Thank you all for your kind words re our travels and return to Chicago and the wonderful comments about the sunflower sunset! I thought a parallel to last night's sunset should be a night shot from home. I've shot this before, always eliminating from the frame that large ugly rectangular structure which is truly an eyesore. But, today it's center stage, dwarfing the city's tallest skyscraper (only from POV, of course). It's the university's administrative offices. Back to work tomorrow...
Behind the university-dominating building is the skyline of the south Loop area -- the business district of Chicago, with the Sears (aka Willis, but no Chicagoan calls it that) Tower towering over.
In the extras album is the transition from Beaver Island to Chicago today: http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2013-08-25
I've so enjoyed your summer on Beaver Island. How on earth do you return from holiday one day and return to work the next day? Did you say you were a teacher???
Hi Taffy, apologies for the late get pushed. How about an usual angel of an everyday object? Love your shots of Beaver Island, it looks idyllic. we're just home from a spot that we love too.......welcome back to "normal"
@busylady So funny to read your comment which came through on email as I am sitting at my desk, working on a syllabus and eating lunch (so this is my 'break.' Yes, I teach in a College of Education. And it has been a bit of a shock to my system but also nice to see colleagues and students. Thanks for enjoying the Beaver Island entries -- it was special for me to try to capture the island. Now to find time to do the same for Chicago when I can!
@nicolaeastwood Hi Nicola, if I understand it right, are you suggesting an unusual angle of an everyday subject -- I'm not sure what a 'usual angel' might be -- like someone looking over my shoulder to help? But if that was a typo, I get it and it should be fun and do-able! I'll post yours in a bit. On a little break and will look at your photos now.
@jo13 It is a contrast! This is home. But we've spent the last 22 summers on the island so it's a second home in many senses of the word. It was only a few hours away when we first started going there as we taught at a university in that state. So we could go up throughout the fall for easy weekends away. Since moving to Chicago 13 years ago, it's now a lot harder to get up there given the distance. But, once I transition (mentally), I love being in Chicago too! I think it's the fact that I'm working full time now that I'm back that has the biggest impact.
@willowdragon Thanks Al. That's exactly what I'd hoped viewers would notice. I wanted them to both be night shots of the "best" view I have at home. It was sort of a 'plus' that the lighting was in the same family of tones. It must have been the hazy heat that made it look sort of brownish. I'm glad you saw the contrast across the two!
@thirtysevenways@3rdxoff@kerristephens@simster@archaeofrog
Katie -- I totally agree. It will never be the Willis Tower! Thank you Simmy, Kerri, AC, and Andy. I really appreciate your kind words about my being back. And that you could see such a clear contrast across the two nights. I'm getting back in the groove of work -- but was so grateful Jim cooked dinner and didn't mind that I went outside for a bit to take some pictures! Otherwise, it would be the one shot I took on the way in this morning, with my point and shoot! And I get a little extra time to view and comment -- a real treat!
@anazad511 Thank you, Ana! It will get easier when the temperature drops a bit!! And when I get work under control! I just read one of your comments on the where we are from thread that you are from Costa Rica -- that was one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited!
How lucky you are to have this magnificent view! I know your heart ached to leave Beaver Island, but one impression I have about you through this project is that you give your heart and mind 100% to where you are and what you are doing. The Chicagoan is part of you and you will give yourself completely to the city life and experiences. This will come through in your photography, just like it does here. Hope I didn't say to much here and that you understand my ramblings.
@pflaume I quite enjoyed your 'ramblings' and hope you are right. A story (you can skip if you want as it's convoluted but proves your point). My close friend and I got into the habit of rating everything on a trip we were on in Australia with Jim and 2 others. Every item we'd see, we'd rave about being a 9 or a 10, sometimes an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. It turns out we'd been driving the others nuts. We had a conversation about what we would expect a typical day to be rated, at the start of the day, before anything happened. She and I said, "between and 8 and a 10." Others said it should be a 5 -- that's the most you can guess at the start of a day. A lot of other things were said to us too...the outcome being we weren't allowed to rate anymore! So now we say (to Jim especially when we want to be annoying), "gosh, it's too bad we don't rate anymore because if we did, this would easily be a 10." He's a good sport who just rolls his eyes. So...even more ramblings before I get to sleep...tomorrow's my first night with the students in one of my courses this semester so I should go in sleepy!
@taffy Love your story. Thanks for sharing. Yes, I get it and it's exactly what I have come to know of you. You are not just a a glass half full person, but a sip it down before it overflows one. It's a good way to be! Best wishes for your new school year.
It's a great gift to be able to see beauty no matter where you are- city or in the wilds- and I think you have that gift. You've got a good challenge this week as it will combine the best of both worlds through the view finder. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!
Katie -- I totally agree. It will never be the Willis Tower! Thank you Simmy, Kerri, AC, and Andy. I really appreciate your kind words about my being back. And that you could see such a clear contrast across the two nights. I'm getting back in the groove of work -- but was so grateful Jim cooked dinner and didn't mind that I went outside for a bit to take some pictures! Otherwise, it would be the one shot I took on the way in this morning, with my point and shoot! And I get a little extra time to view and comment -- a real treat!