Plaza: for Tara and Bill by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
On another world, and in another city, this may be the entrance to a place meant for celebrations and dancing: space reserved for rites of passage, sacred commemorations, and other significant markers. It’s a surprising, little plaza tucked into Chicago’s eastern reaches—near the lake, near the river, but strangely far from each of those locations. Chicago is like that: convoluted in unexpected ways. It takes some efforts to find Chicago’s treasures, and for her part, Chicago does her best to hide them from plain sight. Because of that, I can’t say that I remember the name of this plaza, but it’s one I love seeing. At night. It is a place, I think, intended to showcase itself in the comforting darkness of a summer night.
It was temperate on the night I made this photo; Corey and I decided to wander around the downtown core of the city, snapping as many pictures as we could. We’d gone to photograph The Bean, only Chicago parks close at 11pm and on the night in question, security guards were out in full force, strictly enforcing the 11pm close. We got no photos of the bean, none from up close, at any rate. It doesn’t matter, ultimately; I got this shot, and it’s a pleasant and surprising one for me.
On My world and in one of My cities, this is the entrance to a place meant for celebrations. It doesn’t close at 11pm. It is open to those who may use it all day and all night, every day and every night. It is a place for sacred commemorations: rites of passage, and other significant markers—especially anniversaries. Tara and Bill are celebrating an anniversary now, and on my world in any number of my cities, there are places for such celebrations: climb these few steps, and you’re in!
Happy Anniversary to two of Renderosity’s finest!

Comments (29)
a heavenly gate--a pathway to something wondrous--that's what it looks like to me...just lovely
This is a truly beautiful lighting my dear friend, such a marvelous place Chip, a gentle and sweet dedication as just like you! Congratulations!
BEAUTY...I love your night shot!!
wow, what a wonderful lights, your night shots are superB
great light, like a lot noctune pic, look like futurist vision.
In some towns round here (but not mine) they roll up the streets at night and prop up their dead in the bus shelters. I half wish that were true here, the drinking culture makes my town centre at night unsafe at times. However, your pic is beautiful.
Stunning capture and dedication my friend. God Bless.
Oh my! This is a beautiful place! How pleasant it would be to stroll thru there on a warm summer evening and just stop and enjoy the comings and goings of the city's inhabitants and just...be! This is a wonderful shot and dedication!
marvelous dedi!
EXCELLENT NIGHT SHOT FOR BILL AND TARA
It's a lovely capture, even if it isn't the bean!
The lighting is very good in this picture. great shot!
I'm totally captivated by the contrasting reds and greens, and the way the light plays with those colors. You're right, I'd make this a ceremonial place, something that would allow individuals to craft their own ceremonies as the need arose.
Beautiful capture and awesome lighting- thanks for sharing! :)
love the lighting. cool night shot
A very lovely night capture, Chip! I love stuff like this - I need to get off my duff and go shoot some myself! LOL!
I love this! What a gorgeous little plaza, just right for something special. You make me think we need to make a celebration, a ritual, while we're there, perhaps in one of these beautiful spots in the city. We spent our actual anniversary night in Butte, Montana in a clean and predictable but not very exciting hotel. No matter ... we're giving ourselves Chicago for our anniversary, and are looking forward to spending loads of time (or as many loads as you can manage) with you, celebrating Renderosity fashion. :) Thank you for this, my dear. It's beautiful!
I am ready to climb those steps and be "in". Thanks Chip for thinking of us and this wonderful night photograph. I'd say more...but the hour is late and my thinker has ground to a stop;-) Am looking forward to our visit to Chicago...my camera trigger finger is itching:)
Wonderful lighting.
Wonderful clarity and mixture of colours. Excellent POV. Love it. :)))))
Wow, where is this and how did I miss it and I am SO jealous you guys are gonna be hangin out.
IH WOW! That seems to be THE place for celebration. Superb shot and very inviting. ;-)
Enchanting symmetric composition, with an inviting sense of space. This is quite a "dimensional" image. Well done!!!
Great anniversary dedication. The plaza does indeed look inviting with the interesting lighting.
Great story line and photo night pic.seem to be more beautful than day time☺
This is a lovely shot, Chip. It reminds me of the little plaza that used to be between the Sun-Times bldg. and the Wrigley bldg. It was the only place left that had grass and trees along the Chicago River before Trump built his tower where the Sun-Times used to be. Haven't been in downtown Chicago since his building went up so don't know if the plaza is still there. Used to have my lunch there on nice summer days when I worked at the paper. This little plaza reminds me of it. Thanks for the fond memories.
Wonderful!The lights are fantastic!
Impressive atmosphere made by city lights in the night. Magic.
Beautiful lighting and composition. There is a soft golden glow, not of glitz but of warm welcome. I like the rounded shape of the light on the stairs in the foreground, and the way the light interacts with the poles and railings, especially the way it outlines the ones in the center. I love the patterns of light on the plaza, the combination of the pillars, the stepped light on the stairs, the light reflecting on the walls, and the light from the windows. Beautiful shadows and greenery. Gorgeous image and great dedication.