Illinois/Chicago - DPChallenge Forums

04/17/2005 09:54:16 PM · #1

I just out here from beautiful upstate NY and I'm finding adjusting my photographers eye is difficult, everything is flat and boring out here. Is there anyone in the Illinois/Greater Chicago area that could inspire me?

woohoopepper

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/17/2005 10:00:08 PM · #2

Here! Upstate NY is absolutely beautiful; however, if you had said you were from NYC then I'd ask what's the ploblem??

I'm in love with metropolitan areas, so I love both NYC and Chicago. The downtown area - loop, magnificent mile and northside - I find to be inspirational. The lake is a beauty. LSD (Lake Shore Drive) and the beaches, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park, Millennium Park - it's all a blast. Can't say much for the burbs; that's like any other town.

IT IS FLAT! Can't help it, wish we could. We're stuck with what we've got.

TommyMoe21

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

04/17/2005 10:03:11 PM · #3

2 from Millennium Park:

coolhar

04/17/2005 11:50:01 PM · #4

Bored in Chicago? Go on up to Wisconsin, that's where everybody in Chicago goes on the weekends. And parts of the Dairyland will remind you of upstate NY. Or you could try to find out what happened to Judith Mae Anderson.

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

04/17/2005 11:53:41 PM · #5

Or drive a couple of hours to mid-Michigan. Lots of farm lands both in and out of activity. I'm also just a few minutes from the ledges of Grand Ledge. Or drive around the lake and look for light houses. Michigan has the most of them in the country!

petrakka

04/18/2005 12:18:11 AM · #6

Theres plenty of great photo opps, just get out of landscape photography mode, or visit some of the forest preserves in the suburbs which can yield some good pictures. The city is full of potential though. If you do want to shoot landscapes theres also something pleasing about many midwestern farm type of pictures, you just have to think about your compositions.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/20/2005 03:26:05 PM · #7

Thanks! I have Monday and Tuesday off of work, I'll have to drive around and see what I can find.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/20/2005 03:54:04 PM · #8

Originally posted by lissylou:

Beauty is where you look for it.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

04/20/2005 04:07:22 PM · #9

Originally posted by coolhar:

Ditto that. Kettle Morrain State Park would be a good place to go, or anywhere along lake shore drive in the Milwaukee area.

But... you're in Chicago in baseball season. Go to a Cubs game at Wrigley!

les0910

Canon EOS-5D

04/20/2005 06:24:34 PM · #10

Don't get discouraged, there are lots of great places here!

In the city - the lakefront path, northerly island (the old Meigs field), millenium park, navy pier, the Lincoln park zoo and conservatory, Garfield Park conservatory, Jackson park

In the suburbs - the morton aboretum (west), the botanic gardens (north), brookfield zoo (west)

Here's one I took at Brookfield zoo yesterday.
peacock

TommyMoe21

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

04/20/2005 08:32:44 PM · #11

LissyLou, where in the Chicago area are you? Chicago propper or a burb?

04/22/2005 12:09:42 PM · #12

I am in Plainfield, about 30 miles SW of the city I think.
I actually was a little excited when I moved out here I thought I would see beautiful green corn fields, bright red barns with big silos but I guess I'm not far enough out in the country for that. When I know how not to get lost around here better I will explore the area more.

pitsaman

Canon EOS-30D

04/22/2005 12:37:22 PM · #13

Let's meet at Chicago Botanic Garden one of next couple Sundays,Tulips are out and everything is blooming.

les0910

Canon EOS-5D

04/22/2005 12:52:46 PM · #14

Another place that is about an hours drive from you is Starved Rock State park. There are beautiful bluffs, canyons, and this time of year waterfalls!

pitsaman

Canon EOS-30D

04/22/2005 12:57:42 PM · #15

Originally posted by les0910:

Another place that is about an hours drive from you is Starved Rock State park. There are beautiful bluffs, canyons, and this time of year waterfalls!

Good idea !

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

04/22/2005 05:17:25 PM · #16

wow there's waterfalls in Illinois...I thought it was too flat :) hehehe
I would love to meet up but my work schedule is a little odd, I work on the weekends and have Monday and Tuesday off.

jab119

Canon EOS-70D

04/22/2005 05:20:18 PM · #17

this is not the best shot I have seen like this, but I took this on a trip of there a few months ago

Chicago

James

les0910

Canon EOS-5D

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

04/22/2005 06:46:56 PM · #18

Originally posted by lissylou:

wow there's waterfalls in Illinois...I thought it was too flat :) hehehe

LOL - Here's your proof. This was taken in August so its more like a water trickle.

cbeller

Nikon D300

04/22/2005 07:26:45 PM · #19

These are some pics from a DPC GTG we had in Chicago last July

Chicago DPC GTG

We need to have another one. Maybe when it's not raining. :)

pitsaman

Canon EOS-30D

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

04/22/2005 07:31:32 PM · #20

Originally posted by lissylou:

wow there's waterfalls in Illinois...I thought it was too flat :) hehehe
I would love to meet up but my work schedule is a little odd, I work on the weekends and have Monday and Tuesday off.

Work is no excuse ,sorry !
Quit your job if you have to and show up for the GTG,:-)

July 3 GTG Chicago photos

Message edited by author 2005-04-22 19:33:06.

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

04/22/2005 07:37:29 PM · #21

Certain areas of Illinois are surprisingly NOT flat...the problem is that you have to travel to the very edges of the state to find that out. If you head west and a little north of Chicago there are some wonderful bluffs in Galena, IL. There's also a lovely state park (Starved Rock) in Ottowa, IL, which is a little closer to Chicago. Other than that, if you head down towards St. Louis and get close to the river it gets kinda pretty. Or, you can drive for 7 hours and hit the very bottom of the state, which also has its own charm....not to mention hills!!!

vsmed1968

Gateway DC-T50

04/28/2005 08:25:26 PM · #22

I know I totally snizzed you guys last time out to Chicago. Sorry again about that. I am starting a new job, but camera is fixed & computer is fixed. I hope I can make the next trip even if it is with my little point & shoot camera. I am looking forward to learning from everyone.

Message edited by author 2005-04-28 20:26:02.

movieman

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

04/28/2005 08:34:15 PM · #23

I'm from LA, but was in Chicago/Antioch last spring break, so I have a few photos:

Chicago:

Antioch:

My digital camera's battery went bad shortly after the trip, so I only had my film camera, and wasn't able to print as many photos up because it was the end of the semester. So that's all I have.

Message edited by author 2005-04-28 20:34:47.

milo655321