Traveler photographer Bob Krist just paid a visit to Chicago, but he wasn't just there to check out the blues. Here, he shares some of his photos from his trip, and offers a few tips on getting great pictures of the skyline.
The Chicago skyline at twilight, as seen from the Adler Planetarium.
Chicago is more than the city of big shoulders; it's a city of great architecture. Capturing its distinct and eclectic skyline is a challenging pleasure for any shooter. Here are some top places to make knockout pictures of the Windy City.
1. The Adler Planetarium on Museum Campus. Jutting out into Lake Michigan, the Museum Campus offers a panoramic view back towards the city. The Adler Planetarium sits at the end of the peninsula and the steps on the side of the structure give you an unfettered view of the expanse of the entire skyline. It's a morning to early afternoon shot, and it's great again at twilight (right after sunset). Many cameras, even point and shoots, allow you to stitch several pictures together for a panorama, so try shooting several overlapping sections of the view and stitching it together to form a stunning panoramic. You can also do this after fact in Photoshop or any image manipulation program that offers panoramic stitching.
The Chicago skyline at twilight, as seen from the Adler Planetarium.Chicago is more than the city of big shoulders; it's a city of great architecture. Capturing its distinct and eclectic skyline is a challenging pleasure for any shooter. Here are some top places to make knockout pictures of the Windy City.
1. The Adler Planetarium on Museum Campus. Jutting out into Lake Michigan, the Museum Campus offers a panoramic view back towards the city. The Adler Planetarium sits at the end of the peninsula and the steps on the side of the structure give you an unfettered view of the expanse of the entire skyline. It's a morning to early afternoon shot, and it's great again at twilight (right after sunset). Many cameras, even point and shoots, allow you to stitch several pictures together for a panorama, so try shooting several overlapping sections of the view and stitching it together to form a stunning panoramic. You can also do this after fact in Photoshop or any image manipulation program that offers panoramic stitching.
View of the Chicago skyline from the John Hancock Center, a 100-story building finished in 1970.2. For an aerial view that won't involve flying, the Hancock Observatory gets you up 94 floors for great views, especially looking south towards the waterfront and the rest of Chicago. You're shooting through glass here (and at the next place, the Sears Tower), so here are a few tips.
First, turn off your flash, (unless, of course, you want Chicago in a whiteout of reflected light!). Find a place where you can get the camera's lens very close, or right against, the glass of the window to minimize reflections. Wearing dark clothing and finding a clean stretch of glass are also good ideas to further minimize reflections. Late afternoon on a sunny, clear day is best for this location.
3. The Sears Tower has opened the new Skydeck, previously profiled here on IT. The glass shooting tips apply here as well, but this location is also a good afternoon shoot.
The skyline of Chicago, IL. as seen from Lake Michigan.4. To get the all important view of Chicago from the Lake itself, sign up for one of the Wendella boat tours that goes both down the river and out to the Lake. Take a morning trip for best light on the skyline, and if your camera and/or lens has some kind of image stabilization or vibration reduction, this is the time to use it. I also found a polarizing filter to be useful for increasing saturation.
5. If you like what you see on the river cruise, you can get a stunning overall of that famed waterway from a riverfront room at Hotel 71, a stylish boutique hotel smack in the heart of the city. Ask for something as high up as possible, and again, keep that camera right up against the windowpane for the best results.
The skyline of Chicago rises behind the Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park in Chicago, IL.6. For a wonderful foreground element to your skyline view, plant yourself south of the Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park and fire away. It's good in the morning, but it's great at twilight, when a light and music show bathes the fountain in a rainbow of color and the waters dance. The show starts at twilight, runs every hour on the hour, and lasts 20 minutes or so with the last one starting at 10 p.m. For best results, turn your flash off and use a tripod.
All photo and text © Bob Krist
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Great article and even better shooting ideas.
Please, please run more of these for major cities, worldwide.
Another great way to get good - and usual angles - for skyline views around Chicago (or any city) is to look for parking garages - then ride up to the top floor and take a look around. I've gotten some of my best shots like this!
I love Chicago and New York!!!
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Love the photos and the tips! It's even useful for amateur photographers like me. Keep it coming!
Great piece on how to photograph the Chicago skyline.
Great tip Cheryl! And we'll definitely try to get Bob to offer more photo tips. Glad everyone liked them!.
These are some of the best shots from Chicago. I have never been there and after seeing these photos I'm very eager to visit during my next vacation.Would you like see the hotel pictures in chicago as well.
Wow! Chicago is such a city of skyscrapers! I was not knowing this. Please add such articles for other cities also, so that we can also explore the hidden views of the world!!