The Belmont Experiment: # 2 by Chipka
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Description
That was how he would remember them, later: their bodies caught in motion. A blur. A field of blurs. An entire city in darkness, its inhabitants indistinct, ghostly, and devoid of mass and substance. He did not know how a painter might depict them. He did not know how he might describe them, not even to himself. Were there words for that kind of a frenzy? Could a human voice capture the frantic impotence of weekend routine?
He did not know for sure, but he suspected that they all wanted what he wanted: a moment of stillness. Only in stillness, might a face reveal itself. He had what they wanted, though perhaps in only the most prosaic way. He was still, because he was waiting. He laughed at the thought that he had a face because of this. He laughed at the thought that one is allowed a face only when one stands waiting for a bus.
**
I’d posted “Belmont Experiments” a bit earlier in my gallery and this is a shot that temporarily escaped my attention. At the time I’d worked on this image, I thought it might have possibly served as the art-accompaniment to the story, Schrödinger’s Face: And Other Poems from the UNcredible World of Lovely Little Worms. And, as it stands, Schrödinger’s Face… found its identity embedded within a companion piece to this photograph. This photograph remained, and each time I see it, I feel the urge to do something with it. Things (as you can see) have been done, and I hope you like the end result. As you can guess, there will be more to Schrödinger’s Face: And Other Poems from the UNcredible World of Lovely Little Worms. There will be more “Belmont Experiments” as well, though this one is the last (or next to last) to feature one person in stillness while everyone else does their own energetic, collective thing. Future “experiments” will involve completely different casts of characters. As with the other photos in the series, this piece began as a black and white photo, and well…
…after doing things to it, I found that it’s not exactly a black and white photo any more. Oh well. Maybe that why I like it. I certainly had fun doing it.
The little dip into fiction at the beginning of this text will probably inspire something as well. At the moment, however, it's all I really have the time or energy to write...there will be more...later.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week and are on a final approach to a fantastic (and productive) new year.
Comments (24)
Faemike55
Very cool image and narrative
tibet2004uk
Love it! That serie of street shots is really great, very interesting, almost fascinating. Voyeurism, people watching, in the night...
charpix
This reminds me of wandering the streets at night in San Francisco. I can relate to the memories of people walking around, rather in a blank stare, and not really interacting with each other. Wonderful capture. I guess people are the same everywhere.
Sea_Dog
Superb! A great streetscape.
wotan
Hi Chipka, you are the Magician of words, truly beautiful text... I really like this mood image with the night's darkness/gold lighting contrast... I love the night, the period that inspiring me to create my images. Thx for share your precious texts with us... Have a happy New Year my friend (if you permit...).
bmac62
Having studied this photo, there's a sign above his head that stands out. ...TIMATE EXPOSURE ...NNING CENTERS Makes me wonder about what goes on just around the corner. A little sunning in the buff? Nothing like a good tan to keep up appearances:) Good words to begin a story line. Hope you'll do more with this. And it bagan life as a black & white? Well done. Did you know this is how the earliest color postcards were done? Handtinting...1905ish.
MrsLubner
gritty, deep and open shot. Love the "texture" in the mood.
ArtistKimberly
nice work,
auntietk
I like this addition to your series very much. This one young man is the only constant, the only REAL person in the bunch. Nicely seen, and nicely done! You say there's one more??? :)
treasureprints
I like this very much, Chip.:)
watapki66
Wonderful work!
KatesFriend
I'm a sucker for bright jewel-like colours and this shot has it, no doubt. Including the primary colours that designate the train lines at Belmont Station - red, purple and brown. Maybe it is the season but there is an almost Christmas tree like character to the lights in the scene. An interesting contrast to the live people that mingle on the street and their muted tones. They are not so festive or bright at least on the surface. Interesting the green signal lights being more a moss green. That is not so common in Canada where green signal tends to be a bluish green. The addition of the blue tint is to aid those who can not tell the difference between red and green.
kgb224
Stunning capture and post work my friend. God Bless.
wysiwig
...one is allowed a face only when one stands waiting... This piece of text really registered with me. There is a famous image made by Louis-Jacques Mandé Daguerre in 1839. It is one of the first photographs ever made and shows the Boulevard du Temple completely empty except for a lone figure who was captured while having his boots shined. The idea of slowing down and even stopping so one can become more real is an interesting one. Since I retired I've found this happening to me. I spend more time on things. Relationships are more sincere. Emotions more genuine. Interesting idea. And the image fits your words perfectly. I remember The Belmont Experiment: # 1. Outstanding post work on this.
fallen21
Amazing capture.
durleybeachbum
Superb! Red, Purple and Brown lines...Hmmmm....
MrsRatbag
Wonderful image, Chip; I also am intrigued by the concept of not existing until you stop...
flavia49
very beautiful image!
evielouise
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR--eater the second time around"
nikolais
great capture of the mood. Happy New 2012, Chip!
helanker
Another beautiful image, what ever you did to it.
dragonmuse
You have captured the feeling/scene you describe wonderfully.
RodS
Wonderful shot and postwork, Chip!
sandra46
outstanding effect!