Manhole Covers Etc.
"I've been looking down so long, I don't know which way looks up."

 

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fgardino@rcn.com

 

Chicago

Business City
 

9/10/01 Sky

 

9/10/01 Northeast Sky

That's right.  9/10/01.  I flew out of Boston on my way to Chicago the morning of the day before the infamous attack.  The skies were also beautiful the next day, in stark contrast to the ominous events.

 

9/10/01 Sky 2

 

9/10/01 Northeast Sky 2

I usually don't even try to shoot the sky out of a jet, but the sunrise was spectacular that day.

 

9/10/01 Sky 3

 

9/10/01 Northeast Sky 3

Do you see what I mean?

 

Gray Cover

 

Gray Cover

This cover could almost be called my memorial cover.  The short depth of field has a remarkable somber quality, almost like a utilitarian tombstone.

 

Round Sewer

 

Round Sewer

Most sewers are adjacent to sidewalks, but some are in the middle of the street and need to be round.

 

Commonwealth Cover

 

Commonwealth Edison Cover in the Street

It looks like someone had a little too much to drink the night before he dug this hole and installed this cover.

 

Commonwealth Edison

 

Commonwealth Edison Cover on the Sidewalk

This one they didn't get right either.  What gives?  

 

Chicago Electric

 

City Electric

City Electric, as opposed to commercial or residential electric.  Good idea.  Keep it obvious.

 

Another City Electric Cover

 

Another City Electric Cover

Maybe that's all they have is electricity in Chicago?

 

Chicago Water Works Cover

 

Chicago Water Works Cover

Well I guess that blows my theory about electric exclusivity.

 

Chicago Subway

 

Chicago

... and you thought Chicago only had the elevated trains.  Ha!  Now you know.  There's a great train that goes from O'Hare Airport right to downtown Chicago for about 3 bucks.

 

No Swimming

 

Water

I think this cover was made by the same manufacturer that made the subway one.

 

Chicago Sewer

 

Chicago Sewer

Straight forward and simple message.  Just get the job done.

 

Yellow Drain

 

Yellow Drain

Great Colors.  Great textures.  Great shapes.

 

Sanitary District

 

Sanitary District of Chicago

This cover is in the only district in Chicago that is sanitary. :-)   (not really)

 

Starburst Design

 

Starburst Design

It's good to see a burst once in a while, but what does it mean?

 

Metropolitan Sanitary District

 

Metropolitan Sanitary District

Now here a very dirty looking MSD sanitary cover.

 

Metropolitan Reclamation District

 

Metropolitan Reclamation District

The question therefore is "What are they reclaiming?"

 

Cover with Lots of Lines

 

Cover with Lots of Lines

This one I had to shoot quickly since there was a lot of traffic on this bridge that day.

 

Ameritech

 

Ameritech

Technology is present in Chicago as well as many other big cities in the USA.  Someday data lines will replace electric lines as we build self-sustaining energy systems.  Then the data lines will go wireless and we'll have our skies back, and the streets will contain plumbing only.

 

Adelphia Cover

 

Adelphia Cover

This one looks pretty beat up, like the CEO of the company.

 

American Legion

 

American Legion

Chicago is home to many great social clubs, like this one and the AFL-CIO.

 

Chicago & Son cover

 

Chicago and Son Cover

Nice and simple brown texture against gray texture.

 

3 Green Covers

 

3 Green Covers

...in a large green painted driveway.  What a find!

 

L. B. Co.

 

L. B. Co.

This one might have been designed by Larry Poons?

 

Lincoln Park Cover

 

Lincoln Park Cover

Of course, I have no idea what it's covering.... electrical switches maybe?

 

The Metropolitan Sanitary District with Orange Marking

 

Metropolitan Sanitary District with Orange Marking

We have a similar commission in Boston and they call it the MDC, Metropolitan District Commission and it keeps the parks and pools open and clean.  So far Chicago has a MSD, MRD.  What else?

 

Grid in the Grass

 

Grid in the Grass

Lately I've been finding cement grids in the grass, but I'm not sure what the designer's original intent was.

 

Rectangular Sewer Drain

 

Rectangular Sewer Drain

Interesting, this one is rectangular.  I wonder why?  I would think it's easier to dig one of these instead of a round one.

 

Chicago Bull

 

Chicago Bull

Chicago is a rather bullish city, don't you know?  With the Chicago Mercantile and all.

 

Chicago Wandjina

 

Chicago Wandjina

Of all the urban wandjinas, this has been the best to date.  I think the water in the eyes adds to it's mystery.

 

Chicago Walls and Ducts

 

Chicago Walls and Ducts

Chicago has great buildings.  Some old and some new.  I enjoyed many sites looking up and looking down.

 

Under the Bridge

 

Under the Bridge

This area would make a great location for a music video.  Maybe it already has?

 

Square Cover with Green Bags

 

Square Cover with Green Bags

There were lots of sandbags holding up fences, all around the city at that time.  Some were green

 

Orange Bags

 

Orange Bags

... and some orange ones.

 

Chainlink Fence Grid

 

Chain Link Fence Pavement Grid

Somebody must have decided that a chain link fence made a good textural pattern for this sidewalk?

 

Arrows and Line Study

 

Arrows and Line Study

This was another tough shot.  Lots of traffic.  The line detail is great.

 

Tree Grid

 

Tree Grid

This tree grid has seen better days.  Most of them in Chicago looked much better with no cracks, but the photos of them did not have any character at all.

 

No Swimming

 

No Swimming

Chicago, like many large US cities, does not allow its people to swim in the city.  Who owns whom?