Heading to Chicago in August... RF in Hand.

[BudGreen]

I just saw it last week myself. I was impressed, but I'm easily impressed.

 

[dmr]

One other thing I want to try to photograph in Chicago ... when I eventually get there ...

I've been told that there are now colonies of feral parrots nesting in one of the local parks. I know there have been several colonies reported in Brooklyn for some time now, but this is a fairly recent settlement. Jackson? Garfield? I think I read about this in a magazine in the dentist's waiting room a while back. I want to take the zoom and maybe try to catch these birds. 🙂

 

[l.mar]

The Dreaded Bean

The Dreaded Bean

"Whatever you do, DON'T take pictures of the giant silver jelly bean in Millenium Park..."

(F/Stop Blues)

You mean ... this one?

The wild (green) monk parakeets mentioned are locally known as "Harold's (after the late Chicago mayor Harold Washington) Parrots," and can be found in his old neighborhood of Hyde Park. Apparently, they are all descended from several escapees from a local pet store or bird owner, and set up their large nests in electrical transformers(!) in the neighborhood where the late mayor used to live. Somehow, these tropical birds are able to live outside through the Chicago winters...

 

[Zack]

saw the Callahan thing today, i was also underwhelmed, is was to cool to see his negative and proof sheets but at the same time alot of the prints were just so so, they were also really small, which i didnt like, some were contact printed 2.25 negs on gigantic mount boards which i thought was kinda lame.

 

[wlewisiii]

If you are into needing seriously wide angle lenses, I'll suggest one of my favorite places in Chicago - the U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry. You can google the history easily enough. Suffice to say that you still can not be claustrophobic and be in a _modern_ sub - 60 years ago it was just that much worse. OTOH, it is one of the few places I have ever been where a lens wider than 20mm was fully justified... If you really want some strange views, take a 35 or 50 on board the old girl.

YMMV,

William

PS any jazz club in the town will give more than a few chances to practice the usual available light schtick...

W.

 

[rogue_designer]

One other thing I want to try to photograph in Chicago ... when I eventually get there ...

I've been told that there are now colonies of feral parrots nesting in one of the local parks. I know there have been several colonies reported in Brooklyn for some time now, but this is a fairly recent settlement. Jackson? Garfield? I think I read about this in a magazine in the dentist's waiting room a while back. I want to take the zoom and maybe try to catch these birds. 🙂

Jackson Park in Hyde Park (on the south side - 57th and the lake shore) - does have several colonies of feral Parakeets.

It also has a very nice woodland and prairie path, as well as a formal japanese garden all tucked in behind the Museum of Science and Industry and is well worth the jaunt to the south. (Get coffee and food at the Medici on 57th, and used books at Powells while you're there - saves a return trip). 😉

For those who like architecture, The University of Chicago has several buildings of note, including the gorgeous german gothic Rockefeller Chapel, and preserves FL Wright's Robie House on 58th Street.

And if you're into it, there is good (sad) urban blight street shooting to be had 5-10 blocks south of the University campus.

 

[HMojo]

Thank you all so much for the feedback and recommendations! Now I REALLY can't wait to head to Chicago.

 

[ddunn]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum. I saw the last one there about 30 years ago and it's still seared into my memory. What impressed me most is that they must have had a measuring technology much more advanced than we ordinarily think. Being able to lay out patterns made of droplets of enamel about 1/16th inch in diameter for example. Putting SHARP edges on gold impressed me too. It's pricey, but your other option is to travel to Cairo.

Other things recommended are also good. If you take an arthitecture river cruise, get one by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Their docents really know their stuff.

And, for on the cheap, just load your pockets with film and walk Michigan Ave from Congress north to the Water Tower.

 

[Zack]

Yeah my vote is for michigan ave, take lake shore drive south, exit at michigan ave and find a parking spot (good luck) and then just walk the street. Stop at garrets popcorn if you get a chance, best carmel corn in the world.