The Urban Canyon by Chipka
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Description
The day’s shift has ended and so Caspar walks with Jareth across the transfer platform from one set of elevated public transport tracks to its parallel neighbor. He works with Jareth—in the bowels of a monster tower. Even here—far from his work-room—he can hear the language engines converting coherent speech into encrypted noise: his job, like Jareth’s job, is to protect corporate communications
Jareth—a disgruntled native of this city—speaks to Caspar now. Jareth has decided that he and Caspar are to be something more than strangers. Friends? Compatriots? Collaborators in some arcane scheme that may remain unfixed in Caspar’s mind forever?
Caspar exists in a kind of liminal state: born elsewhere, he lives here. He has work fit for a foreigner. He has friends—some as foreign as himself and some (a few) as local as the strange, eyeless fish that dwell in the murky shadow-depths of the lake. The fish, like the city’s native residents, are fit for life here; but they lack certain peculiar skills now necessary in a more global context.
He shares a train-ride from work with Jareth. They live within cramped city blocks of one another. Now, a twinge of vertigo stabs at him; and as the transfer platform vibrates with the passage of a train, Caspar finds himself grasping at the guard rail. His hand misses and his fingers curl around Jareth’s arm, their tips feeling out (by accident?) the rhythm of Jareth’s pulse. Jareth has been speaking, and if he notices Caspar’s gesture, he doesn’t let on. Jareth likes it here; he makes use of the transfer platform to vent frustrations, to speak, and on occasion, to smoke.
He speaks now, and Caspar—as always—listens in silence.
“This City is more like a hive than anything else,” Jareth says. “We're caste creatures. Language Miners, Bankers and Businessmen belong to different castes, which is why no businessman will ever talk to you, or suggest a night of drinking and karaoke. No banker will ever invite you onto his yacht, or even reveal that his portfolio contains anything more than the vaguest stocks.
“You’re a foreigner and I’m an expatriate. In City-logic these are the same things: a little bit too human. I’m an expatriate, not because my home is elsewhere, but because I’ve left here for a time. I know how outsiders think, even if I can’t actually think like one. I’ll leave again—maybe for Budapest or Bratislava—but in the meantime, I’m here: foreign in my own city. The Language Mines are the only places I can make a living...”
Talk of bankers and businessmen always unnerves Caspar. He knows what buildings loom on either side of the elevated tracks here. He can see the birthing labs, where businessmen and account executives are decanted from amniotic tanks and kept like veal-calves in maturation cages, their brains stimulated by training-and-conditioning needles sunk into their skulls. They’re released from the cages when they’re old enough to function according to the city’s corporate needs, and now—as Jareth speaks of them, and of the order of the city—Caspar wonders at the reason for his words and marvels at the surprise that Jareth has changed the position of his arm and now holds Caspar’s hand. Gently...and with something timid in its manner.
***
The above text occurs in some nameless city born in the wacky convolutions of my brain. The image is of Chicago, taken from the transfer bridge between northbound Brown and Purple Line trains and Southbound Green, Orange, and Pink Line Trains. I was taken by the fact that Chicago actually looked kinda pretty and a bit bright--sort of; I took this shot in order to remind myself that yes The Chicago Loop is actually bright…but apparently only at after sundown.
As always thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (36)
NightGallery
This is awesome man! Great color and very cool details. I really need to do some more night photog.
julesart
This is beautiful! I have never been to Chicago! I love the colors, this place looks surreal, like in a dream, quiet, nobody there! Awesome shot!!!!!
Sea_Dog
Stunning - seems like I use that word a lot in discussing your work. But it fits. Wonderful blending of words and image.
kgb224
A stunning Urban Night capture my friend.Wonderful writing as well my friend.
MrsRatbag
I think cities are meant to be seen at night; the buildings breathe into life after dark when the lights come on. This has such a futuristic feel to it, I almost expect to see air taxis a la "The Fifth Element"... well done!
MrsLubner
Shining, glittering and even welcoming... magnificent work. Love the details.
Charberry
magnificent!
babuci
Very powerful compo. Interesting to see not one ppl, the whole 'vision' ruled by the lights.
Alex_Antonov
Beautiful work!
Sepiasiren
love the picture as well as the apropos name--very fitting
Crabbycabby
Fantastic. The perspective, the narrative, the lead in lines. Stunning
lick.a.witch
You are as adept at painting images with words Chip as you at painting images with your camera. I find the words unsettling; frightening even. The future awaits us all, methinks. The image mirrors the words wonderfully. Unfeeling concrete and lights staring down on us as alien beings....it might appear quite pretty - but it's also impersonal. Then there are the two that connect. So perhaps there is some hope in contact, no matter if fleeting. Fantastic. ^=^
beachzz
An amazing foto to go with your story. Or is it the other way around? No matter, your shot gives the city a life of its own and the story follows right along---VERY nice stuff!!
minos_6
The colours are warm, rich and inviting. The lighting is intense. And yet this picture has a cold beauty in its starkness and absence of life. This is a very well observed capture, love it! I'm also reminded of the movie "Dark City". As for your words, do they perhaps include an element of autobiography? I love the ambiguity in the relationship between Caspar and Jareth, and this snippet of a vision of the future is intriguing. Makes me want to read more, and I admire how many hooks you've managed to place in such a short piece!
whaleman
You nailed another one — well done!
helanker
I wonder how you got that shot taken. Looks like you stood on a train top. It is gorgeous and I so love the deep golden, almost copper glow. Superbly done.
prutzworks
great shot
durleybeachbum
Like Minos I detect more than a little tinge of your own experiences. A very striking image too.
aksirp
love this kind of evening mood, people are at home, town is cooling down.. great shot!
pauldeleu
Sharpness. Very good capture.
njb2000
Cool looking shot I love the way the train line passes overhead Not something I`m familiar with looks futuristic!
micturn
Im finding these kind of shots really hard to do well. Excellent job
lucindawind
on my goodness this is marvellous!
jmb007
splendide photo!!
ragouc
GREAT.....
flavia49
precious work!!
sandra46
great image and superb realization!!! the text adds to the perverse charm of the image, with tohse tracks leading anywhere, and the windows empty of light. Windows should let the light enter, but here they do the opposite, they let darkness peep at the outside...
icerian
You are right, it is like Grand Canyon in city civilisation. Well captured, well seen.
Meisiekind
Most incredible night image Chip! I love the depth which is not easy to achieve with so little light! Bravo dear friend!
CoreyBlack
Vis a vis our on going conversation: Chicago is a great city, but that doesn't mean I have to keep on living here indefinately. This is the part of Chicago I still like...along with the lakefront. You did a nice job of capturing the majesty of this place at night and the sheer gravitas vibe of downtown. I also like the way you captured the sleekness amid the sometimes barroque detailing of the buildings. There's a real energy here that reminds me what originally attracted me to this city in the first place. Great shot!