Cloud Gate

This reflection of the sky was shot in Chicago, at the sculpture known as the "Cloud Gate" (but which everyone just calls "The Bean"). It's a highly reflective polished chrome (?) sculpture. If you look in my photo stream at the photo just before this one, you can see the whole sculpture.

I think the streaks in the lower right are dirt on the surface of the sculpture from where people touched it. I wasn't sure if I should leave them in or not - but I think without them, this looks like just a photoshop effect, when, in fact, it's real life.

I've noticed a lot of hits on this photo lately. If you don't mind, can you drop me a note and tell me where you found this image? Thanks!

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Comments

skin says:

discussion for WEEKLY can be found here
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

azmuskoka says:

Really neat shot!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

ECWC says:

I've seen lots of photos of this artwork, but this is one of the more creative angles - and skyblue is one of my favourite colours - excellent!!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Jeff Clow says:

Fascinating shot....!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

ancawonka says:

Thanks guys! This is one of the neatest bits of public art I've seen in a while. So much fun for everyone to play with!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

raventrickster says:

my home town!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

King'76 says:

Hi it looks a lot like a picture I made in Prague last summer! Only this wasn't art but a police station :-)

I like the roundline in yours very much!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

stchuck says:

I was thinking this might be Chicago .... Very well done.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

raspberrytart says:

you folded the sky!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

Brian Catacutan says:

Great work!
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

lagiuspo says:

brilliant!
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

SFMoe says:

fantastic shot .. wish the clouds would have been as photogenic yesterday :P
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

L8o says:

.....Oooooohhh! .....Aaaaaaaahhh!

* * Follow the " top-v_aa " tag * *
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

L8o says:

Congratulations!

You have just been Top-V Blogged!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

RottieLover♥ says:

I thought it was photoshopped when I saw the thumbnail. That is a really spectacular effect from a "natural" photo.
(found it from the top-vaa tag)
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

inklake says:

This is amazing! I love the clarity and the wonderful blue.
Posted 38 months ago. ( permalink )

lisaendavy says:

Fantastic photo!!
( I found it when I was watching your photostream)
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Joe Thorn says:

One of my favorite shots of the bean.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

J.H.C. says:

Really love this!!!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

ancawonka says:

This photo is challenging bubble magic from the pool of Highly Competitive - Flickr's 100 Best - www.flickr.com/groups/best100only. Vote me in!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

Le Jhe says:

I must say that when I saw the picture on the thread it was only a photoshop effect. I read the comment and I like the idea of the super-realistic picture without PS (did you edit it at all ?). Nothing wrong with the defender's shot though, but I just prefer this one.
...ooops, came back to fav'...

oneof100#1
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

lisaendavy says:

A Big Fave
Please add this to www.flickr.com/groups/bigfave
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

inklake says:

I faved this a while back but still love it.

I saw this in A Big Fave
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

Andre Garneau says:

I really like it simple but with a great result. I like the defendent but this one is very cool looking.
oneof100#2
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

moominmolly says:

I like this photo, it's clean and crisp, but the defender seems so very unusual and original that I can't bear to see it go.

noneof100#2
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

DrewMyers says:

I just love the "horizon" of the reflected area and where it intersects with the sky. Very well seen ancawonka!

This image has been blogged by the Big Faves Admin Team!
Visit flickrbigfaves.blogspot.com
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

-Merce- says:

I think we can "improve" real life, so I would have cleaned the lower right surface

noneof100#3
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

blackmantis35@sbcglobal.net [deleted] says:

awsome
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

Alive in Calgary says:

very cool effect, but I find the defender's shot more interesting

noneof100#4
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

jamie B says:

The defender is an extremely unique photo. The original colours , subject matter and technicals make it very strong. Yours is also quite good. I think for a shot such as this, it would be best to clone out anything other than the blue and clouds...theres some twigs in the lower right that I noticed right away.
there has been a miscount...with my vote of 'noneof' the actual count is:
noneof100#4
oneof100#2
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

ronmarshall074 says:

Not my cup of tea.. I think you have a stronger competitor..
Sorry
noneof100#5
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

Quindici says:

A real eye-catcher!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

phatphrank says:

I searched "Chicago"
Will have to try that shot when I get back home.
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

ancawonka says:

Cool phatprank! Have a blast, I had a lot of fun with this sculpture too. Let me know when you take the shot.

Thanks everyone for the comments for the Most Competitive Group. It was fun!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton says:

Thanks for applying to the 1500 views and 60 faves group! This is a superb photo. You have been accepted!

Congratulations, my friend !!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

ancawonka says:

Thanks Tim!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

LADYTRASH says:

(L)
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

Tube Armada says:

Beautiful shot and vibrant.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

_minette says:

Wow. I just love it!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

boqueron1052 says:

A great one. Different. Intriguing...
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Remiss63 says:

this is absolutely fantastic. a whole new way of envisioning our world. inverts the sky / ocean, space / mass, and so many other things. great work.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

playwright_bo says:

lovely
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Ravi Vora says:

best bean shot i've seen
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Sofia-Denis says:

very cool!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

DannyVandal says:

Stunning, stunning photography. I have sent this to so many people, I love it. Well done for seeing the shot.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

Bookworm says:

Your picture was the first one I saw that just showed the sky with clouds and its reflection -- that's why I clicked through to look more closely. Really nice.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

pcgeek86 says:

Wow, that's an amazing shot of Cloud Gate!

Out of curiosity, do you happen to know what ISO speed your camera took the photo at? Under the photo properties, it says it was set to auto, but I'm wondering if you have some way of knowing.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

asleeponasunbeam says:

Wow! Nice pics! Congratulations for your creativity and sensibility!

If I am not wrong this is a sculpture from Anish Kapoor. You should add it to this pool:www.flickr.com/groups/anishkapoor/

By the way, I came here after your comment in one of my pics (answering to your question).
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

Chicago Nilsa says:

Love your shot of The Bean. Such serenity in the middle of the city - that's what I love about Chicago!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

ancawonka says:

Chicago, like many grand cities that are more than 100 years old, has figured out how to make dense urban living work for people. I love visiting there.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

Shemer says:

Génial!!! At first glance I thought it was Photoshop work... this is absolutely beautiful! Looks like you're turning a leaf in the book of sky...

--
Seen in your My Favorite 30 set. (?)
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

Antonio.J.F. says:

This is a beautiful picture. Great "eye" you have to compose this one.
*** I saw it at your photostream ***
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

inate says:

I lke this a lot :)
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

YuanYuanYuan says:

U're Great.... creative...nice
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

Sandy Su says:

Nice shot. Even with the smudges you mentioned, it looks unreal. But neat! I found it as a link from another phto of it at
www.flickr.com/photos/gov/165488810/
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

thinkfromscratch says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Chicago 2016 Olympic Games (Support Group), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

--
Found in a search. (?)
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

toastforbrekkie says:

Most original shot I've ever seen of the Bean. And I've seen a ton. BRAVO!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

sarah lillian says:

one of the best bean pictures ever!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

Legal Eyes says:

Cool bean! I am a Chicagoan and looking for cool images of Chicago and came across your picture.
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

Perla* says:

Super cool image!

Please, post this magical picture in It's magical group @
www.flickr.com/groups/its_magical
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

ECWC says:

This photo has to be your "greatest hit"! Definitely one of my favourites on all of Flickr
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

ancawonka says:

Wow! I'm very flattered by everyone's comments. Thanks!
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

pabloneco says:

Well done Ancawonka!!! Your image is flattering.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

Jeff__ says:

Great eye for noticing this reflecton.
I was immediately drawn to the thumbnail from "most interesting" set. I saw your comments on a Utata discussion thread (this evening) as well as your comments on the photo of discussion....thought your comments were interesting and decided to pay a visit.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

ancawonka says:

Thanks for the visit, JP. :)
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

eScapes Photo says:

I have a love affair with the Bean too... this is a fantastic shot - very unique and very appropriate.

I found it by doing a search for Chicago and sorting by "Interestingness" - you were on page 2 or 3.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

sahbapasta says:

i found it when searching for the bean on flickr
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

briankosena says:

found it by searching "clouds". btw...nice shot!
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

Shu...... [deleted] says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Flickr "BEST" Pictures (Invitation Only), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Star of Excellence
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

1Sock says:

Frickin' awesome shot!! You can thank cMacSutt for driving me here. I commented on another shot of this awesome monument, but you have done a great job here with this view of it. Really nice.

--
Found in a search. (?)
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

Isparku says:

AWESOME!!!!

--
Found in a search. (?)
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

melohype says:

awesome- this shot reminds me of one I took at Frank Gehry's Stata Center at MIT.

Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

dianaschnuth says:

Just visited Chicago and only had time/resources to take the standard touristy shots of The Bean. I searched for the tag "Cloud Gate" and found your photo near the top of the Interestingness list.

I'd like to think that if I lived in Chicago (or spent more time there), I'd come up with creative photos like this one. (It's fun to pretend.)
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

Bert# says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called White@Blue sky, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

Bert# says:

Stunning!

www.flickr.com/groups/white_at_blue_sky
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

Floriantanplan says:

Yes I first thought this was a stupid Photoshop effect :-)
Very nice, thanks for the explanation (and the previous photo which makes a great confirmation).

I found your picture by searching the tag "clouds" ...
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

l8yhwk22 says:

Gooooooooooooooooooo Cubs!!! Where is the Bean??
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Wonderlane says:

link info is available nested in "popular" as is search result info.

same search 'cloud' over flickr
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Lisa-S says:

Beautiful, I love clouds and reflections. This is the perfect combination! I did a search on "Chicago Bean" ordered by "most interesting"...your picture comes up on the first page.

--
Found in a search. (?)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

1/4 scale says:

the bean can be "all about you," in all its convexity, reflecting the observer, picture taker, etc. ... but it can also "turn away from you" and reflect the surroundings (the cityscape, buildings, the gridded pavement of the plaza ... and of course "clouds") ... very nice photo
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

kathrynfarrar says:

Sweet.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

[Turker) says:

very good
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

yishui says:

awesome !
I'm going to visit Chicago next week, and searched flickr tags for "chicago" :D
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

areyoupapa says:

the cool thing is you really can see the reflections in the image. I know what its name exactly means from now on.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

pareeerica says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Creative Commons- Free Pictures, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

SarahSgo says:

I'm interested in paying for this for commercial use, is that possible?
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

italianjob17 says:

~ thanks for sharing your beautiful picture ~
Creative Commons - Free Pictures
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken with a Nikon S1.
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Taken on November 13, 2005

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