Chicago – In Photos dot Org

Trump Tower Construction by the River

Chicago in 2005 was a city in flux, and nowhere was that more obvious than at the Trump Tower construction site, right on the banks of the Chicago River. I was walking at the edge of the site and took a bunch of photos, some of which I’ve posted over the years.

What you see in front of you appears to be the open area next to the “new” tower. Over to the left is the Wrigley Building and looking at Google Street View gives a good view of what it looks like now, from across the river.

I haven’t been back to Chicago in twenty years. I’d love to see it again.

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	18mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/100s

Greeting Visitors in the Shadow of the Wrigley Building

I last visited Chicago in 2005, when I took this photo of the Wrigley Building, and this “We’re glad you’re here!” banner.

Did you know the clock faces of the Wrigley Building are each almost 6m in diameter? The two towers of the building were completed just over 100 years ago!

Aperture	ƒ/9
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	53mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/160s

The Duck Who Loved Cash

Twenty years ago today, I was walking up State Street in Chicago when I spotted a duck robbing an unsuspecting woman on the street. I was horrified and, of course, immediately took a photo of such a strange incident.

Turns out, it was some sort of advertising photoshoot for Western Union, but the original photo went viral, even appearing in newspapers.

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	55mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/100s

The Chicago Board of Trade

The famous Chicago Board of Trade building as soon from La Salle, framed by the leaves of a branch and some flowers

In 2003, there wasn’t much vegetation to see on La Salle Street, but I found it at N 120 La Salle N Street according to Google Maps. The most recent photos on Google Maps show the red flowers are long gone.

You’ve probably seen the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) building in movies, such as Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Batman Begins, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and The Dark Knight.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	CYBERSHOT
Focal length	27.3mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/400s

Chicago Apple Store

The genius bar in this Apple store in Chicago.

An Apple Store in Chicago, in 2003. I wandered in here while I was in the city, curious about what it would look like, as I didn’t use any Apple products at the time.

Check out those CRTs at the back of the second photo!

Aperture	ƒ/2.2
Camera	CYBERSHOT
Focal length	9.7mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/125s

The John Hancock Center in 2003

The Sears Tower in Chicago in 2003 rises above nearby buildings

Right, as I have been reliably informed in the comments, this is the John Hancock Center in Chicago. Ah well. I haven’t been there in twenty years.

~~The Sears Tower rises above all nearby buildings in Chicago in 2003.~~

~~It was renamed the Willis Tower in 2009, but when I took this photo from a nearby building in 2003, it was still the Sears Tower.~~

Although Sears’ naming rights expired in 2003, the building continued to be called the Sears Tower for several years, despite multiple changes in ownership. In March 2009, London-based insurance broker Willis Group Holdings agreed to lease a portion of the building and obtained the naming rights. On July 16, 2009, the building was officially renamed the Willis Tower.
Wikipedia

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	CYBERSHOT
Focal length	48.5mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/125s

A Scarlet Ibis in Chicago

A scarlet ibis bird in the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago

A Scarlet Ibis in Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. I love the deep orange colour of the bird’s feathers!

Aperture	ƒ/5.6
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	300mm
ISO	800
Shutter speed	1/200s

A horse-drawn carriage in Chicago

Twenty years ago on the streets of Chicago I saw a carriage being pulled by a horse and a bored driver.

Today I learned while looking up more information about these trips that Chicago banned horse drawn carriages in 2021. Prices seemed to range from $120/hour up past $500/hour.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	CYBERSHOT
Focal length	9.7mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/250s

All the boats at Navy Pier

Lots of boats seen in the water at Navy Pier in Chicago. A Ferris Wheel can be seen in the background.

Numerous boats are tied up at Navy Pier in Chicago, as well as a small U.S. Coast Guard boat.

This was away back in 2003. I have no idea what the place looks like now!

Aperture	ƒ/3.5
Camera	CYBERSHOT
Focal length	9.7mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/125s

RIP Kirstie Alley

Close up of Kistie Alley looking up at another person.

Kirstie Alley waiting to sign books at Borders in Chicago, surrounded by staff and security

I saw this morning that Kirstie Alley passed away last night at the age of 71. She was great in Cheers, but I barely remember Veronica’s Closet and I’m not familiar with her roles in other shows.

In 2005, my wife and I were in Chicago, and we happened to go into a Borders bookshop there. Kirstie Alley was signing copies of her book upstairs, and a pretty good crowd had gathered. I declined to buy the book but got a few photos of what happened, even though I think staff were unsure of why I was there.

This was 2005, 2 years before the iPhone, and the only other person recording the event was somebody with a big camcorder. No selfies with the celebrity, either!

Aperture	ƒ/5.6
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	300mm
ISO	1600
Shutter speed	1/100s

Waiting for the Train in Chicago

Many years ago, in August 2003, I was waiting for the L in Chicago to bring me to work.

Edit in 2024: I remembered this was Fullerton from the sign to the far right of the image, so I added it to Google Maps there. It looks like it’s the oldest photo for that station on there!

Aperture	ƒ/2.5
Camera	CYBERSHOT
Focal length	9.7mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/125s

Checking for the Chicago Tribune

A passer-by checks the front page of the Chicago Tribune in a neighbourhood kiosk, July 2003.

I can’t imagine those kiosks are still there, considering the financial troubles newspapers have gone through in the last 19 years since this photo was taken.

Aperture	ƒ/3.5
Camera	CYBERSHOT
Focal length	9.7mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/125s