Mark, this is stunning; it's easy to see how much you love the lines of these buildings, and your captures are like a caress, highlighting all their particularly lovely attributes. You know just where to stand to show them off to us, as if you're saying, "See? SEE??? Aren't they lovely from here?" They are. Fantastic job here, that sepiatone is perfect for these elegant beauties!

Beautiful Mark. Full of character and replete with history. The architects of long ago would be very proud to see their works displayed in such an artistic way. It is fun to see your neighborhood through your eyes. By all means...this must be zoomed to be fully appreciated!

I love the way you use that big tree to anchor the shot. Most people wouldn't have the guts to "blank out" a third of their composition like that, but wow ... it totally works! This is outstanding. I love that neighborhood. Every corner is a fabulous photo op! :)

Agree with Denise - sepia monotone was the perfect choice for this scene. I particularly like the flow from dark to light & from rich detail to blown out white sky that wash simultaneously across this image from right to left. And while I can understand why you think it's better zoomed (lots more detail), I actually prefer the smaller version in this case - it's crisper & looks great with a black frame around it. Outstanding!

very lovely looking

This makes me think of the Cable House, with that uber-expensive Bently sitting in the driveway; I think it's the same architect. That arch and pillar is familiar and I think it's as distinctive to Chicago as...Al Capone and meat-packing, only better than either of those two. Your treatment of this photo (presenting it to us in muted colors echoing antique sepia) really brings out the detail of the stonework. I've been obsessed with a few Chicago writers, Aleksandar Hemon and Nelson Algren, and this makes me think of the things they touch on. They capture so much of Chicago in their work, especially the grotty or wonky or just plain dark, and it's nice to see echoes of what they wrote: especially in terms of the solid architecture, arches and pillars, and wrought-iron railings, bay windows, and wood trim that's far more intricately carved that first-glance reveals. I don't know when this photo was taken, but it has a timeless quality to it; there are a few clues as to the season, but that's just it...there's a whole mood that this has, and seasons/temporal stuff just doesn't get in the way. I think the age of some of the buildings, especially that one with the pillar-supported archway, really add to the timelessness of it. And I noticed something else, when I saw this. When I read Dune for the 7th or 8th time, I found myself imagining arches and pillars like the kinds you'd find in Chicago, only they were in Fremen sietches on Arrakis, and now whenever I see the Cable House or any other building with that stonework (It's always reddish or ocher) I start thinking about Dune. Funny how that works. I like the intimacy of this shot as well. I mean, it's big and expansive, but it feels like a stroll down the street; there's a whole city out there, but all that matters is just a few meters of sidewalk and the person/people walking with you. Kinda like the Renderosity Photo Ninja meetings, and what's not to like about that? This is fantastic photo-shootin, and it makes me wanna go read something Chicago-esque (Hemon more than Algren, just because Algren wrote about a particular time period, and this photo puts me in the mood for something a bit more un-fixed in time.) Oh, and in case I didn't mention it, I love this shot. It's a goodie!

I've walked pat many a place like this in old Toronto. It's nice to see that most are still used as homes and not lawyers' offices as seems to be becoming the trend of late. The feel of your photo is like it comes from another era. Like the old facades you're sharing here. Well crafted like the buildings it portrays.

It is really suggestive !!

Your hood just rocks and that tree to the right is huge and gives the whole shot such presence!! Yowzer!!!

Love this mark well done as always friend!!

The textures give me an urge to run my hands over the whole surface of the buildings! Most enjoyable!

Mark, let me just say I am sitting here literally green with envy. You are so blessed to live in such a lovely neighborhood and obviously you realize that judging by the number of photographs you share with us. The façade work on these buildings is stunning, and filled with intricate detailing that is rarely seen in the modern structures of today. Façade work like this is what gives the older buildings such character and serves to remind us of what can be accomplished if you are only willing to put the time and effort in it.

As you know, Mark, I just love your street photos. They really rock. And this one not the less. I so love, when you make an image fade out to the light, like you do here and as another one said, you can break rules and make them look exactly right. Your photos are unique and the way you toned down this photographs saturation and gave it another hue. makes it look awesome with the deep contrast on the closer distance. I really love this shot. So well done, dear friend. :-)

First off, I am awed and enamored by the variety of elegant textures so exquisitely displayed in this, another capture of another section of your quasi Victorian hood, Mark. With the foliage and buildings, dI like how you blend artificiality with nature in your pics. On the subject of Chicago, that toddling town, I watched two movies last week on the history of your grand metropolis during the 1920's, i.e., the films, Caruso, and The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, which really had an impact on me and changed my attitude. Bloody and brutal Thompson Machine Gun heaven! My goodness, the guy frowned at me so let's do him in! Can't we all just get along? You own this territory, I own that territory, et al. Bribery, corruption, intimidation, duplicity, ambush, drive-by mayhem, murder, greed, back stabbing, among others…..how did Chicago ever survive?

marvellous atmosphere

looks grand in sepia

Marvelous capture and beautiful architecture !!!