Work takes me to Chicago this weekend for a week and I wondered if anybody had tips on good places to get shots of the 'Windy City'?
I'm coming from the UK and won't get another chance for a long time - if ever! I'll have to fit snapping around work stuff, but hopefully there will be some free time.
Michigan Avenue/Columbus Drive between the Chicago River and The Museum Campus and the lake front. Walk along there and you will see:
The Art Institute
Grant Park
Millennium Park
Buckingham Fountain
Navy Pier/Lake Front
The Museum Campus - Nice views of the city from this area, this includes The Shed Aquarium, The Field Museum and The Adler Planitarium (but entrance fees can be pricy)
End it all at the 95th floor of The John Hancock or The Sears tower either of which is a short cab ride away once you have done all of the walking. GREAT Views of the city form both of these places.
Hope this helps,
Maya
p.s. you could also look at This Thread, There was a recent get together and I linked some of the attractions.
You shouldn't miss the 96th floor of John Hancock tower. Go to the lounge, get some drinks and patiently wait for sunset, you'll get the best pictures ever. I have one that I really like:
You shouldn't miss the 96th floor of John Hancock tower. Go to the lounge, get some drinks and patiently wait for sunset, you'll get the best pictures ever. I have one that I really like:
Right...the bar at The Hancock is always an option, at least for the $10 you pay, you get a drink in return. Not as much freedom to use a camera though, cause of the bar tables and all. The bathroom on that floor might be your best bet.
Here is one of mine from the Sears Tower, you can see The Hancock building in this picture.
And I'm going in July and then again in August...for the first time. Already have tickets to two baseball games at Comiskey and Wrigley! Do either of the Hancock or Sears Towers have an open viewing area where you don't have to shoot through glass? And can you use a tripod?
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Keep them coming... I'm going to Chicago in August and would love some good tips from the locals :)
And I'm going in July and then again in August...for the first time. Already have tickets to two baseball games at Comiskey and Wrigley! Do either of the Hancock or Sears Towers have an open viewing area where you don't have to shoot through glass? And can you use a tripod?
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Keep them coming... I'm going to Chicago in August and would love some good tips from the locals :)
Sears tower has no open air viewing, but you can use a tripod. The Hancock, I believe has an open air "skywalk", so you can feel the wind, but I think there are still glass and protective barriers. I do not know about tripods in that building, but from other comments in this thread, I belive they are allowed.
Wrigley is a nice area for canids and neighborhood photos.
Lincoln Park Zoo is great and it is free.
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is next to the zoo and I hear it is great for plants and butterflies.
These are both a short walk to the lake where you also get good views of the skyline.
Chicago Botanic Gardens are supposed to be great also, I have not made a trip there, so I cannot support this claim.
Keep them coming... I'm going to Chicago in August and would love some good tips from the locals :)
Yea, if there is a GTG in August when John goes, I'm showing up this time. I missed the first one and them guys looked like they had a good time and got some great shots.
- The Architectural Boat tours are also really cool and fun and educational. You can get some great building shots.
- Also, while Maya mentioned Michigan Avenue down by the Loop, you should also walk around North Michigan Avenue (The Magnificent Mile) where you have the Water Tower, Wrigley Building, Tribune building, North avenue beach, the Drake Hotel, etc
- be sure to do some night shots of the city.
- check out local event guides when you are here because any parades or festivals are excellent people shotting opportunities. As Heather said, the Gay Pride parade is quite outrageous and colorful.
- the Picasso sculpture by Daley Plaza
- El trains in the Loop
- Blues bars or Jazz Clubs
- sail boats out on the Lake
Originally posted by MayaM:
Michigan Avenue/Columbus Drive between the Chicago River and The Museum Campus and the lake front. Walk along there and you will see:
The Art Institute
Grant Park
Millennium Park
Buckingham Fountain
Navy Pier/Lake Front
The Museum Campus - Nice views of the city from this area, this includes The Shed Aquarium, The Field Museum and The Adler Planitarium (but entrance fees can be pricy)
End it all at the 95th floor of The John Hancock or The Sears tower either of which is a short cab ride away once you have done all of the walking. GREAT Views of the city form both of these places.
Hope this helps,
Maya
p.s. you could also look at This Thread, There was a recent get together and I linked some of the attractions.
Keep them coming... I'm going to Chicago in August and would love some good tips from the locals :)
Yea, if there is a GTG in August when John goes, I'm showing up this time. I missed the first one and them guys looked like they had a good time and got some great shots.
I'm going up August 10 thru 13. The only thing I have set in stone on my calendar for that trip at this point is the Field Museum on Friday.
Oh my...This weekend is Chicago's Gay Pride weekend. (I'll be there) Time to beg Lang for that Transvestite challenge we've always wanted.
ACtually this could be quite fund!! Transvestite/Dress in Drag Challenge! I guess it might be similar to a portrait ... but I could see a lot of the folks on here getting creative with this one!
You can get a great shot from the little road down by the lake that takes you to the field museum and aquarium. You get an awesome skyline with lake michigan in the forground. very good shots on a clear night. from this same spot you can get some nice shots of navy pier also... another good spot is the top of the John Hancock tower or the Sears tower. however it cost some money to get up there the views are awesome when the weather permits.
another thing you can do. in the downtown area they have trolly tours that you can take which will lead you past all the famous landmarks like where the great fire started the first brick building
the loop is an intresting subject if you like lots of lines and shapes in your photos...
really chicago is about as photogenic as a city can be. You shouldnt have any problems getting some nice pictures....
I'm going up August 10 thru 13. The only thing I have set in stone on my calendar for that trip at this point is the Field Museum on Friday.
How about the 12th of August? Perhaps a half day by the lakefront South of the Chicago River and end it near the platetarium for a viewing of the Navy Pier fireworks display at 10:15pm?
Let me know asap, there is another thread wanting to gtg for fireworks and this way I can tie them together, and start the oficial Aug 12th gtg thread.
