Rodney Campbell's Blog

Leaving Navy Pier I walked into town to photograph the heart of Chicago city at night. The views along the canal and the Chicago riverwalk are particularly spectacular at night

Trumped

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 14 mm, 10 sec at f/8, ISO 64

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

This is a four frame horizontal panorama taken from the William P. Fahey Bridge on North Columbus Drive. Looking west down the canal towards the DuSable Bridge. On the canal bend we have the Trump International Hotel & Tower and the spectacular 1924 Wrigley Building

Chicago Riverwalk

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 14 mm, 6 sec at f/8, ISO 64 x 4 Frames

On the left and right of the canal runs the Chicago riverwalk

As it got deeper into twilight I was able to capture more of the city lights in the background. I was also able to use longer exposures to create an interesting effect with the rotating Centennial Wheel

Chicago Spin

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 5 sec at f/8, ISO 64 x 5 Frames

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

This new 60m high wheel opened in May 2016 as part of the renovation of the Pier which started in 2013

Eyes on Chicago

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 8 sec at f/8, ISO 64 x 3 Frames

Here is a single horizontal frame of the wheel with the cityscape behind. This sort of composition was my original inspiration for coming here during my stay in Chicago

Centennial Wheel

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 8 sec at f/8, ISO 64

Completed in 1916, Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s top and most visited attractions. Stretching 1km into Lake Michigan it encompasses more than fifty acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibition facilities

Navy Pier

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 1.6 sec at f/7.1, ISO 64 x 3 Frames

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

My wife would be at all day training for pretty much the rest of our time in Chicago. This enabled me to go off and do my normal slow paced photography at more appropriate times of day

I’d seen some images online taken from this location (it’s at the top of Navy Pier Parking deck behind the Centennial Wheel, fairground and theatre

I decided to head here for sunset, twilight and night to capture some images. These images were from just prior to and then on sunset

Navy Pier Twilight

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 2.5 sec at f/7.1, ISO 64 x 5 Frames

All the images I’d seen online were single captures of mostly the wheel with the city behind. I wanted to capture more of the cityscape in the background so opted for wider stitched panoramas of the view

The top image is comprised of three (3) horizontal frames and the bottom images is from five (5) vertical images stitched

The Fourth Presbyterian Church is diagonally across the intersection from our accomodation on Chicago’s magnificent mile

4th

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 14 mm, 1/6 sec at f/8, ISO 64

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

It’s a 1912 landmark church with neo-Gothic styling and lovely stained glass windows

I love shooting inside churches with their amazing and varied architecture so here’s another to add to my list…

Fourth

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 14 mm, 1/4 sec at f/11, ISO 64

After our architecture tour my wife headed off to her training course. This pretty much left me to my own devices for the rest of our time in Chicago

It was time to explore the city and photograph the various locations I’d researched in the best conditions I could at the time

Waiting at Hancock

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 308 sec at f/8, ISO 64

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Letting time flow during some long exposures using some heavy ND filters with some fast moving clouds. These taken just over the road from our accommodation at the John Hancock Center

Streaked

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 30 sec at f/8, ISO 64

There was actually too much cloud and it was moving extremely quickly. Pretty soon it became 100% overcast so it was time to do something different