Richard visits Chicago

David_S85 · October 17, 2008

One of our esteemed moderators, Richard, recently visited the Chicago area. We arranged a morning earlier this week to meet up in downtown Chicago at what has become the default location, The Bean. See the last Bean meet-up threads:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=96643
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=96687
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=856771

I had only three hours to shoot with Richard before hopping the train back to work.

Richard is seen here focusing on something in Millenium Park.

Autumn trees with the city backdrop can be quite picturesque, even if it is an ISO 400 day.

A view of part of the Millenium Park pedestrian bridge over Columbus Drive.

"Sorry, folks, park's closed. Moose out front shoulda told ya."
The idea was to shoot around Millenium Park, which can take a few hours in itself. Today was Columbus Day, a holiday complete with parade nearby. Why Millenium Park needed to be closed off to the public was a mystery. We were told to leave the bridge and general vacinity altogether.

So we walked away. That wasn't a half bad decision. Venturing around the park and then under it revealed a vast cavernous and dark world. We were two levels underneath at this point.

There were lots of big pipes. But no steam. Where was the wonderful leaking steam that would have made this shot too cool? We were probably a few months too early for that.

While the underworld of Chicago was built for people, some locations were clearly off-limits to us. How photographers could pose a threat to themselves inside a gated 14,400 volt power substation is beyond me.

Trains live and work below the entire Grant Park area of the lakefront. Richard probably has the better train shots. I will just hint of them with this. These were ISO3200+ lighting conditions.

We eventually emerged back up to street level, then north to the river area. Kids had the day off. Skate boarders surrounded us. This was shot quickly from the hip. Shoot straight into the sun. Smart! Photoshop H&S helped greatly with what was left of this pic.

The Greenpeace Squads were out in force requesting everyone to help save the planet. I helped by promoting their cause on these pages.

In the Carbonite & Carbon building, a half dozen solid brass elevator doors greet everyone in the main lobby. They don't make them like this anymore.

The old and the new. Trump tower, at right, is almost finished. This building was occupied when 1/3rd completed. How they put up with the construction noise and vibration is anyone's guess.

Chicago River. Marina Towers. Riverwalk restaurants, etc. Architectural/History boat tours seem continuous.

One of the lower River patio lunch spots. We ate lunch down there. Riverboats passed by to the sound of Trump construction workers using what had to be mining equipment across the way.

So we had a great visit; didn't talk about Smugmug or Dgrin too much, shot lots of photos and viewed things neither one of us had seen before. Richard received a new Smugmug red hat to promote Smuggy to the good people of Madrid.

Awais Yaqub · October 17, 2008

Nice phots

Richard · October 17, 2008

Hey David,

Thanks for taking the time and effort to meet.

Nice pics

. We didn't have the best light that day, but exploring the underground world there was new to me and very cool. I'll post a few of mine once I get over my jet lag. I still don't know whether it's time for breakfast or dinner.

Shima · October 17, 2008

Great set! I love the barbed wire photo a lot.

schmoo · October 17, 2008

David, great set and it looks like you covered every interesting inch of the city.

I'm very jealous, but thanks for sharing these shots. I love seeing you get out and shoot!

dlplumer · October 17, 2008

Terrific series

Ann McRae · October 19, 2008

Wow! Sorry I missed this first time through! Looks like another great, fun, Chicago shoot.
Davids85 is a great host!

Richard - looking forward to seeing your perspective.

ann

David_S85 · October 19, 2008

Ann McRae wrote:

Wow! Sorry I missed this first time through! Looks like another great, fun, Chicago shoot.
Davids85 is a great host!
Richard - looking forward to seeing your perspective.
ann

Hehehe. Was actually the other way around. I live near Chicago, but rarely visit there. Richard grew up in Chicago, and no doubt knew way more about it than I will ever know.

The last time I was in the City was when you were here visiting and we all met, where else... at The Bean.

jamesl · October 19, 2008

Awesome! Looks like you had a great time shooting. I enjoyed the whole series, but I think the last one is my favorite. Thanks for sharing them.

James

David_S85 · October 20, 2008

jamesl wrote:

Awesome! Looks like you had a great time shooting. I enjoyed the whole series, but I think the last one is my favorite. Thanks for sharing them.

James

Thanks, James. Three hours is simply not enough time to do a shoot such as that. But it was enough to have a visit with Richard, so it was well worth it. The last displayed shot was also my fave.

I just browsed through your thread on your Colorado trip and they all look super.

I completed a Colorado trip of my own a couple weeks ago that I need to make into a Journey thread.

Richard · October 20, 2008

I finally got around to processing some of the pics that I shot on my visit with David. Lots of stuff similar to what David posted, but here are some that are a little bit different:

1.

The Marshall Fields clock, an icon on State Street. Marshall Fields was bought out by Macy's a few years ago, but Chicagoans raised such a fuss that they left the original name.

2.

The El on Wabash Avenue, seen in typical gray, winterish light.

3.

The Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, created by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa. Unfortunately the water wasn't turned on that day. When it is, there is a shallow reflecting pool where the people are standing.

4.

Cleaning up The Bean, the most famous sculpture in the park. It's real name is Cloud Gate, and it was created by British artist Anish Kapoor. Here's another view:
5.

As you can see, it was completely overcast that morning. Too bad, since getting sky reflections with the buildings can be great fun.

6.

The trees were just starting to change color. Behind them is the concert pavillion designed by Frank Gehry.

7.

David takes a snapshot for a couple of tourists on a bridge also designed by Gehry. Great views of the Michigan Ave. skyline from there.

8.

Below the streets is a whole different world. I lived in Chicago for twenty years without knowing that it even existed.

9.

This is what's on the street above the underground pic. Rather different feeling.

10.

Looking up from the same spot. If you like shooting reflections, downtown Chicago is a real playground.

Cheers,

jamesl · October 20, 2008

David_S85 wrote:

Thanks, James. Three hours is simply not enough time to do a shoot such as that. But it was enough to have a visit with Richard, so it was well worth it. The last displayed shot was also my fave.

I just browsed through your thread on your Colorado trip and they all look super.

I completed a Colorado trip of my own a couple weeks ago that I need to make into a Journey thread.

Sweet! Get 'em up so that we can see them.

james

Jane B. · October 20, 2008

David_S85 wrote:

One of our esteemed moderators, Richard, recently visited the Chicago area. We arranged a morning earlier this week to meet up in downtown Chicago at what has become the default location, The Bean. See the last Bean meet-up threads:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=96643
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=96687
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=856771

(SNIP)
There were lots of big pipes. But no steam. Where was the wonderful leaking steam that would have made this shot too cool? We were probably a few months too early for that.

(SNIP)
So we had a great visit; didn't talk about Smugmug or Dgrin too much, shot lots of photos and viewed things neither one of us had seen before. Richard received a new Smugmug red hat to promote Smuggy to the good people of Madrid.

Maybe they don't leak! I remember getting a tour of the sub-basement and HVAC installation at the Skelly Oil Building in Tulsa OK. That was in about 1961 or 62 when the building was new and an aunt of mine was Secretary to one of the Vice Presidents. The guy that guided us through that part told us that they used more steam for air conditioning that heat. Also depending on location in the building some places could need heat and other air conditioning!

Jane B.

schmoo · October 20, 2008

Richard, really awesome to see some of your shots!

I would love to see the underground Chicago some time. I think the subterranean ways is much more romantic for a city like that and perfect for the history and reputation.

Love the bean. Can't ever get enough of the bean.

The little details like the clock are the things I love the most about Chicago. Thank you for capturing things like that!

RBrogen · October 20, 2008

Shima wrote:

Great set! I love the barbed wire photo a lot.

Great series of shots...but I really like the razor wire.

David_S85 · October 21, 2008

Good set of pics, there, my friend. Looks as if you had a State Street adventure. Richard, how late did you stay down there after I ran away?

Was I snarling in that shot, or what? Gads!

Richard · October 21, 2008

David_S85 wrote:

Good set of pics, there, my friend. Looks as if you had a State Street adventure. Richard, how late did you stay down there after I ran away?

Thanks, David. As you can probably tell from the lousy light, I shot the State Street stuff before we met. Maybe we'll have better luck next year.

Richard · October 21, 2008

schmoo wrote:

Love the bean. Can't ever get enough of the bean.

The little details like the clock are the things I love the most about Chicago. Thank you for capturing things like that!

Thanks, Schmoo. Yeah, The Bean is really a trip. I have shot it several times and each one is different. Brilliant piece of work.

Richard visits Chicago

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