Category: Chicago

Categories
Canon 20D Chicago People Photography Photos Sigma 18-200 Street United States Urban

Behind the scenes of the Thieving Duck

Long time readers will remember the thieving duck photo that I made in 2005. Scratch that, many people who use email, Facebook, Twitter or other social media website will be familiar with this photo. A recent post on Reddit showed me just how tired some people are of it as a meme! I would dearly love to know who it was that copied the photo into a joke email because I would thank them.

At first I was upset that my photo had been taken and used without my permission. It took me a long time to figure out that it doesn’t matter. I had fun taking the photo and it’s a reminder of a great holiday. I smiled looking at the photos this morning while I picked out these shots for this post. I wonder if the model, or the people pictured here have seen the meme?

I had no idea who financed this shoot although the Snopes article on it suggests Western Union did, nor did I talk to anyone there but I saw a chance to get an interesting photo and I took it.

Here’s a gallery of behind the scenes shots. Enjoy!

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 55mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/80s
Categories
Black and White Candid Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago People Photography Photos Street United States Urban

Construction in Chicago

Construction in Chicago

Construction work on the Trump Tower in 2005.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s
Categories
Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago Look up Photography Photos United States Urban

Look up at Marina City

Look up at Marina City

Marina City, the round shaped buildings in Chicago that sit on the river make an imposing sight when viewed up close. Good thing there’s valet parking, you certainly wouldn’t want to be scared of heights driving around inside them!

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/125s
Categories
Candid Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago People Photography Photos United States Urban

Shoe Shopper Heaven

Shoe Shopper Heaven

I’m reliably informed that many women enjoy the occasional trip to shoe shops and other establishments were garments and other finery may be purchased. Thankfully my wife isn’t one of them and hates shopping almost as much as I do. Nevertheless we found ourselves inside this shoe shop in Chicago so I decided to make the most of the moment and snap a few photos.

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 21mm
ISO 1600
Shutter speed 1/100s
Categories
Architecture Black and White Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago Photography Photos United States Urban

Chicago Spaces

Chicago Spaces

Despite being a major city, or perhaps because of it, Chicago has plenty of open spaces and broad streets. I love this shot for it’s wide open space bordered by tall buildings.

If the photo looks slightly odd, that’s because I used the perspective tool, but never dragged it the other way..

Aperture ƒ/16
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 1600
Shutter speed 1/800s
Categories
Black and White Candid Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago People Photography Photos Street United States Urban

Panaflex

Panaflex

When I originally took this photo in Chicago (on La Salle, near the CBOT) it was a snapshot of a film crew. I took a few more shots of the crew but I was intrigued by the camera. Panaflex, what’s the specs on that then? Turns out it’s a product of Panavision, you know, that name that’s in practically every American film’s credits? Interesting history too although how they consider that big lump small enough to be handheld is beyond me!

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 55mm
ISO 800
Shutter speed 1/125s
Categories
Architecture Black and White Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago Photography Photos River Street United States Urban Vehicles Water

The basement of Trump Tower

In 2001 Donald Trump announced he’d build the tallest building in the world in Chicago, “Trump International Hotel and Tower”. After the attacks on the WTC in September that year the plans were changed however, but it’s still an awfully high building. Check out the Wikipedia page for further details.

This is the building site of the “Trump Tower” as it’s known locally. I shot this in 2005, and they’ve made quite a bit of progress since then as you can imagine, but this is a piece of history, and a patch of bare ground that won’t see daylight again for many many years.

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/125s
Categories
Architecture Black and White Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago Look up Photography Photos Reflections Sky United States Urban

Sears Tower

Sears Tower is one of the famous landmarks of Chicago I photographed while in the city. Remarkably, despite the months I spent in the city, I never actually went to the top of the building. I almost did once, but turned back for some reason. Could have been the long line to get past security. Dunno.

Anyway, this is only the second shot of the building I’ve posted. The first, taken near one of the flagpoles pictured here was unusual and was fairly well received. This is a more traditional architecture shot, though I do like the flags waving in the wind!

Oh, my Canon 20D is still broken. On advice from Ryan, I’ll give Canon in the UK a ring, and I’m also on the look out for a Canon 40D. ac-foto in Germany sell the body only for €795 which seems to be the best price I’ve found so far. Prices in Ireland are around the €1,200 mark. Ouch. Where would you buy a DSLR? (that’ll ship to Ireland!)

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s
Categories
Architecture Boat Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago Landscape Photography Photos River United States Urban Vehicles Water

Chicago on the river

Chicago on the river

Many cites live and depend on rivers and none more so than Chicago which went as far as to reverse the flow of the Chicago River! Wikipedia has more of course.

The observant visitor will notice the twin towers of Marina City in the photo above, and possibly recognise the distinctive bridge from the latest Batman movies.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s
Categories
Architecture Black and White Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago Landscape Photography Photos United States Urban Vehicles

Marina City

Marina City

Marina City in Chicago is made up of two 65 storey towers with a distinctive circular shape. I just love the look of them actually. They’re right on the river but this shot is taken from the L, probably on the Brown line after leaving Kimball which will be tomorrow’s photo!

As usual the Wikipedia page has a lot more info about Marina City including this bit about Steve McQueen:

In the movie The Hunter, “Papa” Thorson (Steve McQueen) pursues a suspect in a car chase through the Marina City parking garage. His quarry eventually loses control of his car and drives it off of a high floor of the garage into the Chicago River. This scene was later recreated for an Allstate commercial in 2006/2007.

PS. If I find the time, I’ll be taking part in Pink for October. Will has more info!

Aperture ƒ/9
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s
Categories
Architecture Candid Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago People Photography Photos Street United States Urban Vehicles

Chicago’s La Salle Street

La Salle Street in Chicago ends abruptly in the Chicago Board of Trade at the far end of the street. It’s an unusual street because all the streets in Chicago just go on and on, mostly in parallel, through the city. This one just stops!

La Salle Bank which is barely visible at the left of this image is also in the background of The Dark Knight Batman movie.

Aperture ƒ/11
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 800
Shutter speed 1/400s
Categories
Canon 18-55 Canon 20D Chicago Photography Photos Street United States Urban Vehicles

Under the L

Under the L

The L is the elevated train system in Chicago and many films have been filmed underneath it’s tracks, including some scenes in Batman, The Dark Knight. Here’s the L under Kimball on the brown line. I worked close by a few years ago!

Aperture ƒ/4.5
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 800
Shutter speed 1/50s