The friendliest Chicago CTA train station in Chicago. That's the award that the Quincy loop station got tonight as I was photographing. I had a total of five different groups of people talk to me while I was photographing.
Tripod set up, I shoot long exposures. Lots of long exposures, about 111 that night. Normally people don't approach me all that much. Maybe one person a night, if that. But while shooting at Quincy, it was, "let's talk to the photographer night." Which is fine with me. I like company while shooting.
First guy was the normal security guard asking me what I was doing. The past couple weeks all the security guards have asked me the same question, "are you working with a company?" There must be some security newsletter that is telling them to ask this. But he was friendly and nice.
Second guy was an older dude. He asked what I was doing. I explained to him I'm photographing all the loop stations at dusk to capture all the range of colors. He was convinced that I work for the CTA, because he couldn't understand that I would just do this on my own. Kinda funny.
Third was a group of tourists asking how to get to Willis Tower, which is just one block away. I got a kick out how how they correctly called it Willis Tower instead of Sears Tower.
Fourth was an interesting one. I was shooting the staircases, and this car pulls up with its headlights right next to the stairs. I waited it out thinking that he was picking someone up. I didn't actually mind, because part of the aesthetics of these photos are all the different types of lights and colors of lights. His car just gave an additional set of lights. Plus, I like how headlights illuminate the street. I was just trying to avoid moving cars, so i wouldn't have the horizontal lines.
I finished up that particular angle and moved down a side street to get a better angle of the stationhouse. It was a quiet side street (for the loop), so I just set up right in the middle of the street. While I'm shooting, the same car comes down the street. I move my tripod and the car pulls up next to me. Ends up he was a wedding photographer. So it was cool to share photo experiences with him. I gave him my flickr address, so Rick if you are reading this, HI!
Fifth person approached me when I was on the stairs shooting. She asked for directions to Union Station (just a few blocks away).
Therefore, Quincy wins the award for friendliest CTA train station in Chicago for that night.
Now for this photo. There are several things I like about this photo:
-- Three staircases are featured
-- The purple light on top of the stairs roof
-- The green light on the stairs
-- The roadblock pillars give a nice rhythm leading into the stairs,
and flowing around to the right of the stairs.
-- The light blue sky
-- The sewer cap at the bottom of the photo
-- The structure of the L
This photo is a continuation of my project to photograph all the Chicago Transit Authority train stations in the downtown loop of Chicago.
Hi-res print available at www.deviantart.com/print/20066035
vectorlyme, FreshGresh, _sweetmadness, Alberto Castillo1, and 81 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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spudart 24 months ago | reply
Marci, you make a very insightful observation. That's a very good idea, I should have included someone in the shot. However, 1) I'm too shy to ask people to pose for me. 2) Even if I didn't ask someone to post, these exposures are so long, even when people are in the photo, they end up blurred. It's funny to note that there are two people standing by the staircase on the right. Of course, the point you make is that the people should be noticeable part of the composition. I even forgot that these two blurred people were there until now! :)
spincast and roken-roliko, thank you!
tom, cerulean blue! ooo. ha! You read all the notes! (you noticed the note about how the sign should face the other way). And thanks for naming the second post Fred. Maybe next time I'm at the station, I'll put a sticky note on that post saying, "Hi, I'm Fred."
mika53 Busy catching up on my invitations. 24 months ago | reply
I saw your Memorable photo in this pool. ...
"The Best Are Memories Through Photography &quo
mootown 24 months ago | reply
Dear god.
spudart 24 months ago | reply
We have a new pillar named! Mr. Paunchy! Welcome, Mr. Paunchy. Meet Fred, Susan, and Taumatawhakatangihanga-koauauotamatea-turipukakapikimaungahoronu-kupokaiwhenua-kitanatahu.
AMDB7 24 months ago | reply
colourful & interesting great work
Rich Eye--In Italy 24 months ago | reply
--
Seen in the group"Color: DEEP, DARK, RICH, VIBRANT!" ( ?² )
spudart 24 months ago | reply
Thanks for all the comments and favs so far everyone! Remember you can name one of the roadblock pillars by putting a note on it. :)
doomonti 22 months ago | reply
Great!
Like it a lot!
delmastro-designs 22 months ago | reply
Spudart, I wish I knew more about my camera because these shots look like paintings to me and I think that is beautiful. One of the things that travelers find surprising about Chicago is that during the evening it can be completely deserted. And certainly the CTA often acts as though it's deserted all day. Just a humble grumble about our lovely public trasit system.
James3103 20 months ago | reply
Bravo,complimenti.
Leoraul's Old Account 12 months ago | reply
Just came up in my iPad using Images of Music. Very nice!
Kirk221 11 months ago | reply
This is a wonderful shot. Congratulations!
taracocolin 10 months ago | reply
I wish I could step into this picture.
Meggiemae67 6 months ago | reply
Wow! This is so beautiful!
spudart 6 months ago | reply