Back when my parents started bringing us kids to neighborhood carnivals, funhouses were one of my favorite attractions at them, and if those had either funhouse mirrors or halls of mirrors, I was the happiest guy on earth. I think it was the first seed put into my mind that light and form were things people could play with.

Here’s another shot of the famous Chicago landmark the Bean, actually titled Cloud Gate. The outside of the sculpture is a nice, pleasant experience that plays a little with your mind. Maybe you’re closer than you think; maybe you’re farther away. The skyline looks great from most angles, especially if there’s a blue sky.

But get underneath it and you get the full funhouse mirror effect. It’s interesting to watch people. The appeal of the Bean is finding yourself, and it’s really hard to do that underneath. I think I know which of these reflections is me.

But I think it’s the most rewarding view the Bean can give people, and because it plays with both light and people’s minds so much, it’s both a concept and a photo I love.

September 4, 2016. Google Nexus 6P cell phone, focal length 4.67 (35mm equivalent: 26mm), f/2, 1/20, ISO 400.