How to Photograph a Trip to Chicago

Over the past 30 years I have spent a lot of time in Chicago while traveling on business in the printing and publishing industries. Chicago is still the largest printing center in the United States and home to some of the country's leading publishers. As a business traveler I appreciated the fine hotels and great restaurants, but had little time to see the city since I was always working. Ask me for a restaurant recommendation and I could give you a dozen, but ask anything about the city's history and background and I would have to punt. Recently, my daughter moved to Chicago to pursue her career, so now when I visit I am a tourist and am getting a totally different view of the city I have always loved. As an ignorant east coaster I was always taught that Chicago was called the "Second City" because it was the second best city after New York. I now know that Chicago is the Second City because it was the second city to stand after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. I have also started to take my camera with me to Chicago, something I never did as a business executive. Photographic opportunities are plentiful all over the city from the famous "Magnificent Mile" to the lakefront to the ethnic neighborhoods that surround the city. There is no question, Chicago is resplendent with opportunities for every shutter bug. Here are some of my tips for a photographic tour of the Windy City.

Instructions

Get over any fear you might have about riding the rails. Like New York, the best way to get around Chicago is on the train. You can buy a "Fun Pass" for one day for $5 and two days for $9. This allows you to ride on any train line all day for one fare. If you are flying in to Chicago's O'Hare Airport you can take the Blue Line directly to the Loop. It is absolutely the fastest way to get to the center of the city. The trains are relatively clean, but fast and noisy. They are louder outside than inside and you will soon get used to the screeching noise as they navigate the loop. The CTA can also take you to any neighborhood you may want to visit from Pilsen to Chinatown.

Chicago is sometimes called the city of skyscrapers. The Home Insurance Building was the world's first skyscraper built in 1885 and was the first building to use structural steel in its frame. Take some time to enjoy the architectural diversity of this city and take some photographs of the city's unique buildings. In this shot of the Wrigley Building you can see three different architectural styles. You can take an Architectural Boat Tour of Chicago which I've also written an article on.

Photographing skyscrapers is difficult. They are so large that you need a wide angle lens, and the chances of the sun being in exactly the right place when you are ready to snap are remote. Sometimes you have to work with the light you have, and a specular highlight may add to the image. In this case the highlight adds to the image of Trump Tower which is under construction and made entirely of steel and glass.

In addition to using highlights, also be aware of reflections. There is something magical about seeing art deco buildings reflected in post modern glass and steel architecture. In addition to creating interesting graphics, the blend of architectural styles is much like the cultural blend of people in this city. "Do you want to understand digital photography approaches that carry skilled photographers to where they are today? Well, The Top Secret Photography Techniques could support you out in doing so. To find spectacular photos we primary need to have to look at some imperative photography strategies. The primary one I am able to share with you is find out about light. You can obtain all the things about photography techniques on , The Top Secret Photography Techniques. Whenever you uncover about light and in what approach it interacts with the direct environment then your images will get improved..". There is something uniquely American about Chicago that you can see in the skyline and feel from the people who live there.

Visit at least one museum. Chicago has some wonderful ones: the Chicago Art Institute, the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry are popular favorites. The Field Museum is one of my favorites and it ranks very favorably with the New York Museum of Natural History.

Take the train to an ethnic neighborhood. Go to Wicker Park and visit the trendy part of town or to Pilsen to sample Chicago's Hispanic side. This is a photograph of the Sears Tower taken from Chinatown. Each neighborhood will give you a different point of view of Chicago's skyline and a different exposure to the cultural stew and makeup of the city.

Like any great city, there is always something happening on the streets. Local street musicians play the blues. You might also see panhandlers and street people looking for handouts. You need to walk the streets to get the flavor of the city. So make sure when you go out on the town you wear comfortable shoes. The trains will get you close to where you want to go, but you will still need to walk to see the sites. You might even run into these ladies on their white horses.

Take some pictures at night. The Chicago Theater looks much different at night then during the day. There is something magical that happens to large cities at night as the buildings and marquees light up. Chicago is no exception, beautiful by day, magical at night.

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