Cermak Street Industrial by Chipka
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Description
Just west of Chinatown, the streets turn gray. Just west of Chinatown, the Chicago River flows with supreme indolence by old paper mills and warehouses, past gargantuan silos now empty and crumbled, empty and rusted. Geese bob on the water; ducks make nests beneath bridges. They are quiet creatures: fun to watch. They—like the land-dwelling rats in the area—are Nature’s first wave: advanced troops reclaiming the edges and forgotten center sections of the city. They are a welcome presence, as far as I’m concerned. They are fitting companions to the rust, the bridges, and the occasional people who always fascinate me when I visit the stretch of Chicago just west of Chinatown.
***
I took this picture months ago, but others bumped it out of the way. I’d always liked it and as Corey and I were talking last night (and working on future posts) I came across this image and fell back in love with it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy posting it, and I hope that I can catch up soon on commenting and browsing.
Comments (20)
NefariousDrO
I can certainly see why you love it. I like the slight tilt to the view, and I love the magnificent architecture to the left of the street there. Old factories and warehouses have some wonderful details that I miss in more modern styles. Someday I swear I'm going to make a zillion hand-made bricks and wood-fire them for my dream house. Someday. This reminds me of just why I have that dream, which is another thing I love about this picture.
SyberianFrost
Very beautiful realization
auntietk
I love this for its emptiness, the spare, abandoned look cities always have when there are no cars and no people. Since cities are made for people, their absence is like a blow. This rocks!
KatesFriend
My attention was immediately drawn to the traffic signals near the gate. Very unusual, easily mistaken for a cross, the sort of configuration that might adorn a church. Very fitting as the industry of that now abandoned era shaped society as much or more so than religion. I also like the colours of the scene - maroon with shades of cream. Very much like the livery of Toronto streetcars during this period. Of coarse, Chicago streetcars were green I believe so this is transposition on my part.
dashboard_jehovah
Outstanding work and shot! love the colors and hues! One of these days I would like to stop around the Gary/Burns Harbor area and get some images of the rusted out and abandoned steel mills...it's only a 50 minute drive north west from my area.
Charberry
A part of history that made our country great, the development of manufacturing. But it also had a dark side, child labor, impoverished workers, unsafe and unhealthy work conditions, and our society learned to pass the laws to protect them. Perhaps the forlorn look is a reflection of past sin. We have learned much from this era. It is a great portrait of time.
Sepiasiren
I don't know why--blame the late hour--but this shot reminded me of a little known bangles song--these streets perhaps have had many mad, sad, wistful feet tramping--maybe the ghost of those souls calling to mind song-- meh--whatever the reasoning it is a great shot nonetheless...
MrsLubner
gritty and "real." There is an honesty in this shot that can't be beat.
kgb224
Stunning work my friend.
helanker
This shot reminds me of the older harbour in Copenhagen, when all the machines were still working. Big cranes were singing their songs while they moved containers from one place to another. I could hear them from my home, sometimes when the wind carried the song to us. I still remember how it sound. Now the harbour is so empty in many ways. It doesnt work like before and it misses alot of the old atmosphere. Still I find the harbour beautiful, just like this capture is.
durleybeachbum
Old Poole used to look like this...now it's all converted to outragously priced apartments.
flavia49
wonderful capture!!
MrsRatbag
How on earth did you manage to get it without any people or vehicles? Wonderful capture!
lick.a.witch
Places like this need people to reflect it's soul. How different this would be with the sound of children's laughter in tune with the ducks and geese. Fabulous shot Chip. ^=^
sandra46
FASCINATING, COOL IMAGE!!!! ANOTHER INTRIGUING URBAN SHOT
jmb007
belle vue!!
RodS
This has a certain dreamlike quality to it - I can see why you fell in love with it. Most excellent, Chip!
beachzz
You caught that exact feeling of places like this--all kinds of different places with all kinds of different things going on. Yet, there's no one to be seen--that's a twist, like the end of the world novel!!
danapommet
Cool looking bridge and I might have the urge to spit off this one!!! Love the stop light. Dana
minos_6
I love industrial buildings like this. I'm reminded of some of the industrial cities in the north of England, and also some parts of London that I'll get around to capturing one day..... The starkness of the setting is enhanced in this picture by the washed-out appearance of the sky making your capture bleak and rather effective....