Chicago Loop, Downtown Photography
MAX. STUDENTS: 6
COST: $449.00
Your instructors on this workshop will be Aaron Bieber and Christopher Blake. Read about them here.
Convex, by A. Bieber
Chicago, also called “The Windy City,” “Chitown,” and “City of the Big Shoulders,” is the third largest city in the United States (by population) and offers a great variety of culture and architecture for the ready camera. During this workshop you will experience all of the major attractions that downtown Chicago has to offer while benefiting from our experience and guidance. Some of the places we’ll visit include:
- Millennium Park / Bandshell
- The Buckingham Fountain
- Navy Pier
- Lincoln Park
We’ll also have an opportunity to explore some of the more notable buildings in the Loop area such as:
- The Sears Tower
- The Hancock building
- 311 South Wacker Drive
- Aon Center
Who should attend this workshop?
Our Chicago workshop is open to photographers of all skill levels, though a basic technical understanding of photography (familiarity with your camera’s features) and at least an entry-level SLR camera (such as a Canon Rebel) is highly recommended.
Travel
This is not an all-inclusive workshop; we expect that everyone can find their way into the city by some means. We recommend flying into Chicago’s O’Hare airport and taking the train (the “L”) into the Loop, though you may prefer to fly into Midway and rent a car. We’ll leave those decisions to you!
After registering for the workshop, we’ll send you an informational package with lists of hotels, rental car companies, dining recommendations, travel tips, and more.
Itinerary
Untitled, by A. Bieber
Although our urban photography workshops tend to be fairly organic as we make our way by foot through the city, a loose itinerary helps to structure our time from day to day.
Friday, June 20th
We will plan to meet everyone on Friday afternoon at our hotel downtown. The specifics of when and where we’ll meet will be defined in the orientation package you’ll receive a few weeks before the workshop.
Most of the afternoon will be spent walking through the Michigan Avenue area as a group, exploring the historic architecture and sculpture. We’ll part ways for dinner in the early evening and reconvene around 8 PM to prepare for sunset.
As dusk approaches, we’ll make our way to the John G. Shedd Aquarium to shoot the city skyline at sunset. This workshop has been scheduled to coincide with a full moon, which should add a touch of drama to our evening shoots.
We will continue to photograph until after dark and then disband for the night.
Saturday, June 21st & Sunday, June 22nd
Each day we will rise before dawn and walk together to some of the great attractions in downtown Chicago including Navy Pier, Grant Park, Millennium Park, and more. We will have breaks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Your registration package will include a guide to the best eateries downtown.
The BP Footbridge, by A. Bieber
The afternoon will be yours to enjoy the city. It will be hot and humid during the midday hours, so this is the perfect time to shop at the Magnificent Mile or in the two million-square-foot Marshall Field’s department store (the second largest in the country), or to enjoy a Chicago hot dog or genuine Chicago deep-dish pizza.
Sunrise and sunset are naturally important times for photography, so we’ll gather in different places each morning and evening to make the most of them.
Registration
This workshop is not all-inclusive. We will provide a wealth of information about the attractions and restaurants in the Loop area and you are encouraged to enjoy them as time permits.
The cost for this workshop is only $449 and includes a rugged Chicago downtown area map, information about the history of the area, photography tips and guidelines, and more. Register online right now!
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