Skyline by Chipka
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Description
I took this photograph more than one year ago. I didn’t like the way it turned out. Chicago at dusk, during the wee-early hours of spring is distinctly lacking in color—unless you count dog-deposits left in snow that has since melted. Brown is a color, and in Chicago spring, there’s a lot of it. Chicago is a distinct product of the US-American Midwest: a remnant of what it once was and precariously close to the US-American Bible Belt. The US-American Bible Belt is expanding at an alarming rate (ask any science or history teacher) and Chicago is not immune to the cultural shifts that such expansion might induce. Geologists and scientists of other disciplines are able to determine the approximate age of Chicago’s bedrock. Now, it’s commonly accepted by numerous Chicagoans that the area is only 6000 years old. 6000? It takes that long for the earth’s paint to dry, so to speak. There’s no way that the entire history of the planet can be condensed into what is (in geologic time) little more than a twitch, an eyeblink, or the flare of a synaptic spark…but I digress. I took this picture more than one year ago. My camera was a lot newer at the time, and a lot less worn.
Now, more than a year later, I looked at this picture again. I liked what I saw, but still felt that the image lacked something. Drama, perhaps, or something a little less tangible. I decided to fire up the Gimp and see what would happen. This is the end result. I like it a lot more than the original. You can see a lot more of it, but the blackness at the bottom of the image is still a bit murky. I like the murkiness now; it seems strangely apropos.
I’d write more; indeed, there might be a story associated with this image, but I’m pressed for time, as is exceptionally common this month, and so anything creative has to simmer on the back burner. As I’m nearing the 700 mark in my gallery, I decided to post something as a wee bit of time permits this week, and as things begin to settle in April, I’m sure that I’ll be catching up on everything, writing, photographing, commenting on other works here, and resting. That will be a good thing. And in the meantime, I’ll just continue to do what must be done, all to the wonderful background-periphery sounds of Gospel music and profanity.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a productive (though restful) week. I’ve been a bit scarce lately, but I’ll be back soon, catching up as I can, and if all goes as I plan, there might be fish involved. I’ve decided to get a 5 or 10 gallon fish tank in the near future and to build a woodlouse environment…I’ve grown tired of human-only company and well…if not fish then a terrarium filled with woodlice and self-sustaining plant life is quite a wonder to contemplate. More news on that as things develop.
Comments (24)
NefariousDrO
I actually like that murkiness at the bottom, it balances the white at the top, and works very well with the contrasting extremes and shapes in the middle. I think it represents a city's mood to me pretty well: the unpredictable and ever-changing ground-level with with constant flow of traffic and people, the mid-level with empty spaces and islands of activity inside walls and glass, and then the open sky above, serene and seemingly endless over our heads. I really like what you've done with this.
wrpspeed
beautiful work
Sepiasiren
I adore your city focused pieces and this one is magnificent--keep 'em coming!
dashboard_jehovah
An exceptional image...well done!
MrsRatbag
Wow, I like whatever it is you've done with it; lovely work!
beachzz
You end up with the most amazing shots of your city. I mean, yeah, there's the skyline, but it's that kind of dim, gloomy feel that really makes this shot. I so want to come back and do more of this.
bimm3d
superb!!
kgb224
Outstanding work my friend.
auntietk
Ahhhhh ... nicely moody. The murk is nice. Just that word reminds me of a great line in Murder by Death when Alec Guinness says, "Mr. Twain, as you will soon discover, prefers his atmosphere ... murky." Of course it's only funny if you know the movie, but that's generally the case. :P
durleybeachbum
I like that there is SPACE betwen those buildings..and a place to breath in front of them. But I still find it very depressing to contemplate life in such a built-up place. A superbly atmospheric shot.
jac204
Your treatment gives it kind of a silver or chrome look the way I see it. Very well done.
Crabbycabby
Stunning.
thecytron
A good one!
flavia49
marvelous image and text!!
sandra46
SUPERB!
CoreyBlack
I love the "aged" looking quality of this. It seems like a modern version of one of those pictures from the 20's...an alternate universe? I also love how the messed with cloud cover looks like a veil, or too close-up blur of being shot through a glass shard of a broken window in an abandoned building. This is nicely melancholy. I like it. So, are we going to have more odd pets? A return of Foo Quan? Other people have cats and dogs, we had a Japanese beetle named Foo Quan. Or was that an Asian cockroach? Nice work here!
marybelgium
superbe !
aksirp
urban mood, stunning skyline! wonderful look in this picture!
makron
Superb composition. Love the colors
KatesFriend
I think the end result is quite effective. There is a mid to late industrial revolution look to the city. Apt, since Chicago was forged into a metropolis by the steam engines of that era while painted with its black soot. Though that was the old Chicago, before the fire. Perhaps this is the ghost of that old city manifesting itself in your photograph like so many ghosts are want to do.
RodS
Beautiful photo, and excellent postwork, Chip! I think the monochrome is perfect for this scene!
praep
Pure and simple shot - great skyline.
minos_6
The murky edges at the top and bottom of this give it a nice dark feel. Excellent post work - you've given this a retro / sci-fi rhythm that I really like.
icerian
Keen and lovely ornamental lines..... Well done!