Grant Park Silos (A Fragmentary View) by Chipka
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Description
The land is flat here. Corn grows. Cattle graze. The City…any city lies far away; at night, the sky darkens to the color of pitch, the color of soot. Stars reveal themselves, shyly at first, and in the most indecent hours (when everyone sensible has long been asleep) spew gem-like brilliance in the shapes of various constellations: The Great Bear, The Dippers, and depending on the season, Orion, with three stars marking the width of his belt.
Prairie grass whispers. Trains make their way along serpentine tracks, and the local idea of a skyline includes flatness and the occasional cluster of massive, metal silos. The air (by night and by day) is tinged with diesel fuel and something digestive and bovine. Though only a morning’s drive from Chicago, the world is a different place.
I’ve experienced the regions south of Chicago on numerous occasions. I find a particular pleasure in a ride along Illinois Route 1, from Chicago to Danville, from Chicago to a place where rivers are named for colors and foxes. Small towns stand amid endless oceans of corn, oceans of soybeans, or oceans of pre-developed land, bearing the marks of primitive, haphazard terraforming. There are large towns: rustic and a bit Mayberrian, and smaller towns defined by poverty and the absence of central post offices. There are dental offices, and it is those offices—in need of new equipment—that represent the common reason for my presence in such places.
I made a trip to Danville, Illinois. Today. It began, as all trips might, early in the day. It ended, as expected, in the first hours of sunset. As is my habit, I carried my camera: defense against boredom and mind-devouring ennui. I snapped random pictures of cattle and wind-farms and deleted most of them. I snapped random pictures of silos and silo fragments. One of them, the one you’ve just seen, presumably, survived.
Stories of air factories and struggling human colonies filled my mind as I felt my passage through flat, nearly-featureless land. I laughed at the idea of crossing the Fox River. Twice. In one direction. It’s a wide river in spots, dotted with islands. It forks around one such island and thus anyone crossing the wide, rain-swollen Fox, must cross two bridges. But the river, as wide and intriguing as it may be, does not figure in this image. I focused, instead, on the one silo assembly that draws my attention whenever I’m driven along Illinois Route 1. I focused on sunset as reflected from the face of curved metal. I thought of air factories and imagined them abandoned and decaying. Such thoughts were good. A story will come: sooner or later, and it will exist, because of an image of complex silo assemblies, photographed from the passenger window of a fast-moving truck.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a great weekend.
Comments (25)
Sepiasiren
I do like this shot--very nice!
Faemike55
Very cool shot and great descriptive narrative Both are excellent
NefariousDrO
I love your ruminations on the world you see around you. You somehow have the eye of an outsider from another world, yet grounded in this one in ways most of us never consciously recognize in ourselves. That said, the silo on the right captures my imagination. I've long harbored a dream of taking an old silo and turning it into a wizard's tower, but this one combines with the rich golden light you excel in capturing to mandate some kind of eccentric steampunk-ish lair of mad science. What I'd crave most is to sit inside one of these silos with you, sipping Kombucha and talking extra-terrestrial colonies cultures, and maybe Tuvan Throat singing.
helanker
I agree with NefariousDrO, I love to read how you see the world. And this shot is Stunningly beautiful. You can make anything look awesome. I almost believe you could make even me look good LOL! Ok, back to bed in the hope that I can sleep now.
jocko500
wonderful works here. cool
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
bmac62
You've done your magic with this pic once again! I would assume these are silver and concrete in color and you've morphed them into gold...an old alchemist's trick isn't it? Do you know Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist? I don't really...but he has some fine quotes. Here's one for you, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it". And one more, just to pique your curiosity, "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dream". Neat image and an excellent read!
whaleman
I like the colors too! I am presuming those silos contain corn the, right? The massive silos in Alberta, and they are all over, are filled with wheat. Just a little difference I thought would interest you. Have a great day!
Meisiekind
Wonderful warm coloring Chip and an amazing shot!
durleybeachbum
You have made a very striking pic out of ugliness! and a great ramble too, of course.
fallen21
Beautiful capture!
Feliciti
industrial noise with warm golden and shiny colortones !! great capture and well seen this contrast!!
wotan
I really like these beautiful silos... it looks futuristic and traditional at the same time (to my personal perception). The golden reflex transmit a dramatic and apocalyptic feeling and a mood atm! The cool POV points to the sky... or heaven, our salvation anchor! Sorry my poor English, I hope that you understand my feelings expressed here... XLT shot and compo, thx for share it!
Orinoor
I like silos, used to think it would be very cool to turn one into living quarters with a stargazing deck, maybe even a big telescope. It seems like often there is no indication of what they are storing, which leads us (or at least me), to wonder about all sorts of strange uses. Perhaps they are portals to another place, masquerading as grain silos...
angora
wonderful! I love it!
flavia49
marvelous picture!
KatesFriend
I would not have thought that you were moving along the highway when you caught this. Excellent snapping my first it looks so clean. Sunsets can be very bright when there is little obstruction from (other) buildings. I'm also intrigued by how well maintained they seem. Most silos (in Canada anyways) are no longer used and have been clearly neglect for a least a generation. These seem as if they might come to life tomorrow to accept gain from farmers and ship it to the ocean going ports of Chicago. Indeed, they look very modern in some respects. I really enjoyed your narrative too. The descriptions of the various big and small towns is a very telling essay.
Mad-Mike
Fantastic info on your thoughts of this place! Also a real nice foto I may add.
MrsRatbag
Silos always seem so otherworldly to me...this is a really excellent portrait of these lovely structures!
beachzz
I've seen these from a distance, but wow, this POV is awesome (oops, that word!!). Makes them look almost threatening!!
auntietk
I love these! The color you've achieved is so ... other-worldly ... in the best possible way, of course. (Is there a bad way for something to look other-worldly in your world?) Totally cool.
RodS
A great architectural shot, Chip, and awesome postwork! This is superb!
myrrhluz
This is fantastic! I love the colors, perspective, and sharp focus. The golden glow and texture of the silos are wonderful. I like the various walkways and stairs. Excellent shot! I like it a lot!
jac204
Great capture, especially if you were moving along the highway. Nice background story.
wysiwig
What drew me to this image was the remarkable resemblance of these silos to minarets. Excellent color and clarity. I have to agree with some of the comments. You have a wonderful ability to write as though you were a visitor here. But that is not a surprise. Based on your writings I have long suspected you were an off-world alien. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. {;-D