Although I’m currently based in and around LA, I’m actually from Chicago. Like so many people who grow up in an area, I didn’t truly appreciate the place as a kid. It wasn’t until I’d left as an adult and returned to visit that I realized it’s really a heckuva fantastic city! Of course, as many of you know, Chicago has a spectacular foodie scene, a vibrant & stunning downtown, and truly gregarious people. But, I’ll let you in on a little known secret…It’s the photographic opportunities that truly take the city over the top. I’m sure a few of you have a different opinion, but hey…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. It’s just like that great well-known dead guy* once said…”How ya’ see it, has a lot to do with how ya’ look at it.” It’s all in your perspective. Right?
So, imagine my joy when I found myself in the Windy City a few weeks ago. I, unknowingly, along with a few thousand others, had shown up on a frigid winter’s morning to partake in the joys of St. Patties Day in Chicago – you know…green river, green beer, and everyone Irish for the day. Surprisingly, at least to me, the festivities occurred on March 11th, six days before the rest of the world goes all Guinness and four leaf clover crazy. Given that this was Chicago, in March, AND the Hawk was out – it was cold…VERY, VERY COLD. And No, before ya’ ask, I wasn’t dressed in my arctic explorer gear. So, now I have a pretty good idea of what that rose dipped in liquid nitrogen feels like. Anyway, there I was, freezing my butt off, surrounded by buoyant wannabe leprechauns, when I realized that I really wasn’t all that interested in shooting the parade nor the dyeing of the river. Been there, done that. Fortunately, the light was spectacular, so I went on walkabout around downtown. Admittedly, this probably had a little to do with my desperate need to keep moving to stay warm. Regardless, my hope for the day was to create a few good images using that wonderfully stark winter’s light.
It was pretty easy to get into a shooting groove with light that’s just so…right. So, take a moment to check out the resulting shots. Hopefully, you can see why I think the images created in and of Chi-town really do make it a phenomenally photogenic city. Like I said…it’s the photo ops that take it over the top. 😉
* Don’t ask me the name of that “great well-known dead guy”
The little touches of light are all you need to define the images which makes them more striking than having the whole image illuminated. Nicely done!