Dog walker
Another shot from Chicago along Lake Michigan. This area is right next to the Adler Planetarium. I shot some new stuff the other day, but out of 50 or so shots I only liked one which I posted yesturday.
In the beginning…
I’ve read alot of books in my life. Some on photography (I certainly need to read more of these.) Some on computers. Some fiction. Some non-fiction. But this is the book I’ve read the most and continue to turn to. It’ll change your life if you let it.
There was a discussion the other day on Chromasia about photography as either being or not being an art. A comment was made that art is only art if it “challenges ideas and preconceptions.” Like David from Chromasia said “I think this is an overly restrictive and highbrow definition…” But, isn’t that something to attempt to do from time to time? To challenge a person…to elicite some response? Sometimes it’s just a “hmmm” or maybe a “wow.”
I guess my point is, what does this photograph elicite in you? Maybe it’s joy and comfort. Maybe it’s anger or pitty. The book itself is nothing but ink and paper. But, the message that the ink conveys demands a response.
Chicago Cultural Center
Nothing particularly grand or revealing, but it appeals to me for some reason. It’s the just outside of the room in this shot.
Pier
Ok, back to Chicago scenery. Hopefully I can pick up my camera and shoot something new in the next couple of days. I have been fairly lazy as far as shooting because I took so many shots during my trip to Chicago. Nothing extrodinary about this one, but it just sticks out to me for some strange reason above the other shots I have prepared.
Brandon the Paparazzi
Something a little different than Chicago scenery. This is Brandon doing his paparazzi impersonation before realizing he had the lens cap on still. :)
Chasing waves
Yet another Chicago shot. Off in the distance you can see the carousel that sits on top of the Navy Pier. I almost got my camera really wet messing around by the water’s edge trying to get some good splash shots.
Sand time
Not much to say here. Saw this little girl playing by one of the beaches we visited along lake Michigan in Chicago. I couldn’t decide whether I liked the color version or monochrome version better. I keep leaning towards color, what do you think?
Update: Monochrome seems to be winning out, so I swapped them. :) Thanks for the comments!
Navy Pier
Continuing with shots from my trip to Chicago. This is a combination of two shots down the right side of the Navy Pier in Chicago. The shots together end up unbalanced, but I wanted to show you some more of Chicago, plus you can see to the far right the lighthouse from a previous shot. This is the same section of walkway, although several hundred feet to the right, that I shot the lighthouse so you get an idea as to how far away from it I was.
The Navy Pier is an interesting place. It’s a section of land that jutts out into lake Michigan and down the right side of it (as you are facing lake Michigan) there are shops and restaurants and many boats docked. Along the top is a large carousel, mini golf and other attractions.
It’s particularly neat when you get out to the farthest point and you are looking out into the lake. It’s a great place to just take a seat and watch the birds and water and take it all in. Very peaceful and soothing. Every now and then they’ll have a band playing Jazz or some type of music out near the end as well. It’s one of my favorite places to visit in Chicago.
Fast subway
The subway in Chicago is superfast! :) We’ve become pro’s at getting around Chicago during our several trips there. Using the buses and subway you can get around pretty well.
Some facts about the transit system: CTA has approximately 2,000 buses that operate over 152 routes and 2,273 route miles. Buses provide about 1 million passenger trips a day and serve more than 12,000 posted bus stops. CTA’s 1,190 rapid transit cars operate over seven routes and 222 miles of track. CTA trains provide about 500,000 customer trips each day and serve 144 stations.
There was a little bit of a scare while we were in Chicago this last time. One of the Metra trains, which are kinda like the subway but faster with less stops, derailed and a couple of people died. We weren’t on any of the Metra trains this time, but the last time we were there we had jumped on one of them.
UPDATE: Thanks to all who voted for me on Photofriday. I got a noteworthy for the Blur competition. Thanks again!
Fourth Presbyterian Church
This is one of the outside hallways in the Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago. It was quite interesting to be walking along the hustle and bustle of Michigan avenue amongst what seemed like a million or more people and then to step off to the side into the courtyard next to this church. It suddenly became quiet and peaceful. The inside of this Church was quite impressive and grand. The Church was built in 1914 following the destruction of their previous worship location by the great Chicago fire and under went restoration and recreation that finished in 1995. It now sits in the middle of the great shopping known as the “Magnificent Mile.”