This is the last line of the famous poem, "Chicago" that Pulitzer prize winning poet and Abraham Lincoln biographer, Carl Sandburg, composed in 1916. If interested, you can read his full poem at http://www.compassrose.org/uptown/ChicagoPoem.html and read about him on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sandburg
He celebrated Chicago's blue color roots, was an activist, a grammy award winner, as well as noted author. This is looking north toward the city from an area just west of museum campus (of yesterday's shot). Chicago is a photographer's dream for the diversity of subjects in such a small area. Just past to the west and north of this set of tracks is Grant Park which then connects to Millennium Park and includes the area where Buckingham Fountain is. Lake Michigan is to the east. You can spend the entire day in this area photographing a range of things, not including the nearby skyscrapers.
@dibzgreasley It was Sunday late afternoon and this isn't a station used much by commuters as it's too far south of downtown, and on the weekend, it wasn't being used for any freight. It's odd not to have any trains there, so I don't know why that is the case. But it was right after a Bears football game and near the stadium, so ironically, I was surrounded by people walking behind me! The bridge I was on had a huge traffic jam of cars trying to get out of town and people jammed on the sidewalks.
Strong skyline and lines, but (for some reason) I really like the yellow track-edge safety lines, pointing the way north west. Also, the wonderful saturated blues of the sky are great.
This is such a great story telling urban shot, Taffy. Excellent choice of viewpoint and strong composition to bring together the harsh and robust railway lines and the beautiful Chicago skyline. Well done; great processing as well.
Fabulous image Taffy! Love those leading lines pointing you straight to the beautiful sky scrapers. Wonderful processing! The sky is lovely. It seems bizarre that it is so deserted yet behind you are many people! Yet another fab Chicago image! Fav!
I love this Taffy. The way the lines of the track draw the eye to the cityscape is stunning. The shadows crossing the tracks add extra interest and the sky is amazing. A fav
Fantastic image, Taffy. It's so rich in color, character, detail, and intrigue. I have to confess to be envious of your plethora of photography subjects. :) You make excellent use of it all and present it in top style. I so enjoy your photo presentations.
@lealady Thank you so much for your lovely comment and fav, Leah. For some reason, the fav did not come through, however, on either of the photos you commented on. I appreciate your kind remarks!
It is amazing how lonely this looks for such a big city - really neat shot. Love your processing on this. Big fan of Sandburg and immediately thought of his poem Chicago when I opened this shot. You've had some really exceptional shots of Chicago.
This ticks all my boxes Taffy. I adore railway shots with lots of rails and overhead gear. Your high pov shows the scale and the shapes so well that the leading lines just pull the eye right into the shot. The background city skyline frames the 'industrial' foreground perfectly, and those colours are just wow. Fav
Great perspective. The railways present excellent leading lines. I love your Carl Sandburg caption too. I spent a fleeting moment in Chicago yesterday running from the G concourse to the K concourse between flights at O'Hare. I waved from the airplane window. :)
Such a gorgeous urban shot! I recently retired as a teacher of high school students of American Humanities. We used to read Sandburg's poem, and it is so powerful. We also studied the effect of the railroads on the West's ranching industry and read "The Jungle," and when I was last flying into Chicago, I could see the famous railroad yards from the air--very meaningful to me.
@khawbecker Such a joy getting to navigate ORD. I sensed your wave!
@cejaanderson I so enjoyed reading your commentary. Sanburg was such an amazing figure and one we Chicagoans are proud to claim as ours. I love the sound of trains rumbling by!
@golftragic Thanks so much Marnie! It was surreal looking down there and seeing it so still while the street and sidewalks were so vibrant and filled with vehicles and people!
I was among the throngs trying to get out of the city! I spent part of Sunday on the North end far away from the football crowd only to get caught in the traffic heading back out to the burbs! I would've gladly taken highways as deserted as these train tracks! ;) My drive was double the time. I really need to get a Bears' schedule so I can avoid the Ike on game days.
I like the way the yellow lines provide such a strong lead in to the buildings in the distance and the overall treatment gives your image such a sombre threatening moody fee.
Fav
@cejaanderson I so enjoyed reading your commentary. Sanburg was such an amazing figure and one we Chicagoans are proud to claim as ours. I love the sound of trains rumbling by!
@golftragic Thanks so much Marnie! It was surreal looking down there and seeing it so still while the street and sidewalks were so vibrant and filled with vehicles and people!