Chicago's Bean on a Cold Spring Night by taffy

Chicago's Bean on a Cold Spring Night

Night photo was part of the ONS4 challenge and @danielwsc and I went to Millennium Park. The sky was clear, night began to fall, and the views were quite wonderful. This is taken from the west side of the Bean (aka Cloud Gate, officially), looking east toward Michigan Avenue. I took only my wide-angle lens, to force myself to use it as I've never been very comfortable with it. Take a look at Daniel's ( http://365project.org/danielwsc/365/2013-03-21) for an interesting contrast in lens and settings choices.
I LOVE this! Fav!
March 22nd, 2013  
Your wide-angle view is terrific! I love all those golden buildings lining up behind the bean, similar in blockiness and color. Great idea for making yourself use a particular lens! It worked out well, too.
March 22nd, 2013  
Great shot!
March 22nd, 2013  
Wonderful shot Taffy. A really terrific shot of some brilliant architecture.
March 22nd, 2013  
Brilliant shot,
March 22nd, 2013  
awesome
March 22nd, 2013  
Cool. Love this.
March 22nd, 2013  
Fav! Love all the lights.
March 22nd, 2013  
Fabulous golden tons, so crisp and clear!
March 22nd, 2013  
Great shot! Love the lights and the wonderful architecture.
March 22nd, 2013  
Kim
The wide angle shot give such perspective to the size.
March 22nd, 2013  
Really great night shot, lady. LOVE, love the reflections in the bean. Fav!
March 22nd, 2013  
bmt
Amazing! Love this one.
March 22nd, 2013  
Gorgeous!
March 23rd, 2013  
FAV! a great night shot!
March 23rd, 2013  
Beautiful
March 23rd, 2013  
Beautiful shot Taffy! Great job on capturing the excitement of the city at night!
March 23rd, 2013  
A wonderful night shot! The lights and buildings look amazing.
March 23rd, 2013  
@melody2289 Thanks Melody, for the fav! It's so reinforcing!
March 23rd, 2013  
@anwan I really don't like this lens since I don't know how to use it. Daniel showed me one thing about looking up and having buildings circle in. But now I'm glad I forced myself as I'm seeing how to use it in the city, and making the distortion part of the photo.
March 23rd, 2013  
@elisasaeter Thanks!
March 23rd, 2013  
@steampowered Chicago's such a great 'photo-op' -- the architecture is really quite incredible wherever you look.
March 23rd, 2013  
@mej2011 Thanks, Melissa, for the fav! I appreciate it.
@topcat @photodude @jaynspain Thank you Kevin, Scott, and Jayn!
March 23rd, 2013  
@ruthmouch Thank you Ruth. I appreciate it.
@pflaume Lisa - thanks! The lights in the city on clear nights can't be beat. @kimshots Thanks Kim -- I need to keep trying with the wide angle. I feel like it can be a great lens once I can control it.
March 23rd, 2013  
@amandal Thanks so much for the fav, Amanda! The Bean is so much fun to photograph -- never the same.
@bmt Thanks Barbara!! We'll talk soon, I hope!
@nikolinadimitrova @kerristephens @vickisfotos Thanks Niko and Kerri, and Vicki, thanks for the Fav!
March 23rd, 2013  
@olivetreeann Thanks Ann -- it is an exciting city and fun to try to capture it.
March 23rd, 2013  
@kwind Thank you so much! Chicago's a photographer's dream at night when it's clear (and not quite so cold!).
March 23rd, 2013  
I can't believe how huge that thing is! Awesome night shot and cityscape! Fav!
I never use to use my wide angle and I forced myself to keep it attached to my camera for a week! It's now my favorite lens!
March 23rd, 2013  
Great shot Taffy! I like the buildings behind giving context to the Bean.
March 23rd, 2013  
Stunning shot.
March 23rd, 2013  
Love that sky line and the bean. Great shot of them both so has to be a fav!
March 23rd, 2013  
@orangecrush Thanks Jerry for the fav and the reinforcement to keep using a not-so-favorite lens. It did work out better than I'd thought it would, but have to admit I took the lens off as soon as I got home and haven't used it again. But, I do need to, I know!
March 23rd, 2013  
@danielwsc Thanks Daniel! It was such a great night for photographing that area -- worth the cold.
March 23rd, 2013  
@danitech Thanks, Danielle, and for the fav! I appreciate it.
March 23rd, 2013  
@fueast Thanks Alison for the fav. It is one of my favorite areas in the city and just wonderful on a clear night.
March 23rd, 2013  
Awesome!
March 24th, 2013  
Very cool! I wish I would have taken some night shots when we were there.
March 24th, 2013  
@michaelelliott Thanks Michael -- your photos of New York have been an inspiration source for me. I have wondered how often you've planned the shot in advance (e.g., location, time of day, weather) compared to having your camera with you and taking advantage of opportunity. Your photos really are great.
March 24th, 2013  
@mdfphoto Thanks Matt. It just means you'll have to come back!
March 24th, 2013  
@taffy - great question. Sometimes I have a plan where I have an idea for a specific photo and go scout out the shot taking some prelims to anaylze and go back for my actual shot and other times I just wander about and see what strikes me and shoot impromptu. I'd say the planned shot is once a week and the rest is what strikes me as I walk about. Thx very much :)
March 24th, 2013  
Beautiful! I rarely use my wide angle lens. This has me thinking I need to put it on and perhaps leave it on of a period of time to get to know it.
March 24th, 2013  
Great shot! Your Chicago shots are awesome! I lived there for 10 years and it brings back so many memories. Moved further north (Green Bay, WI) and seeing your photos brngs me back to the days of working and living in Chicago. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
March 24th, 2013  
Superb Cityscape.
March 24th, 2013  
@michaelelliott Thanks Michael -- I appreciate your response. I'm just now starting to plan for certain shots and was curious about how often you did this since, to me, your shots always seem to be right on the mark.

@barbsmith I'll watch for your using the wide angle. It's funny how that is such a scary lens for so many of us. I admire those who can use it well.

@boatpainter Thanks Janet. I'm glad to bring back memories. We spend summers up on Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan and it is quite a contrast to be up there. Green Bay, though...Packers? Bears? a tough one for you now, I bet!

@seanoneill Thanks Sean (I can see you're looking through my photos and that is so reinforcing -- many many thanks actually!)
March 24th, 2013  
Very cool. So nicely done. fav. I like your friends version too but wide angle is incredible.
March 25th, 2013  
Thanks so much for your comment and for the fav. I really do want to master this lens!
March 25th, 2013  
Great night lighting
March 25th, 2013  
March 27th, 2013  
@dauber Thanks for the fav!
March 27th, 2013  
I visited Daniel's, too, had to fave both, each perfect, each different. @taffy
March 27th, 2013  
@dauber It was such a great night to be able to photograph with a fellow 365-er. And we each had different lenses with us, which made it even better to look back and his shots. Thanks for your ongoing support -- I really do appreciate it.
March 27th, 2013  
Yep, dad, both are great in their own ways! Fav!
March 27th, 2013  
@dauber see above...forgot to tag you!
March 27th, 2013  
@rockinrobyn Thanks so much Robyn -- I'm honored by your fav!
March 27th, 2013  
@rockinrobyn Ah---now I get the @ to each other!!
March 27th, 2013  
Oh this is such a neat spot and different take then Daniels. Both beautiful:) Great job!
March 27th, 2013  
It twinkles and sparkles and glows! Love it!
April 1st, 2013  
@colie Thanks Colie!

@jyokota Gosh, Junko -- thanks for the fav! Reinforces me to keep trying with that wide angle lens.
April 1st, 2013  
I've also had a harder time adjusting to my wide angle, too, but when I took it to a place where i mentioned it to a professional photographer, he helped me think about how to use distance and angle and change how I was thinking about framing something. I guess we just have to keep working on it!
April 1st, 2013  
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.