A Boy, His Father, and a Dog (For Mark/anahata.c) by Chipka
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Description
News travels in a convoluted manner during the winter months: maybe it’s because of the shortened days. Maybe it’s because of the cold weather, as if news and words freeze in the air, growing torpid like any cold blooded animal. At any rate, news seems to take a bit longer to get from one place to another, even with the most efficient means of communication.
It was cold on the day that I took this picture. I took this picture yesterday. As is my custom, I was with Corey. We were near the lake. At various points during the late-day hours, I was on the lake. This picture is evidence of that. There was no land beneath my feet—not directly at any rate. There was ice. Below that, more ice. And below the ice, sand normally submerged beneath torpid Lake Michigan currents.
Upon our return to Corey’s apartment (after Chinese food and a few urban shots on the el) I summoned my laptop from hibernation and watched as it sluggishly responded to the “wake up” command. I logged onto Renderosity, checked the status of comments and made a few. In the latest hours of last night (or the earliest hours of this morning) I noticed a post on the “What’s New” page. I clicked on the thumbnail.
It was then that I received in-depth news concerning Mark’s (anahata.c’s) father. I read the dedication. It was rich with invocations of memory and warmth. It was a moving post—news, as anyone might recognize it. Important news. I commented. I went to sleep and awoke this morning, to spend time with Corey and his sister Kate. It was a pleasant day, one that has planted the seeds of memory, and they will grow in time. As day faded to noon and noon faded to evening, I thought of the news I’d received, and the memory I’d read…of a boy and his father in autumn; a boy and his father in autumn in Chicago; a boy and his father in autumn in Chicago, near Lake Michigan. I thought, immediately, of another boy—an intrepid adventurer—picking his way across the frozen rim of Lake Michigan’s face. His father walked with him, telling him about icebergs and penguins. A dog accompanied them, sniffing after whatever dogs may sniff after, on the frozen rim of a vast, inland sea—a lake, as defined only by the absence of salt. I thought of Mark’s words, and I thought of paternal words about penguins. I smiled, and so in honor of fathers and sons, and even fathers, sons, and their dogs, I’m posting this image, and sending with it, my best and most optimistic hopes to a friend who has shared news with us of his father and the challenges in health currently faced. There is warmth in this image, despite the snow, and maybe—somewhere deep inside of it—there are echoes of every father and every son who has ever shared adventure (and penguins) on the frozen rim of a turgid, dramatic lake.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and yes…this dedication to a brilliant artist and warm presence on Renderosity is also a wish for only the best to emerge from a current, significant situation.
Comments (25)
MrsRatbag
What a marvelously poignant and lovely image and dedi, Chip...
evielouise
A great story of a boy and his father my three sons lost thier dad at 57 years and it's sad for us he never did see that we have a new great grand child and many grand children but they do have fond memories great photo and a great dedication:
RodS Online Now!
Yes, that post almost - no, it did - bring me to tears. Very moving. And this is an equally moving photo. Well done.
bimm3d
wonderful photo!!
anaber
It is a wonderful scene, that tells a moving story.Beautiful and warm dedication in this fabulous photo:)
mgtcs
Wonderful image and story, amazing capture my dear friend, congratulations!
blinkings
I simply cannot imagine how cold this must be Chip. At the moment it is scorching hot here.
beachzz
A wonderful foto for Mark and his father. You captured that father/son feeling so well. It's a beautiful way to honor that connection and especially to honor Mark and his father at this difficult time.
Crabbycabby
Fascinating image.
kgb224
Stunning capture end dedication my friend.
lick.a.witch
This is a very poignant dedication and beautiful image. This is the reason I love your gallery - and this is simply - Smashing! ^=^
hipps13
makes me stop and stare with a few more thoughts then I stare again and I too smile warm hugs, Linda
durleybeachbum
The perfect image for this occasion..
flavia49
splendid shot!!
TallPockets
SUPERB image and narrative!!
NefariousDrO
Ooh, fascinating picture, I like the processing you did, too. Isn't the winter shoreline of Lake Michigan fascinating?
auntietk
What a great image! I love the connection with Mark's image. This photograph has the sense of a past memory in it. Not just from yesterday, but from many years gone by. Just right, right now. A superb capture, and a warm and lovely dedication.
sandra46
superlative image for Mark in a moment of distress. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.
Orinoor
Really wonderful, both in word and image.
danapommet
A fantastic dedication to Mark's father and a beautiful image to dedicate. I can see me and my father, on a much smaller lake, with my dog Dusty, ice fishing. It is amazing how a winter lake/ice photo can bring a different image to everyone that views it. I believe it is in the photo from the photographer's heart. Dana
helanker
This is such a wonderful capture and a perfect dedication for our dear friend Mark, who has such a hard time right now.
Sepiasiren
You put me right there in the mix as an observer--so much so that I almost feel as if I have to go grab a blanket. It is such a wonderful picture--but the faraway objects of family and dog fails to help me connect to them--perhaps this isolation is what you were going for. This is altogether both warm and cool as well as a lovely dedication--I love it.
three_grrr
A perfect painting of words and camera for Mark. Beautiful seen and captured, and the finishing touches, your dedication, make it so much more beautiful.
dashboard_jehovah
WOW! Speechless at the moment...emotion invoking words and image. Not all Sons and Fathers share the same memories...which get twisted and turned through a lifetime. Not all Sons and Fathers get the chance to create such a wonderful moment...thanks for sharing your friends'moment with us.
anahata.c
Thank you, Chip, I'm way late getting on RR but it doesn't diminish my gratitude for this beautiful dream-like image and for your (always) moving words. You captured a dreamy quality here, like memory (as I think Tara said), making the connection between father & son & dog very intimate, esp so because it's surrounded by such frigid surroundings---the surroundings feel like a blanket here, not easy to do with ice & snow. And I really appreciate your feelings about my dedi, and what they brought out in you. I never did walk the snowy shores with my dad---he was never a big fan of winter, lol---but this scene might have happened if my father were a little more daring. (My dog & I made this journey many times, though.) And you managed real linear perfection here, with the snowline falling perfectly under the pier & landline above it, and the clouds darkening around the horizon, really well seen & captured...even the 'canyons' in the ice seem softened by memory here. Thank you for taking my dedi so to heart, Chip, and for your more than kind words about my place here, they meant & mean a great deal to me. And if you're interested, I've fallen several times into ice upon ice---only to find that the bottom layer wasn't sand but water---freakin' water, sittin' there smirking, waiting for some idiot like me to stand on it figuring it's only sitting on "sand". I broke through it twice only to realize that water was then in my shoes, socks, skin, you name it. Cold speaks quickly. Lemme tell ya...but maybe this chunk of shoreline is more humane, and maybe downtown has a worse sense of humor than further north or south. But it's a beautiful memory & equally beautiful image, Chip, and a beautiful dedi for which I thank you so much. It moved me deeply & I'm glad I could finally get here to tell you. I hope to back on RR soon. Thanks again Chip. It's beautiful.