Historical Chicago Clock
Iconic, Classical clocks that are beautiful works of art that portray an era of architectural detail that has been lost in modern Chicago. Now there is architec...
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Iconic, Classical clocks that are beautiful works of art that portray an era of architectural detail that has been lost in modern Chicago. Now there is architectural interest with the use of curves, lights and windows, but the new buildings lack the detail refinement mainly due to cost and loss of skilled artisans in these massive pieces. I have lived in the Chicago suburbs all of my life and have attended several architectural tours of the city and its neighborhoods. Without a doubt, the buildings that have this lost treasure are so inundated with people who want to experience the beauty and craftsmanship and history of these "museums" of architectural art as opposed to the modern ones that have very little character or warmth to them.
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Apr, 2016Views
320
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Awards
People's Choice in Sweet Home Chicago Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
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Behind The Lens
Location
I was standing near Wacker and State streets in Chicago, IL. To the left of where I was standing is the Chicago River.Time
It was mid-afternoon when I took this picture.Lighting
There are many lighting issues when you photograph a combination of building because of the materials used in each building. In this case, I had to balance getting enough light on the clock while not over exposing the reflective windows behind it. I don't use any extra lighting equipment when I photograph outdoors, so I have to rely on changing my position and adjusting the camera settings to get the shot.Equipment
I used a Canon EOS 7D camera with a EF 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS lens. I handheld my camera.Inspiration
I was downtown for a meeting. I always bring my camera with me when I travel to Chicago because there is always something new I have yet to discover/photograph. One of the marvelous things about Chicago is the adventure you can go on everyday finding new "treasures" to photograph. The architecture of the bygone eras mixed with the modern day buildings always excite me when I find unique combinations. So many people in Chicago are either racing to work or have their heads buried in their cellphones, they miss the architectural beauty and history of the city. Many people flock to the usual tourist attractions and totally miss the majority of what is a photographer's dream to capture. I have always followed my motto of "Beauty is in the Details." If you are at a stoplight, put down your phone, and look up. The craftsmanship of the architecture of bygone eras is fascinating. To think how some of the intricate stone work was chiseled and the time and expertise it took to create it should be appreciated. The Chicago Architectural Foundation has some wonderful tours even lifelong Chicagoans should go on. Every October, they host a HUGE Open House throughout Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods which is 99% FREE. It is a gift to us and I make sure I attend every year. They have historians in some of the older buildings. The stories behind the architectural details in the buildings are wonderful. When I photograph on such a day, I always bring a small notepad and pen with me. I take notes about what I learn from these historians. It really helps when you want to go back and add details to the history of the image.Editing
I usually crop and run the automatic white balance program. I also added more brightness to the image.In my camera bag
If I know I am going somewhere to photograph, I always have two lenses with me. I also bring many extra fully charged batteries and at least two or three CF cards. I don't want to get somewhere and find out I have run out of either battery power or storage.Feedback
Get off "Automatic". I have taken MANY pictures that have turned out horribly as I learned to use my camera equipment, but if I didn't get past automatic, I would never have taken as many fantastic ones as I have. In this day of digital, it is easy to learn because you can delete the "bad ones". When I learned how to photograph, film was the only option so too many do overs got expensive when I had to but rolls of film. The best advice I can give is to remember to enjoy what you are doing. Have fun. Experiment with different settings. Finally, always remember "Beauty is in the Details", so put the phone down and look up.
