Glimmers by Chipka
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Description
As expected, Chicago is confused by yet another warm winter: proof of larger environmental shifts that have begun to occur, recently. Is a runaway version of the greenhouse effect to blame, or are natural climactic changes happening (at an accelerated rate?) On a level, it doesn’t matter: human action is either the cause or a major contributing factor, and so the only real question anyone should ask is: What steps are we taking to make sure that we’re not making something worse?
I wasn’t thinking of large, meteorologically-existential questions. I was simply taken by the gleam of streetlights on wet concrete. I was taken by the passage of a brown line train, clanking and thumping its way over Chicago Avenue, before stopping to swap out a number of its passengers. I stood just outside of my work-place, enjoying a stress-relieving cigarette break. I was somewhat thankful that it was too warm for snow, but somewhat disturbed, as well, that we’ve had nothing close to normal snowfall. As to whether that is a sign of something remains to be seen, but the absence of snow (or the presence of rain) made for an interesting photograph. I snapped three shots. This is one of them.
As always, thank you for reading, viewing, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a great week.
Comments (27)
Faemike55
While I believe that humans are largely responsible for the change in the climate around the world; it's not a subject I wish to discuss in detail in this venue. However I will be more than happy to state that this is a great capture of the reflections and colours of the night. Take care and have a great week
treasureprints
Very nice night shot, Chip.:)
knupps
Nice rainy night shot. Here, in Norway, we have had a though cold periode.
Pewter7
Lovely colors and light in this pleasing landscape! thanks for sharing :-)
KatesFriend
Indeed what winter? I've had to do only moderate shovelling twice this season. It even rained this morning - probably the same storm you've documented here. Though, I should not complain too much. The last time I boasted of warm weather in January I found myself on the 401 expressway wedged between two tractor-trailers, no traction and about one metre of visibility. I could taste the iron in my blood that night. There is a certain appeal of the city night after a rain shower. Perhaps its the over abundance of coloured light - I am a sucker for it. But the surface sheen does much more than just mirror the light. I distorts and plays with it, breaks the rules of sensibility. A little mist in the air and the light starts pouring from the windows, doors and lenses from behind which it was made. Suddenly the city gets to be a little more fanciful for a couple of hours. Not bad compensation for a few hours of rain.
MrsRatbag
The glimmers of wet are lovely; it's a scene I'm very familiar with in the Pacific Northwest--much of our year looks just like this. It's interesting that some of my early experience with snow was in Chicago, the year I was 15 and was sent for two weeks at Christmas time to stay with my aunt, uncle and 2 cousins; I didn't know at the time that it was because they were thinking of sending me there to stay to get me away from "bad influences" at school. It didn't happen, likely because in my two weeks there I managed to hook up with other "bad influences"...funny how that happens. At any rate, it was Chicago that showed me the fun of donuts in the snow in empty parking lots, and driving in and out of trees on the snow-covered medians, and the slipping and sliding on icy parking lot surfaces in California shoes.
brewgirlca
You know Chip I never really thought of Chicago as being a beautiful city until I came across your gallery. Now I know a fine artist can find beauty in the most mundane of circumstances but I still believe there has to be an underlying essence of beauty that is always there and the artist's role is to reveal that which is unseen by others. Here you have taken a big steely grey industrial city and revealed a colorful glossy structure, perhaps ephemeral, but it was there, for however a short of time and you captured it.
kgb224
This came out perfectly my friend. here we are experiencing heatwaves as it is the case of Australia. Only difference is that Australia's temperatures is over 50 Degrees Celcius. It was so hot in one of the Australian towns that they had to close the garage. They could not refill the vehicles with petrol as the petrol evaporated due to the high temperature. God Bless.
netot
It's a beautiful image. I love the colorful night reflected on a wet road. somehow reminds me of life and different stories that take place within the city. No stories full of violence or joy but simple stories of every human being, that may seem trivial to others, but they represent the daily struggles and individual triumphs and failures. As for climate change, I think we humans have abused the great home that the Lord gave us, and we are not doing anything about it.
auntietk
It's been frosty here the past few days, but so far no snow to speak of. It seems unseasonably warm to me. As Denise says, this rainy-street-with-lights look is so very familiar to those of us out here! Of course here is quite different from there in SO many ways, but the rain on the sidewalk provides a visual link for the heart to follow. Lovely!
durleybeachbum
An almost magical image. The colours are exciting, with that green among the warmth.
whaleman
Lovely colors and reflections!
wysiwig
Love the color of the streetlights on the wet concrete. Your night shots are so atmospheric. When looking at them I always imagine a solitary saxaphone wailing in the distance. It reminds me of a passage from Raymond Chandler, "On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen."
Wolfenshire Online Now!
This photograph is emotion. It brings .... oh heck, idk, I'm not a writer.. it's just darn good.
morningglory
Done beautifully.
flavia49
very beautiful image
helanker
WOW!! This is such a stunning shot. I love all the rich colors and the reflections in the street. Looks just fantastic :)
pat40
Very beautiful.
bebopdlx
Excellent photo work!
sandra46
SUPERLATIVE MOOD AND REFLECTIONS!
RodS
A beautiful shot, Chip! Don't you just love the way lights reflect off of wet pavement?
photosynthesis
Dazzlingly colorful lights & reflections in this photo. As for climate change, the ability of some humans to deny realities that they don't want to deal with is regrettable, because reality is a stubborn thing & if it's not dealt with pre-emptively, it will have to be dealt with in crisis mode in the future...
JuliSonne
big city lights have something fascinating. Loneliness, cringe, fast fast or looking for other life. Here I like the rain-slicked road. And although some people to see, life seems to be on the road. The absence of people is drowned out by noise. Trains, cars .... the city never sleeps!
icerian
This is what I love, night city sceneries. Stunning work!
junge1
Interesting discussion. Its probably a combination of a natural warming cycle with us helping along. This is a very nice capture. If you had a 'normal' winter you would not have been able to take a shot like this now, but you could have taken it later in spring lol. I love the reflections!
jendellas
Your pic has a lovely warm feel about it!!
danapommet
COOL! I like these elongated reflections and of course the colors too!