REFLECTION

One of the most surprising things about this assignment is that despite the high number of photographs I took — well beyond the required 20 for each set — I had trouble selecting 5 photos for each category because many of my photos were not viable. There were a number of reasons for this, including the changing light, which forced me to keep changing my settings, the interruptions from curious onlookers and others competing for space. There was also a great deal of motion blur considering I was standing on a functioning movable bridge with all kinds of vehicles making the bridge rattle, and foot traffic (including weddings and an athleisure photoshoot) that sometimes made if difficult to get any work done.

For the first set, I know I added an extra photo, but I had a hard time choosing, especially with the 1950s Hopperesque Americana-like last photo (also seen in my “Top of the Weese”), in addition to the name, considering the arm peeks through in the first photo. I changed it to sound like the warning sound of the bridges lifting (Twin Peaks reference).

The second set was more challenging for me. I found it was harder to shoot with the changing light and I kept forgetting to change my shutter speed. I love the Structure photo because the light just happened to catch another creature’s structure at just the right time. I think it would have been less interesting if the spider was there, as I find living things less interesting. However, I was able to isolate one of the pylons and it was so strange to see that plants had grown on it and rays of sun shimmered on it, and a rusty chain was either trapping it or keeping it safe. It felt poetic and sad and comical all at once. It took a long time to isolate and make allow it to be as beautiful as destructive as it was.

The third set includes a silhouette of the I meant for my own collection. I did not have a detailed image of the permanently raised historic Kinzie Street Railroad Bridge (aka the Carroll Ave Railroad Bridge) but when I attempted to adjust it in Lightroom, it became grainy. So I kept it as I had intended since I included another photo with a more detailed capture of the Carroll Avenue Railroad Bridge.

I enjoy my creative work to demonstrate some cohesion and some variety. The Henry Weese Townhouses allow for this in the middle of the city along the river. This is a beautiful, historic stretch which would be equivalent to about 3 blocks. There is so much to photograph and take in that it can be overwhelming to forget to change camera settings, consider ones personal safety, and concentrate with all of the distractions and elements. Somehow, I love it.

As far as Eggelston, my life was complete without my new-found, in-depth knowledge about him. He is a negative of my film strip, thus the names for my photos. But I did try to take photographs with his approach in mind and my photos did seem to take some time to take — nearly an entire day. As far as the activity itself, I really enjoyed this one because of the freedom and creativity it provided.

Nonetheless, please enjoy my David Lynch reference. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do and did.