colors are pretty amazing. I love what you did with this shot!!
whaleman
Nice postwork! I have no memories of Chicago, since I've never been there, except for one and it's only a connection memory. My father once visited there in the 50s on a business trip. I have no idea why he was there and he has passed on so I'll never know. But as a young kid about 10 years old, and an avid coke drinker back then, I will always remember him bringing back a large glass bottle of coke, probably about 40 ounces, for me. It was amazing because they were not sold in Canada and I'd never heard of them or seen one. It was unbelivable to me at that time and today, about 55 years later, it is still the first thing I think about when I think of Chicago. The second is the excellent musical movie, Chicago. Someday...
zulaan
Great selective colors postwork. Beautiful composition !
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. I like what you did with this capture my friend.
Sepiasiren
You make me want to visit Chicago--the tourist industry will get a bump from this foto alone--very nice...
helanker
What an excellent image you have created Chip. Really beautiful. Here is is so darn cold too and windy even. I deny walking outside today.
faroutsider
It's autumn here, and I've just been for a wonderful run in the mountains that are as much a part of Cape Town as these trees are a part of Chicago... Great splash of colour invoking the chill of the autumn air.
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent.
Meisiekind
Very, very neat image Chip! I love the selective coloring!!!! The seasons seem to be all messed up! We are in the last 2 weeks of fall and if you look at my upload of yesterday - it is as green as it was in late spring summer! Some area are busy getting there fall color now - eventually!!! I guess global warming is rearing it's ugly head!
prutzworks
like the color treatment
durleybeachbum
It's all very strange here too...I normally have a tan by now but I'm still in winter woolies!
jmb007
superbe photo!!
lucindawind
beautiful SC and photo ! its the same here...the seasons are very strange tihs year
flavia49
fabulous image and work!!!
Ilona-Krijgsman
Great selective colors...wonderful poetic feel.....lovely place to be as well
anaber
it goes as soon as it come:)) and we never can believe in what is going for much long...if i understood well...this, in a "short"! I love the red in your image, it make me think in the red line and in everything around, that is so changeable, all in all...and not only in the weather...Incredible!
witch_1612
Wonderful Work!!!
sandra46
superb image, great work! i like the postwork very much it gives a special mood to the shot! here the spring is rainy and cold, also thanks to the volcano cloud.
Alex_Antonov
Wow!
watapki66
Very nicely done!
auntietk
Wonderful use of selective coloring and grayscale! I know the weather changed shortly after we left, and I often wonder: if we'd stayed another week, would the weather would have been warmer for us? :) I love any reminder of that weekend ... thanks!
LovelyPoetess
Nicely done selective colouring. I like this alot. If you think about it, last spring was very tardy too. Personally I think the seasons are just becoming a bit awry, spring was later, pushing back summer, who leaned on autumn, which in turn shoved winter back, so in turn this spring is again late in showing up. Sort of a domino effect...
shorterbus
From a macro to a panorama, sort of like a roller coaster ride. Well, not really.