The Sprawl and the River by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Once, there were glaciers—slow/solid rivers and boulders scraped from one place and carried along with the indolent flow of ice. When the glaciers melted and the “wandering rocks” were left stranded, there was a lake, and at its southwestern tip, a swamp. Onions grew here, and redolent, skunky cabbages. Humans—latecomers to the scene—settled in the flat swamp land and named the area for the stink in the air.
As time progressed, more humans came: different humans—hairy pink ones as inscrutable and alien to the ruddy-brown natives of the region as men from the moon. With these hairy, pink newcomers, irrevocable change followed. The flat land became something else: a spot on a map where roads (both real and metaphorical) crossed. Centuries passed. A city grew, was burned to a crisp by a likely bolide though the catastrophe was blamed on a particular cow. No one knew what bolides were at the time, no one could imagine a meteor pancaking in the earth’s atmosphere and going “boom” before raining superheated fragments of itself onto the ground below.
After things went boom, blaze, and fizzle, the city rebuilt itself. Having learned the dubious usefulness of pyrophobia, the city—named for stinking onions and cabbages—shifted its architectural nature. Buildings were hewn from stone and mortared bricks rather than wood. They were placed at a distance from one another with alleys (fire-breaks) in between. And now, much, much later, the city is home to buildings of iron and glass. There are still alleys (fire-breaks) between them; the land—still flat—at least carries the pretense of irregularity. It became a major point of trade, and (for a brief time) the planetary abattoir-capital. The stink of wild onions and cabbages was replaced by the stink of blood and slaughter.
The air is clean now. Cattle no longer fear the city. Industry has migrated—to China, to Mexico, to places far, far away; and the city—always one for reinventing itself—has become a tourist mecca, a shopping capital, a mall with streets. It is home to world-class museums, and sports teams that aren’t very good at winning. It is home to da mayor and memories of Al Capone.
On spring nights, when fog rolls in from the lake, the city becomes something else: a crystalline citadel, shrouded in billows and wisps like a garish, electrical dream. It becomes beautiful in ways that are purely nocturnal, and on such nights, it is possible to imagine that the city is a wholly different place.
On such a night, I took this and other photographs, pleased that I’d captured something so easily overlooked. It was a good night, and a foggy one too.
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As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a fantastic weekend.
Comments (44)
Hi Chip, a wonderful sight of a lightful city. All the best, Bernd
"On spring nights, when fog rolls in from the lake, the city becomes something else: a crystalline citadel, shrouded in billows and wisps like a garish, electrical dream. It becomes beautiful in ways that are purely nocturnal, and on such nights, it is possible to imagine that the city is a wholly different place." your own words very much capture your talent with nights and city lights... (rhyme intended)
Splendid capture !
Superb capture with fantastic lighting. Great work.
Superb capture my friend.
Wonderful Work!!
What a marvelous capture! I love the glow in the sky, the wonderful reflected light like flames on candles, and the checkerboard of lights in the buildings! Superb composition and depth! Your words made me think of all the the different realities of time, unseen but still felt in the earth, that led to the Chicago that is here now. They made me think of two books. One I finished last night, "Un Lun Dun" by (drum roll) China Miéville. Have you read it? It was written for younger readers and this no so young reader, loved it. Your narrative about Chicago reminded me of the ghost buildings in Un Lun Dun where you can see all of a building's history in translucent layers. As I read your words, I thought of what it would be like to see Chicago with multiple layers of its past self flickering in view. The other book I thought of is a book of a wholly different sort, which I started last night. It is "Salem Witch Judge: The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall" by Eve Laplante. In the first chapter she talks of Samuel Sewall's home in Boston. Where it was, is now a department store. "The ten thousand shoppers daily who visit Filene's Basement in Boston's Downtown Crossing enter a space that was once the cellar of Sewall's mansion." I love it when I get the feel of time existing and being tangible, in a place. Your words gave me that feeling. Stunning capture and wonderful words!
Outstanding photo. Looks like an HDR. Beautiful colors and contrast. Love the reflections. Thanks for sharing.
wow, this is an awesome photo, you are fantastic at these night shots. I like your poetic synopsis of the city, reminds me of the more eloquent moments in writers like Poul Anderson (If you've ever read "Brain Wave" you'll probably know the passage I'm thinking about) I do have to quibble about the "sports teams that aren't very good at winning" part, since the hockey team from your city won the NHL tournament this last winter. Not that very many Chicagoans know or care all that much it seems. Still, it's an interesting description and a lovely photo.
wonderful nightview! RS
Wow! Powerful photography and writing.
Your night images are without peer; they have so much life and light and emotion. Spectacular capture!
Very beautiful. You have a way with words, and with photographs. What a great combination. We watched a PBS special about the story of Chicago, and it was similar to your story, that is from the very beginning, until now. I always said the cow was innocent. ;o)
very wonderful. i see abad storm comeing in on top of you. Maybe a way to caught the rain with a camera. you can get those waterproof throw aways ones. I got one but never used it lol. check out biglot first. anyway This is a wonderful shot of your city full with history and the bridge to me at lest link the history with the city of today. That just me thinking here anyway.
A spectacular image, but then, I've come to expect nothing less than that anytime I click on your moniker. Great bit of history you're reminded us of too, although you forgot the bit about my being born there... :O)
Fabulous night shot! Wow. This is spectacular. I love the story, and had to run off to look up bolide (so now I'm smarter than before). The fog in this shot, and the lights, and the river with its reflections ... I'm at a loss for words. What a gorgeous image, my friend. Top notch!
I am particularly fond of night-time shots. The dark, the lights, the fog, the sounds, the smell, deep breath , MAGIC! I love it :)
Wonderful image. Great after dark composition.
I always enjoy your night river shots!
Superb....very good picture and shot.
This very much reminds me of the Docklands area of London, where Marvin and I live. In particular Canary Wharf, which is its own City of Lights at night, enhanced by the surrounding water. You chose an excellent spot to take this, and the pov is perfect, with the camera tilted slightly upwards. I also felt drawn to your words, as I often think of London in terms of its history. I had no idea your hometown was named after wild onions, so thanks for that!
Totally first class! Those that wish to encourage folks to visit should use this in their ads! Fabulous. ^=^
OHHH MY! Another gorgeous shot with wonderful light and reflections. It is just fantastic. You continue to amaze me with your poetic words going so well with your shots. It somehow changes the picture into even more beauty.
how i like this town pictures at night! they are so moodful and the illumination make evend ugly houses beautiful...
Great looking night light shot!
Great shot!
wow stunning shot ! I love the colour tones
So fantastic!! I love this a lot! I feel so atracted by the magic of the night lights!The fog complete this feeling.
A really splendid shot. Something mysterious about this night cityscape. I really feel pulled into the image.
A really intricate and beautiful picture, and as always your compelling words add so much to an already glorious image!