7.27.2009

"blocks of colour, balance, interplay"

oh, wow. this post took forever to prepare, but i really wanted to do it, because today over at shutter sisters, kate posted about chicago... along with some wonderful photos that she took, her post said, "i couldn't get enough of line and shape. containers of electricity all standing poised, perhaps slightly forward, into the wind."

she then said "today, think like picasso. show me photographs that crackle with line and shape—and not just explicitly. blur your eyes from simple subjects and see blocks of colour, balance, interplay. and share!" so i'm doing just that--sharing them here!

although i posted once already today {below}, i decided to do another post--a long one. and with pictures of chicago again, but i tried to be less wordy than i was in my last chicago post. {wink}. although this time there will be a lot more photos. {sorry}

i'm happy to finally be posting my favorite shots from my day long photowalk/photoshoot trip to the city with some high school friends a few weekends ago. i have not had a chance to go through them until now. but this worked out good, because so many of my shots go with this s.s. post, as i really felt like many of my pictures from the day were more about lines and shapes than they were about the actual objects or subject of chicago.

i love to take pictures that are obscure and feature more shapes and lines then they do what it is that is creating or holding those shapes and lines. chicago is a perfect city to go to for such—especially if you know of some really great out of the ordinary places to go take pictures. we tried to hit the usual spots as well as the unusual.

the best places we went that were unusual were a couple of train yards in run down areas. i took the most pictures there, and will have to save those for a whole post of their own. {if you've been reading for a while, you know how much i like trains.}

anyway, here are the rest of the pictures. {the above shot was my favorite of the day.}





{i had posted this one last week, but here are more.}


{this red-winged blackbird photo reminds me of a similar milwaukee shot i took.}

{buckingham fountain above and below}


{some really interesting sculptures that i thought were so photographable}





{there were some really interesting industrial areas.}





{an old, brick warehouse building}


{i love how this greenery was growing out of the glass, brick and steel structure.}





{the stock exchange arch}






{miscellaneous photos around chicago}


















{millennium park}












{and finally, shots from under the el tracks.}




i hope you enjoyed a little walk through a big city. while doing this post, i realized that it has been a while since i posted some florida series pictures, and i still have so many more to go from that trip! {later this week, i hope.} i'll also have to do my next synophotography post tomorrow. my sister really gave me a challenging word for this weeks assignment, so i better get right on that. it will probably have to be tomorrow night.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

fantastic shots... shadows, reflections, shapes, lines... you have it all there... what a successful days shooting... and good to see chicago!
ginny
xx

Anonymous said...

fantastic shots... shadows, reflections, shapes, lines... you have it all there... what a successful days shooting... and good to see chicago!
ginny
xx

Unknown said...

your composition writes the story...

sweetsalty kate said...

These are outstanding. I especially love the street signs... really, these are so strong. Fantastic!

Char said...

beautiful, strong shots - so many that I love. the abstract of the shiny sculpture, the lines, the contrast of modern and old. fantastic series Ms. G

ELK said...

this was really so special to look at ...I have seen such movement and stillness in these ...they are gems that shine each and every one!

Memories Of Mine said...

cool tour I loved the sculptures, defiantly photographable. I also really liked the industrial shots. It so nice to get a feel for another city by viewing a series of photos rather than just seeing 1 photo.

I have to create another 2 posts about Melbourne over at my blog.

beth said...

we used to live in chicago...well, st. charles and this made me want to go back for a day or two...

and you're right...the old buildings I love....EVERYWHERE in shy/chi town !

and once again...your photos remind me why I like you so much !

frenchie said...

Thanks for that post. Chicago has been on my list of places to go for a long time. I love buildings and architecture in general.
I really like the barbwire shots.It looks like it's dancing!
Also love the shots with the reflecting globe.Reaaly interresting images.
xxx

Haphazardkat said...

The pant statue cracked me up! My fav of your (awesome) photos is the first of the "under the El" pics!

A said...

You posted soooo many photos that I cannot even begin to pick out the one I love most! These are ALL fantastic! I definitely want to meet up with you for a photo walk someday! I love the way you see things, the way you capture moments! So much beauty and so many interesting angles! I especially love the industrial area reflection photo! ... and then the favorites kept coming as I scrolled down, so I stopped picking favorites... I love them all :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, there are some really great shots in there. I spend 24 hours a year in Chicago so it limits what I get to see obviously. I used to live closer so got there more often but that was before Millenium Park existed. That bean thing is so cool. We almost went 2 years ago but didn't make it. There's no city like Chicago--you make me want to spend some serious time there.

Caroline said...

Lake street (under the "L" was my short cut downtown from the West side!). So many hidden gems over there. Loved these photos today...makes me a little home sick too. You really went from one end of the city to the other...bravo!

Elaina M. Avalos said...

I love these shots! The first, with the skyline & the barbed wire is my favorite.

Angie said...

These shots are really incredible. The angles and the light are incredible. Love the stock exchange arch and the barbed wire.

shilvia said...

whoaaaa...now you made me wanna go and visit...beautiful pictures Georgia!!!

GailO said...

...Never too many shots! These are wonderful...you see a great photo where many would not...

Brooke said...

the steel ball pictures are crazy good:) especially the one that looks like it is liquid. I love Alicia's project and the quote, that's why just had to join in. It takes you to a more creative place, rather then the normal snapshot.