On the Riverbank by Chipka
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
I don’t know what this place is; it’s industrial in nature, but that’s all I know about it. I found it as Corey and I wandered around Chinatown. It stands in an odd sort of unincorporated area. It’s not Chinatown, and I am not so sure what area it belongs to. It stands in an odd sort of cul-de-sack, rather like a sentinel guarding against industrial incursions. Chicago is a strange city in that way: it’s full of cul-de-sacks and neighborhoods that don’t actually play well together.
As our day wound to a close, we found a park named after a local Chinese-community leader. This cubist industrial monument stood just behind the inevitable bronze bust. The vertical lift bridge that drew us stands not too far to the left in this image, and in some strange way, both the bridge and this cubical monstrosity seem to belong to the same forgotten age in Chicago history.
What fascinates me about this building is its proximity to the river. It defines the waterline, and on some days I’m sure you can see swirling water: signs that huge and powerful pumps are hard at work, keeping the basement and sub-basements free of riverwater, and the possible ailwife or baby trout.
As with the other pictures I’ve posting lately, this is a part of my whole apocalyptic sepia phase. I was actually trying to mimic the flaws of an old sort of Soviet-Era camera, but the results were questionable at best, so I decided to just “do something” else and this is the result. I was surprised by the amount of red in this, but I love the way it brings out details not readily apparent in the original, wholly decent-but-boring image I’d originally captured.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re having a great weekend.
Comments (27)
I like it. Wow great postwork. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. Totally rocks.
I'm totally blown away by the images in your sepia phase. This one is no exception. I like how the postwork accentuates the foreboding industrial nature of the building.
LOVE THIS WELL DONE
This is so massive, it makes me think of all the stacked labyriths of hallways inside. I love the color and postwork! It gives an atmosphere of industrial filth. Particularly the clouds, which seem burdened with manmade debris. The darker stain around the edges of the buiding show that it has been effected as well as effecting. The blank areas where I would expect more windows set my mind to wondering. There is probably a very mundane reason, connected with the function of the building, but it looks like it has something to hide. It broods over the river, looking out but keeping secrets within. I love the details, the sharp contrasts, and the reflections in the water. Excellent image and narrative!
Ominous. Excellent manipulations. makes me wish I'd played with my snow pix but I wanted to show the original, stark bleakness.
Great image!!!
Amazing scene, excellent shot and postwork!
Very dramatic and great presentation= well done!!
It reminds me somewhat of the old Kaufman boot (well rubber products) factory in downtown Kitchener, Ontario. A very non-descript white bloc of many layers dotted with frosted (or dirty) windows. The Kaufman plant was close to the main CNR rail line for easy shipment of goods. Indeed the plant was my first stop after the train station before taking a city bus to the university. This building no doubt relied on barges once upon a time rather than rail to get goods to its customers. It's interesting that you bring up the old Soviet Union and its trappings here. Because this building might well pass for an old party HQ in some Siberian regional centre. A place where they made steel perhaps or some other industrial necessity but not much more. It was never any surprise that the largest building within 200km would belong to the Communist Party and all their well maintained files. The clouds the perpetually hang over the site belie its true nature to all.
It looks like it is on fire! Wonderful capture and work!
Great work :)
He was pretty sure there was going to be a fire somewhere nearby. The smell of smoke permeated the air, seeped into his clothes, swirled around in the slightest breeze. The sky was brilliant with the color of flames, and the river reflected the conflagration. No matter how far he walked though, he couldn't pinpoint the source of the blaze. Like a rainbow's end, it seemed always just out of reach. He stopped at the river's edge. Perhaps the arsonist had not yet chosen a target. Maybe that was why he couldn't find the fire. The first time this had happened he was confused and, truth be told, a little freaked out. He had almost been arrested that time. Three days after smelling that first telltale smoke, someone in the neighborhood remembered seeing him wandering around looking intently at the abandoned building that was now only a heap of rubble and ashes. Now, after more repeat performances than he cared to remember, he knew the smell was a foreshadowing, a portent. If he could only figure out which building was the source, he could get the department to send over a team to stop the arsonist before he could set the fire. He shook his head to clear it of the sense of smoke and flames, ran his fingers through his hair, and sighed heavily. He put his hands on both thighs, pushed himself up, and began his search once again ...
A really powerful image Chip. I like it alot with the brown red tones. It really has such a mood of old after war time. I like the story Tara wrote. It fits fine into the mood. :-D
We have lots of woolen and cotton mills 'up North' which look a lot like this. Great how you've inspired Tara to write that clever story! A super addition to this excellent series.
Awesome work!
marvelous!
Fire in the sky... Beautiful artwork !
I do like this style you've developed; it's very moody and suits your writing perfectly. Well done, Chip!
We had a string of old mill buildings along the river in our town. Some got torn down, but most remain and have been rehabed. They are brick and sometimes more ornate than this building, and I bet you would like photograhing them. Great narrative and picture.
I like your apocalyptic phase! this is also great especially with the slanted perspective.
'Smoke on the water - fire in the sky'...and that was before I read everybody else's comment, remember 'Deep Purple' ? or was that not quite your type of music then ? maybe you are not old enough to remember that far back ? No architect would ever live long enough, to do a whole City planning in one life time, (which would be interesting and everything else would also have to be erased at once, to start all new again with another generation) so that's when we get problems and all the other generations do their bit...and suddenly it becomes a hotch-potch of design and combinations, unthinkable maybe...but true, having said that, ONE architect could design a whole City in a life time, no problems but not many would favour it. Enough already...Soviet era achieved in my opinion. BB
Wow, very dynamic presentation. CC
Take care when you increase the details in you postwork. This is very well done!!!
Nice atmosphere and lighting here. The shimmers on the water are also very worth mentioning as well. Excellent mood and starkness, well done all around!
This is so moody and dark and yes, scary. I would not want to look out my window and see that sky.
Superb capture my friend.
Wow!