I’ve been in a serious funk lately with no motivation to shoot or create anything new. As I often teach, getting out of ruts like this sometimes takes a little forcing. Granted, sometimes you need a break to do other things and rest. But at a certain point, it’s simply about getting back in the habit of creating.
I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s been feeling bleh over all this covid stuff and the craziness in the world. For me, I think it’s time to get back to some kind of routine that involves shooting. So, last week I went to checkout James Turell’s Skyspace on the UIC campus. It’s long been on my list so I got up bright and early to catch that soft morning light.
Chicago’s Skyspace is an elliptical structure 26 feet high and 43 feet in diameter with an oculus in the roof that frames the sky and shifting light levels. It’s also Turrell’s first public Skyspace, though he has many throughout the world.
Turrell’s perspective of the work – “I want to create something that directly connects you to a thought that is wordless, a thought that doesn’t have a storyline. It’s an arena of thought that has a kind of loneliness, but also a great beauty.”
As is typical, often interested in how spaces feel different based on color vs b&w. The next few shots are from inside the pavilion looking up.
The next few shots combine the exterior and interior of the space. Went for a higher key take than the interior shots.
And, because I often get comments from people asking what exactly I’m shooting in my images, here are a couple of wider shots to give some perspective.
I doubt this is my last visit since I think photographing this midday, in the evening and with clouds could make for some different interpretations.
