Belmont Street by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This is just a quick skirmish post that marks the first of a series of pictures from Chicago. Since my return from the Czech Republic, things have been utterly strange--the economic problems that have the world in their grip are particularly pronounced in Chicago, at least in parts, and my living situation here is untenable in unexpected ways. That's a long story, but suffice it to say, I don't plan on being in Chicago long, but while I'm here, I'll be snapping pictures (with my new camera) and uploading when I can. My laptop is still in the Czech Republic and for once, I envy it...but at least I have a camera now.
As always, thank you to everyone who looks and comments, and reads...and as the situation allows, I'll be posting a lot more.

Comments (29)
Worth a full size view~ I love the glow of the lights.. and don't ya know one of the first things I noticed was the new tobacco tax April 1. (Time for a tea party). Good to see you posting. You gotta love the name .. Egor's Dungeon!
Great street scene, Chip, gritty and full of all the things that make a big city. It's good to see you back!!
Excellent my friend and good to see you back
Good to see you posting again, my friend! I like the view you chose for this photo, this intiguing view that makes you wanting to explore the narrow lane, although it might not be a good idea... Love the lighting too! Brilliant! Good luck to you!
Beautiful composition. excellent work
Superb!
Great B&W image.
I kept looking down the alley awesome!! tom
Enjoy your time there. and great to see you back. all the best.
And who knows how things in the Republic will be a few weeks from now? I read they are having political weirdness just now... welcome back to the land of the freaks and the great misbehave... NICE shot, and definitely better fullsize!
Intriguing line of lamps down the alley...well spotted, my friend! For some reason this particular piece of street looks a bit familiar, I think my ex sister in law lived somewhere near there.
Its been awail but as always i love the work its great. Your lucky you have a camra im still looking for a good one.
Welcome back, Chip!
Tf you take the unpatched spot on the road as a sign of the crisis,it won't look convincing to me as where I live you can find it everywhere anytime at all. Couldn't find any other evidence LOL. Welcome back, Chip! It's a very nice sepia.
A great shot and great to see you posting. I was surprised to find you in the US -Chicago has lots of interesting old buildings. Most of my Greek relatives live there. I can't imagine you without your laptop and a place to write. CC
Excellent shot...nice to see you back on line ;-)
Chicago - that toddlin' town... It is a town of distinct flavors in the best of times. Always interesting and there is much to see and do there on all levels. I can only imagine the culture shock when got there. Great shot here and I've definitely missed your posts and wondered where you were. Glad to see you back.
Excellent photo and beautiful sepia!Love the lightning and the vie point. And Welcome!
Excellent capture !!!! My friend .... good to see you back :):):) A great shot, dear Chip !!! 5*
awesome capture have a great weekend warm hug, Linda
Nice to hear from you again. The focus on the alley way is a clever idea, it certainly draws you into the picture. I like the choice of black and white here as well. B&W, night and old city streets always work well together.
first class photo!
Very good shot and so nice colors my friend ;-)
I wish I were the first to comment, because I'd have liked to tell everyone that they won't see a better night shot of Chicago than this. This is uncanny, Chip, you got the feeling to a tee. If that says "900," you're not far from Halsted, and I knew this haunt so well years ago. What's so 'true' about it is the feeling: the old grayed walls; the wonderful detail on the store fronts, almost like the old Lower East Side shots of NY from the teens; the exotic array of odd shops all piled on top of each other; the darker bricks above street level, receding into the night as chicago streets do so many places; that typical ersatz ornament, so typical of American architecture in the 20s & 30s; and that alley: How did you do that? I don't know anything about cameras, but you turned a typical alley—esp. in that neighborhood—into a luminous, strange, foreboding, eerie descent into god-knows-where, and the rhythms are just right as are the shadows & super-glow lights. It's right in the center of the shot, great choice. And the street in front of it is barren, slightly wet-looking, and reflecting the unreal light like it has no choice. This is a terrific shot. If anyone's reading this, this is a Chicago street at night: It doesn't get any more real than this. Whatever you do, wherever you go, nurture that massive talent of yours, and when you settle back in Europe, hope you'll start posting more again. Even if you can't comment much, it's fine: It's a gift to see your work. More important, I hope the world finds it too, you're a major voice. Great shot to post after an absence...
Fantastic shot! Wonderfully moody and atmospheric! Brilliantly captures the feeling of the last vestiges of the old New Town before the name was changed to Lakeview and the yuppies moved in and ruined it. It gives me chills and makes me nostalgic for a Chicago that doesn't really exist any more outside of old pictures. Again, a truly great shot!
Another wonderful moody image! Splendid with a feeling of desolation, exhaustion and mystery. Excellent shot.
Clasic! Beautiful....
I went to full view .. then I took it up to 150% and then to 200%, just so I could go down that alley. It just draws me in .. what a marvelous shot. It looks like something from the 20s .. except the car parked to the left gives it all away. The Sepia tones are perfect, they make the mood of the city. I've never been to Chicago, either. Your captures and descriptions will take me there. I cannot for even one minute imagine being without my computers. I hope that very soon you will be re-united with your laptop.
A successfull BW work. Congrats for your composition and this atmosphere.