there's a symmetry within the cracks and lines that lends itself to more than just a possible flag of an unreal nation, perhaps it might be for the tribute to an unknown lost planet?

I like how cracked, weathered and "distressed" this is. Kind of reminds me of a rustic barn out in the hinterlands. A sort of dreamy place from childhood. And the white light only intensifies the feeling. Great shot as always!

Outstanding photography my friend. God Bless.

Although there are no visible titles embossed into the aged leather bindings..you could be looking around in an old, old, old library. Let's take that red volume off the shelf and see what's inside. Until you do the contents will remain a mystery... Well done Chip...this image is full of ideas.

This could be a future flag for the United States. After all we're pretty worn and cracked. I really like the contrasts. The left side looks almost as if it has suffered fire damage. The middle looks similar to tree bark while the right side just fades away. Nice catch.

wonderful texture

cool textures, that tell me about old places I visit in my dreams and make me feel safe and happy.

It is wondrous how germs of ideas start to multiply and flourish in your creative imagination!

Love those textures and your composition

Love it!!!

wonderful

Beautiful cracks, Chip. Lets see what you can create from this :)

excellent work

It's intriguing to examine an aging wall. The echos of a storefront's life start to cry out after years of quiet restraint. Beneath the first layer you might find the livery of a store's previous encarnation - before they sold books. Perhaps a dress shop or a hardware store. Before that, groceries and dry goods maybe. We're still uncovering some of those old Coca-cola and Pepsi wall signs, painted in the 20's and 30's I believe. Sometimes one on top of the other it seems. I like the colours here. The battle between water and fire comes to mind. And indeed this building may well have been scorched by fire like the cracked condition of the paint seems to suggest. Another piece of an object's memory maintained in the layers of paint which protects it.

This looks like a painting, a very expensive, very large, very exclusive painting hung in a very ritzy gallery in an upscale neighborhood somewhere. Wow! And you found it in a Chicago neighborhood...what a great find and brilliant capture!

Extra nice textures. :)))) Textures with such character. :))))) Amazing in both capture and in details. :)))) Most excellent capture my friend. :)))) Thank you for sharing all of the beauty you see. :)))) Carry A Warm Smile In Your Heart :))))

I think it's a very, very old flag. (That was my first impression, anyway.) But then Bill mentioned a library ... and now I'm not sure. Speaking of libraries ... have you seen the library in Kansas City? I mean the actual building? Do yourself a favor and google Kansas City Library and look at the images. If you've never seen it before, it will totally blow you away. I know you ... you'll want to move in. LOL! :)

Hmmm, I have a picture for you in this vain that I took a few weekends ago on a winter trip to photograph a ghost town. Will post tomorrow night. I was at a photographing landscape seminar a few weekends ago and the guy made great emphasis that it is not only subject, and indeed, need not be subject that defines an image. Texture, light and color can stand apart and create an great image regardless of subject. Here you have proved that subject need not be central; here texture and color tell a great story.

Interesting capture. I like your interpretation.

Oh, lovely patterns in the blue paint! Lovely textures in the red paint!