This is lovely and the black and white was a good choice. One suggestion would be to straighten the horizon. I have a spirit level attached to my SLR!!!!

This is dramatic as all get-out! That sky is amazing, and the whole mood has that sort of brooding feel that winter does so well. You really captured the stark ambiance of Chicago winter, and those bare trees (depending on how you look at them) are either strangely lonely, or spooky, among zillions of other things. I love it! I really like the way those bare trees actually look like lightening going the wrong way; I always make weird associations like that, and that's what makes art so fun, because even if nobody else sees it, that kind of stuff is always embedded in a great photo, just waiting for the right sort of goofy person to see it. This is a great photo--and it reminds me of what my friend Pavl says about bare trees. He likes them, because, according to him, they look fresh and clean after they've had a haircut. This is really great. I like blinkings' idea too, even though the slightly jaunty horizon does add to a sort of "you-are-there" vibe. I think it'll have that same vibe with a bit of a straighten, too...plus straightening photos is always such fun; it opens up all sorts of possibilities. And if you're in the mood to play, I'd love to see this with a little bit of a contrast tweak done with those clouds. They're perfect the way they are, but I'm curious to see how far you'd be willing to tweak them. Skies like this one are always so full of potential, and no matter how much you exploit that potential, there's always more. That's what makes a good photo, in my book...one where you're satisfied with it, but also willing to let it give you an excuse to play. This rocks!

outstanding cityscape

This is a beautiful, stark winter scene and you've caught it so well. I can almost feel how cold it is!!

I agree with blinkings ! beautiful !

Had to be black and white Kate, this really brings out how stark it is. Lovely shot.

wonderful B/W!!

I like your sky and the trees contrasting to it like walking creatures.

Simply: outstanding!

very moody splendid light

Good idea to do it in B/W. The strong contrasts create a very special atmosphere, and that is a gorgeous result! I have seen some of your B/W- work here, they are all great!

The B&W image really accentuates the clouds. Also like the trees. Dana

Bare trees against a sky like that makes me think "snow" ... I had to look twice to make sure there really wasn't any! A wonderfully stark and chilly shot. Nicely done!

When I think Chicago in January, this is the image in my minds eye. Way to go Kate.

no matter if you capture reflections, tributes, dogs, snow or just the world in Black and White and sparkling colors.. it is always GREAT to see your work

THIS IS NICE!! I love this! What a great shot! The black and white really adds to the starkness of the photo but doesn't obscure the hints of nature waiting for their day after the harshness of a typical Chicago winter. Wonderful, moody shot!

I agree with your choice here, that b/w fits perfectly to this beautiful wintershot. Fantastic light too.

Amazing just how beautiful trees are even without their covering of leaves, especially in B/W and with this POV. Stunning capture. ^=^