Hey Gang,It's been a really, really long time since I logged in here. Life has been getting crazier seemingly every day. CShaveRR said he was hoping to get together with CSSHEGEWISH next week at Elmhurst. Since that's literally down the road from where I work and blocks away from one of my projects, I said I'd try to join them.
I figured it would be good for me to swing in here and say, "Hello!" to everyone since it's been so long. I see some of you on social media but there are a lot more that I don't keep up with and I apologize for that.
Since no post from me would be complete without at least a few pictures, here are two recent-ish pictures from me that I'm rather happy with.
El Light and Shadow by Chris May, on Flickr
This first shot is from an outing with a Chicago area photo group that I'm part of. We were doing a photo walk on Leap Day 2020 (in those now distant pre-Covid days when getting together with a group of like-minded photographers was a thing) along the CTA Brown Line. This is a shot taken with my Rolleiflex 2.8D Xenotar underneath the Armitage station. I love the play of light and shadow on the El structure.
Christmas Eve Noir by Chris May, on Flickr
This shot was taken on Christmas Eve, 2019. While we did not have a white Christmas in Chicagoland last year, Christmas Eve did dawn with very heavy fog. Fog is always my favorite condition to shoot in, so I grabbed my camera and did some shooting along the UP and then later at the Morton Arboretum. This was taken at the Elmhurst station with my D800 and Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D.
I don't take as many train photos as I used to, partly because I don't take as many photos in general (life is just too busy) but also because I find myself shooting more nature and landscape stuff with my 8x10 cameras (yes, that's plural...I own three now...hi, my name is Chris and I'm a camera addict). I do make sure to follow railroads as much as possible on my way home from Elmhurst to Oakbrook Terrace, though and still get excited whenever I see something on the way home. So maybe I need to spend a little more time with camera trackside...
Anyways, I hope you all are doing well and I'll try to spend a little more time in here. :-)
Chris
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Wow, CopCar's back and just as good as ever!
Missed ya' man! LOVE that "under the El" shot! Light and shadow on steroids!
The foggy shot's great too! If it wasn't Chicago I'd expect to see Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson emerging from the gloom!
Wow!
Both are great shots. I absolutely love the foggy one.
Fog can be fun to shoot.
The EL shot could be an old timer, if it weren't for the SUV...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
CopCarSSI'll try to spend a little more time in here. :-)
Gosh, I hope so.
The El shot looks like an old-school resolution target. You could copy it on Kodalith and probably not lose much impact at all. The foggy shot needs a London Bobby helmet on somebody, though. Just sayin’.
And, of course, there's a lot of good things to say about view cameras, even today. Just don't try to use one on a selfie-stick!
Glad you're back. I hope you don't mind, but I spent a few minutes looking at some of your other pictures on flickr. They reminded me how much I always liked your work.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
CopCar Rochelle is less than 2 hours from Chicago right off of 88 and a great place to catch plenty of action and relax on the weekends. I know my hubby and I are looking forward to quite a few more weekends when things get back more towards normal there.
Very nice pictures. I think they are classic. And if entered in a contest, would be prize winners. Thanks and glad you are back.
I add a big ' BACK! Chris !
You and your contributions have been missed
I'd like to tell you I have really enjoyed the photo, you sent me as a result of your last 'contest'. BNSF "Manifest at Chemical" ..
It has enjoyed a spot on my office wall, since it arrived
Thank YOU!
Is there any other city that has retained an historic downtown elevated structure, all-steel at that? Lost: Boston, New York including Brooklyn, Philadelphia/
New: Vancouver and Miami
Some of the NYC elevated RR still exists as a linear park. Not a working RR for sure, but the structure is still there.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line
Chris:When did you move to Chicago? If I recall, you were in Colorado...correct?
Great photos...always enjoyed your work.
Ed
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