Something Seen While Walking on (Frozen) Water by Chipka
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Description
There was something solid beneath my feet, when I took this picture. I was not on land. I had walked (with Corey and with Kate) along a beach in Evanston, just north of Chicago. Our common intent had been to take pictures. With Corey and Kate behind me, I realized—with a note of irony—that I was walking on water. It was hard. Solid. Water, even as we call it ice, is still in its existential purity, water.
The lake was far from calm. Snow fell from the clouds. Evanston, so close to Chicago, thundered with lake noise and distant, distant traffic sound. A man walked, alone, far down the beach. I did not see his face. A lighthouse loomed behind me.
Since returning to the United States, I have made a habit of visiting Corey. Every weekend finds us with our cameras or with DVDs and CDs alive with strange and uncommon music. I recently found joy in onion skins, lights, and folded sheets of white paper. Corey and I have made a habit of spending our weekends with his sister, Kate. She has taken to exploring her artistic inclinations: with a camera, with paint-brushes, with words, and even with fabric.
On the day that I took this picture (yes, the day I walked on solid water with actual land a few steps behind me) we were three explorers. Kate went in one direction, sticking to land and climbing a shallow embankment. Corey, sensible as well, stuck to land and found things down-shore. I headed east. I listened to the lake. I wanted to photograph him. Funny, I have come to see Lake Michigan as a masculine thing. Perhaps it is an echo of something Russian I’d seen: three rocks, half submerged along Russia’s eastern coast. Locals called them by the most elegant and simple of names. They called them The Three Brothers. I have not seen these rocks in person. I have only seen photographs. Victor showed me. He took the picture. And on the day I explored the shore of Evanston, I thought of The Three Brothers, and wondered if Lake Michigan was one brother in a family of five lakes.
I stood on solid water, shocked—suddenly—by the realization that the sand beneath my feet had been blown across ice, and that nothing but ice lay beneath me. I know the treacheries of ice and the lake, I know how to disperse weight, how to lie flat on my belly and inch my way toward the shore. I did so, and saw water. Snow. Ice. I saw a formation that grabbed my attention and—for a moment—stilled me. I captured it with my camera. I captured falling snowflakes too.
It was a good day when I took this picture. Corey and Kate were with me, and though distant and more distant still (in terms of geography) Pavl and Victor were with me as well. I wanted to show them something and to share something with Corey, with Kate, and anyone else willing to see. I’d decided after an onionskin and an egg, that perhaps I should share ice. And so, here it is. Ice, photographed as I lay flat on my belly—on ice of indeterminate thickness—inching my way back toward land.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re having a great week.
Comments (30)
lwperkins
All I can think is brr..where I come from, moving water doesn't freeze since it's salty, unless it's really, really cold! I'm picturing the three of you in Eskimo outfits :) If that was taken in New Jersey that would be a shopping cart under there.
MagikUnicorn
COOL SHOT
Orinoor
At first glance it reminded me of a scone. Wonderful description of your adventure, lovely shot of the lake ice encrusted rock.
NefariousDrO
Wow, the story is as interesting as the picture! I love visiting the great lakes during the winter, the wind takes whatever heat it can find (and sometimes the top layers of your exposed skin when it's cold enough...) but you find the strangest things where cold water is tossed about too much to actually freeze. I imagine there's a rock somewhere under that curious pile of ice that has built up not unlike the way cave formations build. It even looks like a stalagmite in a strange way. Very cool photo!
blinkings
Walking on water eh. I knew there was something special about you mate!
lior
Excellent shot!
costapanos
Always a joy to stop by your gallery and see and your latest!
zoren
sounds like a crisp and refreshing day....
mgtcs
A super interesting story excellently written, you are a great writer, marvelous photo, excellently done my friend, congratulations!
danapommet
I did not know that the great lakes have their own version of icebergs. :>) Nice low POV. Dana
bimm3d
wonderful place and capture!!
evielouise
brrrrrr--makes me chill insdie and out great photo and explanation :
auntietk
The whole concept of lakes freezing is so foreign to me. I've just been talking to Mark about it. The water here never gets cold enough to freeze, and as a matter of fact, the warm water temps keep it from snowing at the beach. It's rare to see snow here at sea level. (It's salt water, of course.) Seeing your ice pictures (and his) ... it's hard to take in! Sort of like when I was there and got to experience a body of water you can't see the other side of that doesn't ever get CLOSER to you! LOL! No tides! Weird. Great photograph! I'm loving Lake Michigan this winter. (From this nice, comfy distance!) :D
Sepiasiren
very kewl image
beachzz
Walking with friends who go off in other directions to find other things is such fun. You may all look at the very same thing and yet have different visions. Crawling on the ice on your belly is a bit extreme, but we ninjas understand to be as natural as, well, walking.
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend.
GARAGELAND
Killer pic!
durleybeachbum
I've done some very odd things in the interests of various hobbies, but I'd draw the line at wriggling across ice on my belly! This is a very curious image taken, I think, by an equally curious photographer!
lick.a.witch
I have the excuse of not actually being able to get down to 'belly wriggle', a fact which until I saw this image, I was sad about. No more, however! I do believe you have it wonderfully and completely covered! Totally wonderful image and your narrative, as always, is a pleasure to read. ^=^
stolta
Great shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rainbows
Your work always brings joy in its wake, Chip. Beautiful writing. Hugs. Di. xx
helanker
SO you have been on your belly taking this shot? OHH Man, it must have been a cold affair lying there on the ice, as I know you have extreemely low temperatures in Chicago right now. But I must admit you got a mighty beautiful result out of it. And as usualy your narratives are always worth reading too. :-)
MrsRatbag
Cold belly I'll bet! What a wonderful shot; I love the snowflakes making a cameo appearance.
RodS
Very cool (cold) photo, Chip!
bakr
It's good to see the great picture and read the words of a beautiful sense very nice shot
bmac62
Once more you've written your narrative in a way that makes me feel like I was a fourth member of your party that day. My icy background is tied to a small pond in New York by the name of Herrick's Pond...as a boy it was way out in the woods, today it has been largely spoiled by being 'cleaned-up' and surrounded by a housing development. But the ice still forms the same way it did many years ago. Wait 'til you can't see through it. Wait 'til you don't get that crackling sound when you take your first step off the shore. Wait 'til the ice no longer crazes like glaze on an old piece of pottery. Then it is time to pull on your skates and take off for center ice...well that's what I always dreamed I'd do...but either my skates were too big or my ankles two weak...I'd skate for 20 minutes thinking about kids skating along canals as in Hans Christian Andersen tales...then head for the nearest log and watch everybody else skate wondering why I couldn't skate for hours like everybody else... Neat pic my friend!
flavia49
fantastic capture
sandra46
SUBLIME CAPTURE
anaber
I love that vision of the lake with the snow fallig from the sky! It is a beautiful image.Also your story is.Love it!
pat40
Amazing pic,