Left Lane Closed Ahead by Chipka
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Description
Darkness and warmth envelop the street as the noise of construction and commerce fall into sullen and exhausted silence. Traffic groans to the west: massive trucks speeding from somewhere to somewhere else—passing through Chicago at the midpoint of their journeys. Chicago—as I’ve often heard described—is a city of transients. One passes through Chicago: the winds for which the city is known allow only a few to truly take root. The winds of Chicago are quite good at pushing people through the city, like trucks going from somewhere to somewhere. All of that traffic, that passing through from somewhere to somewhere takes a toll on the very structure of the city. Left lanes, right lanes, passing lanes wear out and fall into the need for constant and meticulous care.
Darkness and warmth envelop the street as the noises of construction and commerce fall into sullen and exhausted silence. Traffic groans to the east, along the lip of the lake. It is a northbound sound, a southbound sound: it is the voice of night-time revelers returning to their non-city places of residence up north, or down south. It is the sound of those who use the city, simply passing, simply returning to lives that bear little in common with what the city says of itself.
On the night that darkness and warmth enveloped the street—where the noises of construction and commerce fell into sullen and exhausted silence, I passed through the heart of Chicago and saw the signs of constant motion from somewhere to somewhere. The city, as I saw it, was little more than a semicolon, a colon, a coma: a marker between somewhere and somewhere. A place holder. Nothing more. Though I live in Chicago, I am simply between places…coming from somewhere and heading somewhere. I will pass, like a truck to the west, or a car to the east, leaving signs of my passage in stresses that only street repairmen may see. This is okay; I have no problems with going from somewhere to somewhere, and allowing my passage to give street repairmen the dignity of their work.
***
I took this photograph outside of the Berghoff Restaurant, at 17 West Adams, on the night that I left the John Stroger Medical Center. I’d been visiting Corey, and offering what comforts hospital visitations might allow. I was on my way home…from somewhere to somewhere, with only the heart of Chicago functioning as a punctuation mark linking two unrelated sentences. How odd that such a thing defines a city: how comforting to know that there are places and passages, and that there are distinctions between the two. For this, I love Chicago, as it exists as a reminder that all things pass, that I am like a truck—just west of the downtown core of the city—speeding in the night, from somewhere to somewhere, while looking at pretty, night-lit buildings midway through my journey.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and for those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday, and for those who do not celebrate the holiday, I hope you’ve had a wonderful week, thus far.
Comments (27)
MrsRatbag
It's a warm and reassuring scene; I find comfort in lights on the edges of the darkness. Beautifully captured!
KatesFriend
Lovely words, I had times like this when I worked in Manitoba for a time. One day, you should visit Winnipeg. Not only will their winds push you from west to east, they pick you up and float you out to the city limits and beyond. The shot is so tranquil as a city night scene but the reminders of the city's engine, the sleeping giant are everywhere. The green traffic signals in the distance, they carry on their vigil to carefully manage the traffic in an empty intersection. The construction sign thrusts the torments of an always complicated morning commute into the head of a weary urbanite, 'Now I must remember find a way around this tomorrow morning". It's getting cold these days and nights of warm casual strolls such as these are becoming rare in my part of the world. A nice reminder of my late night summer walks.
Meglaurel
from somewhere to somewhere with only the repairman to witness... may your spirit be lifted and your heart filled with light from the workings of the repairman.
myrrhluz
Wow, there is a lot of red here. I like the difference between the flashy reds and oranges on the left and the cool greenish gold and black on the right. There is comfort in the lights. In the mad exuberance of the signs and brightness. There is darkness all around, but here there is light, here there are people, here one is not alone in the dark. The comfort of a campfire, writ large. In the long passage of time, we humans stay much the same. Beautiful capture and words. I have never lived in a big city. Not really in it. I live on the outskirts of San Antonio and aside from the traffic it is much like living in any area of subdivisions, anywhere in the US. It must be fascinating to live in a city and feel the influx of transient people coming in and going out, rather like the tides. It is always interesting to read your words of your interactions with Chicago. Excellent use of repetition and rhythm. Wonderful images of the passing day, the sounds and sights of the night, and the thoughts they bring to your mind of your place in it all.
jocko500
red signs to get the eye to look so it be red in your eye lol anyway this is wonderful looking
Sepiasiren
this may sound weird but I love the way you capture reds--even when they are not neon they have a certain energy to them. Like you can feel it. Such a tremendous emotive capture--thank you!
bimm3d
wonderful capture!!
whaleman
I like this shot much better than the two previous shots of the Berghoff, although the 'Jumbled Signs' shot was very good as well.
faroutsider
I sometimes wonder if the Chicago you inhabit has been largely depopulated... Excellent shot.
GARAGELAND
Tells a story or invites you to imagine one. Very nice.
prutzworks
brilliant shot, very inviting
durleybeachbum
A very thought-provoking narrative. I am the opposite, with a humungous taproot into the depths of my home town. This is a wonderfully warm and full photo, with that sign suggesting yet more stories.
lick.a.witch
Your felicity of expression makes a scene such as this, which would otherwise be alien to me, a fairly inviting place to visit! Wind or not! Totally wonderful image and completely fabulous words to enhance it even further. ^=^
kgb224
They never repair roads at night time in South Africa,but they mostly do repair them during the day time when there is peak traffic.You can imaging what a traffic mess it creates.Stunning capture my friend.
helanker
Such a beautiful and exciting shot with alot of colors and light. Just as I like it. Superb.
auntietk
What a compelling narrative, and a most excellent image! Perhaps the workmen will find trace evidence of my DNA on certain streets. I feel like I've left SOMEthing there!
bmac62
Brilliant night photography...still completely lacking in my gallery. I am jealous of course:) The restaurant immediately brought this place to mind: Click Here
flavia49
splendid image!! and great prose!!
Orinoor
This is for me a statement of our lives, short and brief, passing from here to there, a moment between places. I like how you described this and repeated it, like a song.
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent capture.
Sea_Dog
Well done - your words and image blend so perfectly into an experience that's just stunning.
NefariousDrO
I love the warm red light in this, you make me want to just follow you around for a day and listen to your words, while seeing the world the way you see it.
sandra46
SUPER FANTASTIC IMAGE!
RodS
This is visually stunning, and technically perfect - that exposure is spot on! Tell me you bracketed like crazy - that's what I would have had to do to get the exposure as perfectly as you have. The lights and signs are beautiful, and not overexposed. The dark areas still have detail. I love the contrast between the reds on the left side of the street, and the golds and greens on the right. This is a stunning night time photo, Chip! My hat's off to you, my friend!
makron
Great colours. Very well done
kasalin
Wow ! An awesome pov and capture :)
praep
Beautiful colors and light.