Although I love being able to travel and see new places, I still have a full time job and that means the majority of my photography takes places in Chicago. Today I’d like to talk about some of my favorite locations for photography when I’m home.

North Ave Beach

There are two classic views of the Chicago skyline, and one of them is North Ave Beach. From here you can see iconic buildings such as the Hancock Tower, Lakeshore Tower, and many others as well. I’ve visited this location more than any other spot in Chicago because I always find it so peaceful to be out there alone first thing in the morning when the sun rises and casts beautiful side light on the buildings. Whenever I am in a creative rut this is where I go.

The Adler Planetarium

The second iconic view of the Chicago skyline is seen from the Adler Planetarium. From here you can see the Sears Tower, the Chicago Board of Trade, and many other well known buildings. This is my favorite location to visit at sunset because I love watching the sun set behind the buildings right as the lights in the skyscrapers turn on. I especially love coming here in winter when the lake turns to ice and creates all sorts of interesting patterns.

18th Street Bridge

This used to be my go to location when I was living downtown because I lived 5 minutes away and parking was incredibly easy. Anytime I thought there would be a good sunset or sunrise I would rush over to try and catch it. On the left hand side there is an industrial train yard and I would use the train tracks as leading lines into the city, and on the right hand side there is a beautiful park with green grass and trees and I would use the walkway as a focal point in the foreground.

Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk

The bridge over South pond near the Lincoln Park Zoo is another spot I love to visit to get a unique view of the skyline. I prefer this location at sunrise because the side light coming from the lake looks amazing. And after the light becomes too harsh to photograph the skyline, I’ll walk over to the Nature Pavilion to shoot abstracts.

Kinzie & Wells Parking Garage

This parking garage has become a must shoot location for Chicago photographers. The train track creates a great S-curve to lead the eye through the image. I like to come here after sunset when it’s dark and you can get light trails when the train passes by.