Rust and Paint with Shadow, and Sunlight by Chipka
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Description
Early evening break always carries the promise of nicotine and photographic opportunities; they are a mirror of breaks in the past—afternoon breaks that promised lunch, nicotine, and photographic opportunities. Because jobs have changed, subjects have changed, since “break-time photography” adapts to the local environment. Break time photography exists within limits.
Once upon a time, break-time photography involved truck engines and woodlice, two breeds of grasshopper, and whatever else might be found in the clumpy, ramshackle chaos of a truck yard. Now, break-time photography involves whatever happens to occur within range two perpendicular sidewalks, an alley, and Chicago’s own meteorological inclinations.
Within minutes of stepping out on break, I ambled through sunlight and shadow, toward an alley with a promise of new graffiti. I found the wall-scrawl I was looking for, but not before spotting something a bit more abstract: something at home on the metal sheathing that protects the lower quarters of a wooden telephone pole. I captured shots of that and nearly forgot about the urban declaration sprayed onto brick, mortar, and the shape of a metal conduit anchored to an old, old wall. I drew as close as the laws of physics would allow, and snapped photo after photo of…
…well…
…sunlight, shadow, paint, dents, and rust. The paint, I suspect, was scraped from a car: probably the same car responsible for a few dents unseen in the shot above. I liked the colors and the shapes, and the curve of metal, conforming to the curve of the wooden utility-cable pole. I snapped photo after photo, twiddling with camera settings and camera values, and as I made such photos (this one and its companions) I was struck by how much of the city found itself echoed in this little fragment of reality. I was struck, as well, by how much of the world (or a world) might be derived from the paint and the rust and the patterns of weathering.
Of the photos I took, this is the one I like the most: the others are good, or so I’d like to think, but they seem to demand a different purpose: as backgrounds, perhaps, or textures applied to other things…they will, most likely, appear within the bodies of other photos, other collages, and other near-abstractions. But for now, here’s the raw deal: rust and paint scrapes, dents, dings, shadows and sunlight.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (19)
myrrhluz
This is a marvelous shot! The light is an active player. It seems to be dancing along the lines and swirls and reaching deeply into the shadows. I've read descriptions of light flowing over a landscape (or in one delightful Douglas Adams passage, moving with major trepidation across a pig sty of a room). Here I can see the motion, the reaching into crevasses and into shadows. The textures, colors, and shapes are wonderful and the light is pure magic!
durleybeachbum
Terrific! It also reminds me of Silver Birch bark.
Cyve
Amazing shot... Great POV and great lighting ... Very very well done !
kgb224
Outstanding work my friend. God bless.
Star4mation
Superb colour, light and texture :)
auntietk
Corey could probably identify the paint for you ... year make and model, most likely. I understand paint colors are quite specific. This is a terrific composition, and I LOVE the light and the mood. Really fine work, my friend!
sandra46
very beautiful
Wolfenshire
The texture is just amazing on this.
Faemike55
Very abstract work and great capture
MrsRatbag
It plays with me, this shot; I have a hard time deciding which is the basest (if that's the word) layer, the bottom-most foundation of all this wonderful entropy. The light and colour are fantastic here, well done!
treasureprints
Good catch, Chip.:)
wysiwig
And this is the surface of what planet again? It looks like daybreak is approaching the western edge. A spectacular landscape you've captured. It definitely belongs on a gallery wall.
whaleman
A moment of time made over many separate moments. I see a blue marathon man streaking towards the right which from my view of Chicago right now, would be towards Boston.
jendellas
For some reason it reminds me of the beach??? Well spotted :o) xx
pauldeleu
An excellent picture.
helanker
Oh! a shot just after my head, as i love rust and paint and macro. Beautifully captured and the little story behind it was so nice too :)
flavia49
amazing
junge1
Beautifully done!
FredNunes
Amazing colors and textures!