Architectural Feature

An urbanized reflection on a Sunday afternoon. I made this image with the camera in my iPhone one Sunday afternoon while walking along Halstead Street in Chicago.  The name on the door, “Aron’s Machinery,” caught my eye because I have a son named Aron.  Stopping to look in the window, I noticed that the refection of the hardware store across the street and it’s diamond security gate matched the dimaond security gate in Aaron’s window.  The red, the blue sky, my own reflection, the “ring bell” sign… it was an urban wonderland in a window and it contrasted perfectly with the image of a quiet mountain stream Russ posted the day before.  I decided the game needed to be urbanized.  

My image of New York City’s Chrysler Building follows the “blueness” of Russ Widstrand’s Emergence, the five triangular lights in each arc of the building reminiscent of the five fingers on each hand in Russ’ image. I inhabit the blue world, typically just before sunrise and just after sunset.  Everything turns a monochromatic cobalt blue at magic time and I exploit it on a regular basis.  This particular evening I was on a rooftop on Fifth Avenue, three blocks away.  I was in the midst of a shoot for the Warner Brothers film Batman & Robin* when I made this image with my 600mm/f4.0 lens (I know, most guys would have bought a car).  I love the way the stainless steel facade picked-up the dusky blue sky, the exquisite detail the lens produces, the blue on blue quality makes the hair on the back of my neck stand-up.   *When viewing the film, every time you see Gotham City you’re looking at my pictures of New York re-built to create the Gotham skyline.