Denise Poloyac Photos

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November 11

Denise Poloyac

13 Nov 2024 • 3 min read

2024: Between the Buildings. Taken on Clark Street south of Foster in Chicago.

This tree wasn't as impressive as the one that I photographed four years ago on this date, but it is still a cool tree.

2020: Quite a tree. Taken on Home Ave between Lexington and Harvard in Oak Park, IL. This enormous silver poplar is in the back yard in Oak Park. It’s leaves are yellow now and the sun was illuminating them. It is a most wonderful tree.

2018: Elliott. Taken on Washington St at the exit from the Kennedy in Chicago. Overall, I had better stories today than I had photos. One of those stories is my conversation with Elliott. I was walking back to my car from the loop and passed where he was working the intersection asking cars going by for assistance. He asked me if I had taken any good photos and I stopped and we talked for a little while. We talked about the birds who hang out at the intersection and about the kinds of photos that I like to take. He told me that he wasn’t raised like this and that he had jobs in the past and was going to get one. He said he had made some mistakes but that things beyond his control happened, and that he didn’t think he had gotten over his mother and then father’s deaths. I told him that we all make mistakes and some of us were fortunate to have more of a cushion. I wished him the best and went on my way after he let me take his photo.

2016: RIP Leonard Cohen. Taken at Nhu Lan Bakery on Lawrence between Talman and Rockwell in Chicago. I decided that a long walk through the City would do me good today. I had learned that Leonard Cohen had died last night, and in playing his music was again drawn to the song “Anthem” and its incredible lyrics. It is rare that I go out and look for a photo that captures something for me -- but this time I did, because I wanted a photo that fit with how I felt and that fit with that song. I was having trouble focusing (myself, not the camera), but then at the Nhu Lan Bakery, I saw a woman come out with incense which she spread around and put into a little incense holder just outside the door. I missed getting a photo of her since I had to cross the street, but did capture this which seemed remarkably fitting. From “Anthem” The birds they sang at the break of day Start again I heard them say Don't dwell on what has passed away or what is yet to be. Ah the wars they will be fought again The holy dove She will be caught again bought and sold and bought again the dove is never free. Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in. . . . I can't run no more with that lawless crowd while the killers in high places say their prayers out loud. But they've summoned, they've summoned up a thundercloud and they're going to hear from me.

2012: Ironing at the Clothespin. Taken on Lawrence Ave just east of Central Park