Today's word is diptych so I thought it would be fun to capture how my day started in contrast to how it ended. It wasn't what I would have predicted...except for being back in Chicago for the first time since May 26th. The first photo is the beach ... it's the same scene I took the morning after Jim, Nutmeg, and I arrived on the island ( http://365project.org/taffy/365/2013-05-27). The collage is the rest of the day (though it's not really the individual photos, but the whole of the contrast that the collage represents):
1. leaving the island on Fresh Air -- sight of the coast with the propellor captured as a series of stills.
2. Industry as you pass Gary, IN and head into Chicago.
3. Sign from Chicago skyway toll booth
4. As we approach our neighborhood -- Little Italy -- there were signs of a festival. We unpacked the car, relaxed in our very hot house (air conditioner had been accidentally turned off when a neighbor was trying to lower it for us to cool off the house before we got there, and then headed to the festival. From the festival: (clockwise from upper right - a singer at the Rosebud stage, Rosebud -- a famous Chicago Italian restaurant, replica of Trevi fountain which is only temporary, a potato slicing machine for fried potatoes, self-explanatory sign, well-known lemonade stand near our house, bocci ball players, and in the center, the crowds. We saw more people in the hour we were there than we had the entire summer of all people combined!
Great collage, it tells a story of your day in a very effective way and I loved reading your description. Wow this really is a big change in your surrounding and in your pics. Looking forward getting to know the city as I have gotten to know the island
@joluise I have to agree -- totally wish I were looking at a peaceful lake across sand, rather than a 6 lane highway with the "L" (subway/train) between the two lane directions and knowing if I leave my air conditioned office I'm facing 93 degree temperature! Sigh...
@archaeofrog Thanks Katie -- that's the feel I was going for -- the crowded feeling of the lower half, even more than the collection of particular photos.
@3rdxoff Thanks AC! It will be interesting to see how many of us continue to post through next summer. I'm hoping I'm one who continues -- and want all those I follow to do the same!
@bardejov Two things hit me now that we're back: (a) hugely crowded and (b) everything takes a longer time because of traffic. So today, I walked my two blocks to the office and stayed there all day to avoid crowds and cars! But I'll get used to it all again fairly quickly and then will think nothing of hopping on a bus to go take a photo.
Back to the norm then Taffy away from the tranquillity of Beaver Island. A fab collage/diptych to show us the area where you live. How far is Beaver Island from Chicago?
What a great way to represent your day. Definitely a major transition from the calm of the beach to the energy of the big city. I am sure it will be an adjustment at first but you will be back in your Chicago groove in no time!
@elaine55 Thanks Elaine. Glad you liked it. It's just under 6 hours to the city in north Michigan where you can catch the ferry (2 hours) or a charter (15 minutes). Except at the beginning or end of summer, we usually do the flight because of the long drive. But the ferry is so relaxing and the trip is beautiful.
@pflaume Thanks Lisa! It is a different energy level, that's for sure! And different focus. But, I do love the city too...it's just here, I'm a working professor and on the island, I'm a photographer with work in a local gallery. I like the latter identity better!
Oh I love this Taffy it really shows the great contrast between the beginning of the day and the end. Back to reality it looks like now and I am sure you will be back in the groove very quickly. City life can be exciting. I must say I prefer the look of your life on Beaver island though and the sound of "Photographer with work in a local Gallery" has a certain ring to it!! Don't work too hard!! I am looking forward to discovering Chicago through your lens!!
@3rdxoff Thanks AC! It will be interesting to see how many of us continue to post through next summer. I'm hoping I'm one who continues -- and want all those I follow to do the same!