In the BIG Pond by Chipka
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Description
Of the Five Great Lakes, I have to say that Lake Michigan (actually a bay of Lake Huron) is one of the more interesting bodies of fresh water I’ve known. Much of Chicago and indeed, Northern Illinois are defined by the lake, and by the long-vanished glaciers that shaped all of the Lakes together. Much of the area surrounding Chicago bears the marks of glacial movement: once you leave the Windy City, you enter into a flattened area of moraines and wandering rocks with a few “Indian trails” meandering through just to keep things interesting. The wandering rocks are fairly amazing as well…enormous boulders sitting out in the middle of nowhere, deposited there when the glaciers that carried them from Canada melted away, filled the Great Lakes Basin and left really interesting scuff marks over quite a large portion of the Midwestern USA.
I wasn’t thinking of hydrology or geology when I made this picture. I was actually thinking of how the “new” shelf along Lake Michigan’s Chicago shore has probably increased ambient cosmic radiation in the Chicagoland Metropolitan Area. Cement is a natural amplifying lens in terms of cosmic radiation; with the limestone rocks mostly gone, I suspect that the eastern fringes of Chicago are in the process of getting a bit toasty from cement-amplified radiation zapping out of our own galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy, and both Magellanic Clouds (irregular galaxies quite possibly in the process of colliding [very slowly] with us.) In this way, Chicago shares a lot in common with Miami (and indeed, most of Florida.) We are slowly becoming a nice bit of golden-brown cosmic toast. We’ll be ready for a nice marmalade spread in about 10,000,000 years.
Of course, I wasn’t thinking about cosmic toast when I made this picture. I was actually admiring the unmitigated ambition of these four geese. They weren’t interested in any of the insignificant bodies of water in the area. They simply flew in from wherever they came from and decided to claim “that big pond with the hot edges.” They seemed inordinately happy, bobbing around on gentle swells and making quiet goose noises at one another, before finally deciding to head toward the lagoon with its shallower water and abundance of tasty things to eat. (Lake Michigan undoubtedly has lots tasty things, but they’re largely inaccessible if you’re a goose. After all, goose necks aren’t long enough to get to the interesting, tasty things in deep water. Lake Michigan has some pretty interesting things in deep water. A few of them are tasty and only some of them bite.)
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend.
Comments (20)
sandra46
wonderful shot
Bothellite
The lucky boogers. Imagine being able to float like a boat at will, Chicago or anywhere, then raise one's arms to take flight, just like that. But then, with mondo gourdes for heads we'd be hard pressed to get airborn, like cement.
bobrgallegos
As I come from a landlocked state Photos with large bodies of water fascinate Me. This photo does fascinate Me with its Aqua colored water and the four life forms in this vast expense of water. Superb lighting and composition. Very well done !!!
mgtcs
The picture reminds me of the Ocean, but maybe that's just me (I live in a tropical coastline). The ducks actually present a contrasting paradox, as if they shouldnt be there in the ocean and such. I like it!
auntietk
I have to tell you this, my friend ... Lake Michigan is a little weird. When I go to the beach here by my house, there are small waves, but it mostly looks calm, like this shot of the Lake. However, it's salt water, and just out there a very little ways there is LAND! Do you hear me? LAND! So. I go to the ocean (about three hours from here) and there is this infinite horizon. No land on the other side to see. Just like this shot of the Lake. However, the ocean is salty, and it has huge waves, and TIDES! No tides in Lake Michigan. I have come to the conclusion that you live in an alien landscape, which is why you think up all the stuff you think up. Nothing inherently makes sense. Large bodies of water that you can't see the other side of should have tides, not just little lappy waves that might get to be really BIG lappy waves, but never GO anywhere. I can't wait for you to come out here and see Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. Alien? Hmmmmm ...
treasureprints
Yep...one BIG pond, and the geese make a nice curve in your photo. But your 'about' is what really makes this interesting.:)
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend.
dashboard_jehovah
Wonderful image...the lake looks pretty clean, in comparison to what gets dumped into it on a daily basis...ie; medical waste,sewage,industrial discharges and who knows what else.
MrsRatbag
Cosmic toast...somehow that rings very true. I love the colour of the water in this shot, lucky geese that get to hang around on it!
Feliciti
wonderful shot of this family geese !
helanker
Yeah! Our ocean can look flad like this with ducks, but I seldom see geese there. Instead we see geese on some fields when they land for some days to rest. This is a lovely peaceful shot Chip :)
durleybeachbum
Your oozings today remind me of why I so enjoyed 'A' level Physical Geography, although your narrative skills add a certain amount of spice to the facts! As for the extraordinary composition...the more I look the more satisfying I find it. The slight curve of the horizon is echoed and amplyfied by the birdcurve..weird but good.
Crabbycabby
Brilliant narrative.
gunsan
Together with the wide water, they are a beautiful form, great shot!
flavia49
fantastic image
jac204
I agree that it is better to be thinking about the geese than becoming cosmic toast. Very entertaining piece and nice capture.
belasebok
Excellent photo and narrative!
Orinoor
I'm with Auntitk, it's kind of hard for me to fathom a lake so big you can't see the other side. I equate that with oceans, which is what I've always lived near or on. I hear the lake does have currents and waves, at least in stormy weather. So I think you live on the edge of a sea, it's the only way I can describe it to myself and make any sense.
RodS
Cool shot, Chip!
evinrude
You really let the moment find you here. Both compositionally sound and metaphorically weighty, even without the existential text. Nicely done.