The Simple Things

I wake up many times, thinking today I’m going to have an adventure. I’m going to see something that I’ve never seen before; travel to a place that I’ve never been before. But in many, if not most, of these instances I end up going to familiar places, seeing familiar scenes that I have never noticed before. I always seem to be on a mission, keeping my eye constantly moving as if I’m trying to spot Big Foot, that I miss quiet scenes such as this. I just finished watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and there was a line towards the end which was “Beautiful things don’t ask for attention.” which made me think about this picture. I’ve been to this state park for a couple of years now and I guess I’ve always been looking for these amazing scenes that I’ve failed to noticed this bench. Something so small but seemed so big to me at that moment. It was comforting to see and calming to be at. It made me smile and appreciate the simple things in life.

See More:

       

The Quiet Life

The cold breeze struck my face as I quickly got off the train to Chicago. This was my first visit this year, and I couldn’t have picked a colder day. As I walked down the street, passing by familiar scenes of skateboarders chasing pigeons and couples ice skating under the Cloud Gate (the bean), I barely pulled out my camera. I was enjoying just being in this moment. It was hard not to be happy when every where you looked a stranger was smiling. So I continued my walk to the lake and found myself on the beach. May have not been the best weather for it, but there was just something about being there that was very comforting. I found myself sharing it with a couple who seemed to be on the same mission. They silently walked along the shore, taking moments to just stare out at the lake. I watched them as they were taking everything in. Although we were surrounded by the plethora of city sounds, it’s hard to be distracted while living the quiet life.

See More:

       

A Moment Frozen in Time

Winter on Lake Michigan in Chicago

I woke up early in the morning, grabbed a cup of coffee not only to wake me up but to keep me some sort of warm. I knew it would be quite cold on the lakefront. I was planning on catching a glimpse of the sunrise over the Chicago landscape. It was still dark when I got to the shore, so I set up my tripod and began shooting. After about a half hour or so, there was no spectacular grand appearance of the sun, rather it just illuminated the clouds. Although, this wasn’t exactly what I expected, I was quite happy. There was sense of stillness in the air that morning. The waves weren’t crashing against the rocks; there was no one around and traffic ceased to exist. Nature was at still. I felt as if I was staring at a moment frozen in time.

Chicago Winter Street Lights

Chicago Winter Street Light

Snow, snow and more snow. Walking down the wintery streets of Chicago, there was no one in sight. This is one of the first time photographing Chicago in winter, let alone while it was snowing. It was more of an exploration, trudging along the sidewalks, battling the wind. I didn’t know what I was expecting. Nor did I have a plan for what I wanted to photograph. After I got home and brushed the snow out of my hair, I looked through the small amount of pictures that I happened to gather. I found these shots I took of various light posts. It seemed to capture the feeling of Chicago that night. An almost somber evening. A sort of solitude illuminating the snow as it gently falls down. These are the winter street lights that guided me that night through the streets of Chicago.

Below my Feet

My amazement at the frozen world below my feet. Nature ceases to surprise me. The details, the patterns. It is truly a work of art.

Snowflake Pattern