Illinois
I guess it may be obvious that I like taking photos of Chicago. To be honest, I don't remember taking this one, but it is my photo. I guess I wasn't feeling "flow" when this one happened, though I did take it in 2003, which is a long time ago. :-(
I wish I knew the name of this building. But I don't. Anyone?
Canon 1D 1/640s f/14.0 ISO400 90mm Lens unknown.
I wonder how many photographers using digital cameras wish they could re-photograph the same scenes once they get improved cameras? That's what I wished for as I was working on this photo the other day.
This shot was taken with my first high-end digital camera: a Canon 1D. It had a 4.4 megapixel sensor and wasn't all that great at high ISO. There is no question that I could have gotten a better photo with film that evening. But now, with my 21 megapixel Canon 5DII. . . Incidentally, the 1D was a revolutionary camera and set a very high standard for "affordable" professional digital cameras. "Affordable" meant around $5000 in 2003!
I did have the advantage of a great lens when I took this photo: the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. Thus, I was able to get a pretty sharp photo hand held at 1/6 sec.
This picture was taken from the observation deck of the John Hancock Building and if you are planning on going, do so a half hour or so before the sun sets. It is a remarkable experience to watch the city light up. Kind of like Paris - but with skyscrapers.
Canon 1D 1/6s f/2.8 ISO1000 70mm (Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS)
This is the Illinois State Office Building and I must say that while it's not quite as amazing as St. Peters, it is still somewhat overwhelming. The first time I was in the building, I was able to go to one of the upper floors and look down. Being mildly afraid of heights, I found it unsettling and wondered if any of the workers on upper floors had to deal with their own acrophobia. When I visited this time, I think that security concerns prohibited me from going past the ground floor.
Incidentally, my title is not intended to imply that working for government or in a government building is a religious experience. It isn't. Right?
Canon 20D 1/100s f/6.3 ISO800 10mm (Canon 10-22mm EFS)
I like the juxtaposition of lines and curves in this photo. I also like the warm, gold tones of the reflected buildings. What strikes me about this picture is how easily something as structured and perfect as a high rise building can be reduced to an abstraction by glass panels, which seem so flat and perfect themselves.
I am also struck by the myriad of interesting things that I see when I go to a city like Chicago. What I find interesting, though, the natives seem to ignore. But I'm guessing that if someone from Chicago visited my small town for the first time, they would see interesting things that I pass by every day.
That is one of the virtues of photography - it has the ability to open our eyes to all the interesting things that surround us.
Canon 5D f/9.0 1/250 Canon 24-105mm 4.0L (80mm) ISO 400
By Scott Shephard
As you can tell, this painting by Gustave Caillebotte dominates the gallery it is housed in. What I enjoy about candid art gallery shots is that there is a bit of irony of looking at a picture (as you are) of people looking at pictures. Photos like this seem convey quite and calm. I also enjoy seeing how people are grouped and wondering what they are seeing.
