How did you convince that bird to cooperate like that? WOW! Quite simply, WOW! This is one amazingly gorgeous shot, and it comes right at me shortly after reading an amazing trio of novellas by Samuel R. Delany (my touchstone-favorite author who has the good fortune to have the nickname, "Chip.") Anyway, I was re-reading "Atlantis: Model 1924," the first story in the book, simply called Atlantis. In it, Samuel R. Delany conveys accounts of family history, but write such tales as if they are fictional...in the story I mentioned, the protagonist, his fraternal grandfather (or was it his maternal grandfather?) goes to live with relatives in New York, and throughout the story, the city plays a prominent role...the buildings, the Bridge (Brooklyn Bridge) and various other assorted architectural wonders. It's the city itself that becomes a character in a sense, and I get that same sense when I look at this photo! The colors are brilliant and wonderfully saturated and though this is a photograph, it looks like something meticulously drawn or painted. It crosses visual borders in a fantastic, hyper-real way, and then to top it off, there's this amazing bird, which--for me--turns this entire image into a haiku. It's been a minute since I've even attempted to write haiku, but it's something I've done for years...mostly just for myself. The thing is, this image perfectly captures the essence of the haiku-form in that it's an image of ONE thing, but there's an element within it that causes contemplation of an emotional state. That bird is what did it. Everything in this photo is so deliciously unified and so perfectly placed, and then there's that bird, which is in the photo, almost by accident (Unless you DID hire a bird to fly right there, right then!) and yet this would be a totally different image without that bird! I love it when art does things like that, and I'm inspired to say something in Japanese, but alas...I don't remember any of it. Oh, but I do remember that in Japanese, the word for "grandmother" is pronounced "haha." That has nothing to do with this image at all, but hey...my brain spews stuff like that out all of the time! I love the reds in this shot and the angles...so many angles...so much depth...so many layers...you've captured the depth of the city, and the upwardness of the newer buildings rising up behind the older buildings that were the actual structures to give Chicago it's character. The newer buildings simply add to that, and no matter how grandiose they become, they can't outdo their stubborn, smaller grand- and great-grandparents! I like that and you captured that so perfectly here and so vibrantly! This just jiggles and with life and color and all sorts of fun city-stuff. I love it!

There is something mesmerising about those endless, soulless windows, each housing endless soulless working days. A superb image, Mark, but I am SO glad I don't live where there are such tall manmade objects.

What is sensational idea for a photo Mark, this one turned out great. Only you could have spotted this bird in flight and put it in its proper perspective with the city. Love the title and how it does appear to be the lone bird in the vicinity. I'm sure in no time at all it will find two or three friends to play with and hopefully it's own spot in the city. This really is a grand capture and a lovely way to start today

marvelous picture

that wonderful combination of man and nature, never fails to work, a great piece of observation on your part

A really appealing cityscape, Mark; the bird is wonderful, and are those wave swells in the water below? I love the colour tones in this shot, and the layers of lines and shapes on top of each other. Beautiful!

The bird wanted to be in this excellent picture... I love the colors of dawn.

Fantastic view and photoshot my friend.

This is one really cool shot my friend!! beautifully detailed lovely work!!

fantastic image! exceptional mood

Lovely capture. The morning light brings warmth to the image.

I have to give this a 'Wow', too. The colors and clarity are amazing. The city is often hard and cold but you have made it look warm and inviting. There is almost a dollhouse quality to this, as if one could play all day in those colorful structures. And the seagull adds the perfect touch of life to this stunning photo. Very nice work, Mark. CC

WOW! I was born in a city and like a city in many ways. Atchitecture and alleys and archades and of course the geometric feeling you always get with cities... atleast I do. It is inded much more visible in your city, Mark. The geometric feeling. Have seen really many wonderful shots from Chicago so I now feel I have been there in person. SO I happen now to love it. And so I love this wonderful capture of your Chicago, dear Mark. It is awesome. But the bird is simply fantastic. Such fun and delight. Love this shot. It is so beautiful. WOW ! So nice to see you post again, my friend. :)

interesting image

Sometimes I think you and I live on different planets, and sometimes I think we are secretly twins, separated at birth. (That would be a great trick ... we could make a mint!) Check this out. I doubt you remembered that shot ... I think we just see things in the same way a lot of the time. Can I borrow your bird? I don't appear to have one of my own. :P

this is wonderful shot of these buildings

What a fabulous rhythm and pattern you've created here, Mark! One of your latest tops for sure! Bravo!

I dido the comments above...which isn't very creative but I did want you to know how much I like this cityscape and that I was here going WOW:)

MAGNIFIQUE !!!