El Frijol
A couple days ago I mentioned that I had been in Chicago for a writer’s conference at the end of March.
I’ve been to Chicago many times (as in passing through on my way elsewhere) but I’ve never really been to Chicago. When a couple ladies from my class said they wanted to go into downtown for dinner I was totally on board.
We hopped on the L and headed from Rosemont into downtown and walked around.
The ladies were intent on seeing Cloud Gate, colloquially known as “The Bean” and I was onboard.
It just so happened that the March theme for my photography club was night photography, so I took along a camera just in case I saw something good.
The Bean is like any touristy object, it’s been photographed thousands of times. I had no idea what I could do to improve on what’s already been done, so I just had fun with this shiny reflective piece of art.
Here’s what I got:
Image Copyright © 2015 Karen Fayeth
I think the Chicago skyline is so beautiful and a bit iconic as well. I love that at certain angles, the polished surface of the Cloud Gate just disappears into the sky like liquid silver. It’s really cool!
My favorite part of the whole night was when my fellow travelers and I had found our way to Millennium Park and were a bit lost trying to find The Bean inside the park.
At one point, a bunch of kids came running and flowed around me like a stream while they pointed and shouted “El Frijol! Mira! Mira! El Frijol!” I smiled because I knew I was near. And I laughed because of course it’s called El Frijol. My New Mexican pride stool tall as I found that big shiny bean.
I love the shot, but I wasn’t sure anyone else would. Turns out this photo took second place in the voting for my photography club’s monthly challenge, and that makes me happy (missed first place by one vote!).
After The Bean, we found our way to Giordanos because hello Chicago style pizza! Can you believe I forgot to take a photo of that delicious deep dish? Oh well.
This photo of Cloud Gate brings me good memories of downtown Chicago. I look at this beautiful bean photo and I smile.
Chicago is such a great city. Really top notch. I can’t wait to go back.
