The Green Pole by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Though clear—with only a few, clotted wisps of cloud—the day promises light, a breeze, and by nightfall, rain. For whole moments, as if in a pause between comments, the smell of coffee is strong to the point of overpowering. I once heard that one heats coffee, but does not boil it. To boil coffee, I heard, is to ruin it. There was coffee. Dangerously close to boiling. I don’t think it was damaged in any way. But the smell—for a moment, as if in a pause between comments—bespoke acrid burning.
With journal open, I smell coffee, holding my own brew (without sugar and without cream,) cooling in my mouth. Cooling. —As light, shadow, and color fall into handsome conspiracy with the walls of the café. The floors (and by some accident, the humans) fall into the plot as well, and the café becomes something else. A visual symphony. An olfactory poem. There is traffic…outside…cars and pedestrians behind rain-grimy glass. The outside, does not matter, and for long, long moments (more than a dozen beats of the heart) I sit (with my journal) entranced, not by the colors, graceful though they are, nor by the shadows in the comfort they provide. I sit (for more than a dozen beats of the heart) hypnotized by a composition: the scheme of a single support pole, flagrant and green in sunlight, while humans nearby, completely ignore it.
I take a picture.
*
I took a picture. Today. In a coffee house. I’d gone with Corey to a couple of important appointments, and between those appointments, we drank coffee in a small, independent place, under the Sheridan El tracks. It was a small place, with a narrow, terrifying bathroom. There was sunlight and there were shadows. There were brilliant, almost searing colors…and a pole. I liked the way it looked, abbreviating a human near it, and accenting the red shorts worn by another.
I took a picture.
This is it.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (24)
Great photo and writing Chip. Do you know it's funny. Everyone in the world seems to be able to do this except me! If I have work to do, I just couldn't concentrate doing it in a coffee shop. Even if just surfing the net, sitting in public on a laptop or listing to ipod headphones feels anti social to me. I know this guy isn't being that way, but it just feels that way to me. And then there are the advertisements where beautiful people use them on beaches.......when I try it I can't see the screen! If I am having a coffee with others, I never use my phone, or worse, stare blankly into it's screen cos it feels somehow rude. I mean, I go outside to see people and the outside, not to do something else. Does that make sense? I'm sounding old eh!
Photo direct from life, full of atmosphere. Your writing is completing this capture. Well done!
i agree with both comments before :)....and i like coffee !!great capture !
Another great shot Chip, excellent POV, I love coffee!
cool . look like you can put your photos in this place as I see on the wall some one photos
oh yes, coffee---it does seem to bring people together somehow. and what is it with chicago and its bathrooms--i remember another rather strange one, with stairs and other weird things.
I am again impressed by your eloquence and ability to see such fine compositions in everyday scenes.Great work.
Great candid portrait, I always see people that Id love to photograph... one day when I have business cards I will learn to approach people haha great shot- thanks for sharing! :-)
I saw people work on their computers in a restaurant Wimpy working on their computers waiting for their order to arrive. I agree with Blinkins. It would be very difficult for me to work on m,y laptop in a restaurant or coffee shop. Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
Nicely done. Oddly, very moving.
I'm like Andrew about phones too. I can't imagine why one would go for a walk with a friend and then have a conversation with a third party for most of the walk, but I see it all the time on the prom. However, I spent many hours studying in libraries and I think coffee shops must be the same but without the lovely smell of books. I do miss Borders. Super pic, BTW!
Very nicely done!
That's seriously GREEN! Well seen, and an entertaining little narrative as always!
Great pic
Great picture. Well done
a great shot with understated tones both in hue and mood--love it
Cool capture, Chip! Love your 'slice of life' photos and commentary. Excellent, my friend!
splendid work!
Ezxcellent shot Chip. :-)
I remember that bathroom Marilyn mentioned. Yikes! It was that place where we stopped for coffee late that Saturday afternoon, after Mark had to leave. You and Marilyn had a little somethin-somethin' in your coffee (I don't remember what) and we sat outside on the sidewalk (something we don't do here, so it was special). The greens are wonderful, and I agree about the post. It emphasizes all the other verticals in the room and leads my eye around and around. Well done!
There is no one I know that could bring out such a moving and great story all over coffee and then end up with a green pole as titled most interesting indeed" I need to comment as those above me have re:laptops and coffee and such surroundings I always thought that people who are very smart can concentrate almost anywhere with anything around them my ex (may he RIP)had a high IQ and he could do this I,on the other hand have to be secluded quiet,and alone and then I get what I'm doing : and right now I'm looking like I'm writing a book here lol so goodbye --your writings are fantastic"
There is no one I know that could bring out such a moving and great story all over coffee and then end up with a green pole as titled most interesting indeed" I need to comment as those above me have re:laptops and coffee and such surroundings I always thought that people who are very smart can concentrate almost anywhere with anything around them my ex (may he RIP)had a high IQ and he could do this I,on the other hand have to be secluded quiet,and alone and then I get what I'm doing : and right now I'm looking like I'm writing a book here lol so goodbye --your writings are fantastic"
Now you have me wondering about the "terrifying bathroom!"
Great writing and capture.