Week 8

For this week I did an exercise in shooting the same subject in different ways. I used a mosaic glass vase and a tea light candle.

F-Stop: 11.0
Shutter: 13"
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 105 mm
Lens: 105 mm F/2.8

F-Stop: 5.6
Shutter: 3"
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 105 mm
Lens: 105 mm F/2.8


F-Stop: 6.3
Shutter: 2"
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 105 mm
Lens: 105 mm F/2.8

F-Stop: 14.0
Shutter: 13"
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 105 mm
Lens: 105 mm F/2.8


F-Stop: 9.0
Shutter: 6"
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 105 mm
Lens: 105 mm F/2.8

F-Stop: 4.5
Shutter: 2.5"
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 105 mm
Lens: 105 mm F/2.8

Week 7

For this week, I documented my trip to work Saturday morning. Every Saturday for over a year now, I have gotten up and made the trip into Chicago to work at the David Weinberg Gallery. Although it has been rough pulling myself out of bed, especially in the single-digit mornings, I have loved these Saturdays, and they have changed my life in a way. Thus I documented what I see everyday on the way there, over the course of approx. an hour & a half.

The Tracks

Shutter: 1/250
F-Stop: 4.8
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 38.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

8:00 am: First I walk to the Metra train station by my house. It was lightly snowing this morning and there was a dust of snow on the tracks that hadn't been disrupted by the train yet.

Clinton Stop 1

Shutter: 1/60
F-Stop: 18.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 22.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

9:30 am: After a long train ride, on which I usually choose to catch up on some sleep, I leave Ogilvie Train Station and head over to the Clinton stop on the El. I have photographed from this platform many times, and I never get sick of the view. Today I was lucky enough to have a train come through as I was shooting.

Clinton Stop 2

Shutter: 1/60
F-Stop: 18.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 34.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

9:31 am: I wait here and catch either the Pink or Green line to Clark and Lake where I transfer to the Brown Line and head out to the Gallery. The view from this platform of 333 W. Wacker is always beautiful, but the way it was catching the clouds, and the morning sun hitting Merchandise Mart on the other side of the river was really nice this morning.

Pigeons

Shutter: 1/60
F-Stop: 18.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 38.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

9:32 am: Ahh the pigeons... I hate these dirty birds! They're everywhere, pooping on everything, flying in your face, making no contribution to this world at all except maybe a small effort at garbage eating. Whenever I see one on the sidewalk I always want to punt them like little feathered footballs! haha

Financial District

Shutter: 1/200
F-Stop: 5.6
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 55.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

9:35 am: As I travel from Clinton to Clark and Lake, I always stand in the doorway so I can see this view. As far as I know, it's the only street in downtown Chicago that is abruptly ended by a building. I also love the statue on top, like an overseer or some kind of protector, appropriately in the heart of the financial district.

Leaving Merchandise Mart

Shutter: 1/200
F-Stop: 4.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

9:42 am: After waiting only a couple minutes today for the Brown line, I was on my final leg of the trip. This view is shortly after the train leaves the Merchandise Mart stop.

Arrival

Shutter: 1/40
F-Stop: 4.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 23.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

9:47 am: I finally arrive at the gallery. There are actually several galleries in our building: ZG and Catherine Edelman on the lower level, Judy Saslow on the first floor, and us, David Weinberg, on the second floor. The post card next to our name is for our current show, Structure and Space, featuring the painter Daniel Kim and photographer Michael Parker. The show runs through February 20 so come check it out!

Week 6

For this week, I am concentrating on Chicago.
These are some of my favorite pics from the city.

Light at the End of the Tracks

Shutter: 1/40"
F-Stop: 9.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 24 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

This was my original shot, at the Ogilvie Train Station. I am there everyday that I am in Chicago, along with thousands of others, but I was lucky enough to have to place to myself for this one.

Light at the End of the Tracks: Version 2

Shutter: 1/13"
F-Stop: 4.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 19 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

I was really happy with the original of this shot, but I missed my train one day and thought I'd try it again. I liked this one too, but it wasn't as powerful, so I played with the colors and saturation to differentiate this shot from the original picture.

On the El

Shutter: 1/125"
F-Stop: 22.0
ISO: 1600
Focal Length: 18 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

This is another shot I have tried to capture many times. This is one of my favorite views that I enjoy passing by all the time. It's a hard one to get, given that you are usually cruising right on by, and shooting through a dirty window.

Crossing the River

Shutter: 1/500"
F-Stop: 4.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 18 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

So you might think was near St. Patrick's Day by the look of the river, but it's not. That's how it looks all the time, and I even did my best to make it look better.

City Treasure

Shutter: 1/30"
F-Stop: 4.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 18 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

Featured in an earlier post, this is my favorite house in Chicago. It's on Superior right by Wells if you're ever out that way, especially in the Spring, go see it, you can't miss it.

A New Day

Today welcomes us to 2010. Josh and I are in Texas visiting his brother Nate and his family, Tanya and Artem. We went to the Army Museum at Fort Hood today and I was lucky enough to get in a couple shots before the sun light disappeared - I unfortunately didn't bring the tripod, even though I dragged it all the way from Illinois. :'(

Soldier's Cross

Shutter: 1/25"
F-Stop: 4.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 31.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55mm

This is a classic image, and the moment at sunset was really powerful. It made me think about the thousands upon thousands that have died, and led me to taking this shot. I am truly grateful for the wonderful people that serve this country to keep us safe at home.

Cannon

Shutter: 1/25"
F-Stop: 4.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

There were many old vehicles, including mobile artillery on site at the museum. I have never been this close to military equipment before, and it was truly amazing.

Tanks

Shutter: 1/25"
F-Stop: 4.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

Three different tanks made for a good composition. Getting a close look at how the tracks operate was so cool.

Tank

Shutter: 1/25"
F-Stop: 4.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

I thought this perspective really gave meaning to the shot. These machines are built to be powerful and intimidating.

Under Fire

Shutter: 1/25"
F-Stop: 5.3
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 42.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

When I came across this, I literally stopped in my tracks. I was too busy marveling at all the cool equipment I had never seen like this before to think about the history of these vehicles until I came to this one. I suddenly imagined this car racing across an open battlefield, under enemy fire, and the windshield being shot out. I wonder what came of those who were in the car when this happened. I was actually shocked to see that the Army didn't replace the windshield before displaying it. I found another car just like this with another bullet hole, but there just wasn't enough light left at that point to get a good picture.

Week 4

For this week, I am posting the final installation of my Capture My Chicago submissions.

Reflections

Shutter: 1/40"
F-Stop: 13.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

333 W. Wacker is one of my favorite buildings in Chicago. The clouds were making a particularly beautiful display on this day. I had just gotten off of work and was meeting someone at Merch Mart for a night out on the town when I saw this.

Chicago Skyline

Shutter: 1/100"
F-Stop: 5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

This was the preliminary test of picture I have always wanted to assemble, hopefully after this spring I will finally finish it and be able to post it!

Spring Drops

Shutter: 1/30"
F-Stop: 9.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 52.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

I was out during a light spring shower, where the rain drops tend to get stuck on the plants instead just plowing right past them. This sprout was the perfect delicate green of a baby plant, getting ready to grow.

The Calendar

Shutter: 1/125"
F-Stop: 29.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

This is a replication of sorts of Stonehenge. It's obviously structurally very different, but it functions as a calendar with the shadows created by the sun, as well as marking the equinoxes. I'm not sure if the tree was there first, or second, but it was perfect.

The Wreath

Shutter: 1/30"
F-Stop: 4.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 30.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

This is, as of now, my favorite house in Chicago. It's a precious old home that has been around WAY longer than the apartments that they squeezed the old house as they were built. The man who lives here puts out wreathes on his doors for Christmas every year, and then they stay there the rest of the year, and die and wither and life explodes around them.

Week 3

Here are some more shots I submitted to the Capture My Chicago competition.

Lake Shore Sculptures

Shutter: 1/125"
F-Stop: 29.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 25.0 mm
Lens: Nikkor

These sculptures are near old Miggs Field, just south of the Adler Planitarium. They are gorgeous and play off the landscape beautifully. I recommend going to see them in person if you can. There is another single sculpture from the series at Michigan and Congress (I think - if it's not there it's really close).

Crown Fountain

Shutter: 1/30"
F-Stop: 3.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 19.0 mm
Lens: Nikkor

This was so perfect, a whole family was standing at the back of the north fountain marveling at it. I especially like how the little girl was standing off to the side. Crown Fountain has quickly become an icon of Chicago, and I hope people stop to really enjoy it for decades to come.

Night View from the Clinton Stop

Shutter: 6.0"
F-Stop: 25.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 26.0 mm
Lens: Nikkor

I have shot at this location more times than I can count, but this was one of my favorites. The train came into the shot for last half and the shutter closed just before it made it all the way through. Gotta love being in the right place at the right time!

Woodstock Prairie

Shutter: 1/4000"
F-Stop: 6.3
ISO: 1600
Focal Length: 28.0 mm
Lens: Nikkor

I'm not sure of the actual name of this conservation area, but it has the feel of a classic Illinois prarie. It's nice to see such expansive nature after spending a lot of time in the city.

Queen Anne's Lace

Shutter: 1/4000"
F-Stop: 8.0
ISO: 1600
Focal Length: 48.0 mm
Lens: Nikkor

Queen Anne's Lace is a really beautiful flower, and I wanted to capture the delicate details of getting a closer look.

Advanced Digital Photography: Week 1

CBS channel 2 Chicago held a competition this winter season called Capture My Chicago. This was open to any and all people who had original photos somehow related to Chicago. I submitted a handful of photos to this competition, however, unfortunately I got in the game a little too late and did not get enough votes behind my pictures to be published in the book. But, I now proudly publish them on my blog for your viewing pleasure.

Bean Abstract

Shutter: 1/60"
F-Stop: 4.8
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 35.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

It seems like I always see the same couple pictures whenever I see pictures of the bean, which is actually called "Cloud Gate." My intention here was to capture a unique image of the sculpture. I happened to be lucky enough on this day to be out there by myself, so I didn't have anyone in the way of the shot. If you look though, you can find me in the reflections. :)

Butterfly

Shutter: 1/100"
F-Stop: 5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

I nearly stepped on this poor guy while I was walking in River North one day. I whipped out the camera thinking he was going to fly away any second and that I probably would never get the time to get the shot I wanted, but it was unusually cold that day, and I guess he was a little sluggish from it, because he never moved the entire time I was taking pictures of him, except to stretch his wings.

Fountain

Shutter: 1/60"
F-Stop: 6.3
ISO: 1600
Focal Length: 43.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

This is in the loop, near our school's dorms. I love capturing water in motion, it's always a nice result.

Globes

Shutter: 1/13"
F-Stop: 22.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

These are two of many globes that were created by artists in the Chicago chapter of a huge project across the nation. The project is called Cool Globes and the project can be found at www.coolglobes.com. This is at old Miggs Field, which is now owned by the Park District.

Repitition

Shutter: 1/20"
F-Stop: 7.1
ISO: 1600
Focal Length: 27.0 mm
Lens: 18 - 55 mm

I went to the Water Tower Mall with my family one cold, rainy day. I loved the repetition of shapes, lines and color from this view, and I only got it because I could lean on the railing so the shot wasn't blurry.