A Walk Downtown
In Chicago
I had plans in the city the other evening, so I came down early and went for a walk downtown with my camera. It’s so picturesque in the city! The guy in the VW pulled up in the car along the curb where I was standing and I smiled at him, told him he had a neat car, and asked if I could take his photo. He smiled broadly and approved. We chatted briefly and I learned that it was a ’67 VW and that he was “not quite” the original owner. Amazing how agreeable people are to having their photos taken by strangers!
It’s difficult to NOT find someone posing in some stage of cell phone engagement. Everybody is talking, texting, checking. I liked this photo because of the contrast of the blue jacket with the various colors and textures of the wall. Just outside the door of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago at 36 South Wabash.
A funny thing happened to me while I was standing there. A young woman who is a student there walked up to me and asked if she could take my picture for a project. She asked me to pose near the street and she took several frames of me standing there as people and traffic went by. She told me she was going to blend the images to make it look busy. We chatted for a bit and I then took her photo. BUT….I got too cute for my own good and tried a setting to make an image I had in my mind. It didn’t come out…darn. Hey…THAT HAPPENS if you’re walking around making what I call “sketches.” Funny thing is that about a half hour later as I continued my walk downtown, we bumped into each other again in the same area of Wabash…and we all think this is such a big town!!
Right across the street of the School of the Art Institute, there was another school. Lots of students walking in and out and hanging out in front, smoking. I thought the smoking evoked an older era, so I “antiqued” the image while editing.
Hey! Look out for that bird!!
Gotta get cuttin’. Work’s over for the day.
I thought this guy looked pretty cool walking his dog. Dark and atmospheric…almost “film noir” style, eh?
So, what’s this guy thinking? “Hmmm…what shall I eat?” Or, “Hmmm…who should I vote for?”
I wonder if this will be a prediction of the outcome!?
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Hope you’re enjoying these posts as much as I like making them!
Nice set of shots. Keep on going.
Thanks…and I know you have fun doing the same thing. Entertaining recreation. Creative expression. Etc.
I’m always interested to see your photos, too!
Thanks,people are the best!
Hope to go to Spertus Wed.
L’Shana Tova
Thanks and appreciated. Hope you enjoy the exhibit!
And, same to you and yours, Evie.
Is it me thinking too much or is the early Autumn sun affecting the lighting in these?
Oh yeah…type, quality, and quantity of light are definitely huge factors when taking photos.
(Also, the fact it was late afternoon.)
Always like to see what you capture when I am not walking around with you. New angles on the city, for sure!
And I like you to see that, too!
As always (most of the time) great stuff.
Glad you like this one, Ben! ha
All these are visually compelling and thought provoking. Antiqued Wabash Ave is a real stopper. But the bird. Maybe a gull? Then, no, it’s flying away from the camera. Hawk? Where’s it going in that city spot? Again, your shots make a viewer stop, look and think. Thanks!
Aw…thanks, Mike! That’s what I’m always hoping…to have people see things that evoke a response or reaction. Glad to hear these images “worked” with you!
I had fun taking these photos!
Nice work. Happy your back in the saddle.
Thanks.
Yep…glad to be back! Hope you enjoy.
Outstanding Street Photography. You have the magic to capture that fraction of a second moment of your subjects. Henri Cartier-Bresson would be very proud of you for capturing that decisive moment.
So nice of you, Stan. Much appreciated!!
I do try to capture “that moment,” but it’s quite elusive…as you certainly know. Still, it’s fun and challenging.
(I certainly admire Henri Cartier-Bresson very much. Among other photographers…many from that same era.)