Photographer's Journal

                            
                                       
Chicago

                                              
This photograph won a 3rd Place ribbon at Art with a View, 2012. I call it "Chicago" because it is reflections of buildings and a bridge on the surface of the Chicago River.

Folks at Art with a View who spoke with me about this photo were amazed that I had not created it on a computer, or done a lot to intensify the colors and so forth. In fact, this image did not require much editing at all. I cropped it a little on the left because the darker colors on that side were overpowering the others. I enhanced the contrast slightly. Otherwise, it is SOOC, or "straight out of the camera" in photography parlance.

However, that does not mean it was an "easy" photo to make. Rather, I almost missed it.

I was standing still and sort of gazing at the river for a moment--indeed, waiting on a friend who was photographing the underside of the bridge to my left. Suddenly I noticed the amazing colors and how they appeared to be paint poured on the surface of the water. I raised my camera and shot one frame, then tried moving a step or two to the right to see if a slightly different angle enhanced the effect. IT DID NOT!

Indeed, moving to the right or left just a few inches weakened the image. Moreover, the light was changing as the sun fell. I shot one more frame but it is not as good. And then the moment was gone.
                           
                       

Things Unseen

                                  
                                                  
Bed of Flowers

                                           
                                                  
If you flee from...pain and failure, then you run into them wherever you go. If you can find some way to open to them instead, then they may bring their hands from behind their backs and lay flowers on your bed.

--Barbara Brown Taylor

An Altar in the World

                                 

                                    

Architexture

                                          
                                                     
Aqua Tower, Chicago

                                                                                                 
Aqua Tower is a residential building on North Columbus Drive in downtown Chicago. It is the tallest building in the world to have a woman, Jeanne Gang, as chief architect. I thought the building interesting, but it looked dated to me. I'd have guessed it to be 1960s, but it was built in 2008. It received the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2009 and was shortlisted in 2010 for the biannual International Highrise Award. I took this photo when I was in Chicago in March to see the Lyric Opera performance of Aida.
                                                 
                                                          

Windy City Wandering

                                                             
                                                             
For the Last Time, They Parted Company in Opposite Directions (Chicago)