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Chicago Through my Lens

August 7, 2013 by Elaine

On the Saturday afternoon of my trip to BlogHer in Chicago, I had to get out and use my camera, much like the first time I was there in 2009.

There were many brides out that day, in Millennium Park and the weather was amazing, only 64 degrees.  That’s unheard of in summer where I come from!

So I walked on over to “the bean” and my friend Colleen met me there.  It was great to walk around with her and chat while we took photos.

This first two photos were actually taken out the window of the McCormick Center (top one with camera, bottom one with phone and edited in Instagram), where the conference was held, and the second one was taken out of my hotel room but everything else was taken during my short photo walk…

Can you see me and Colleen at The Bean? (I’m like Dr. Suess over here!)

These were all taken with my new 35mm lens.  Which I pretty much love.

I am truly amazed at all the different types of architecture in Chicago.  The way the buildings are backdrops for each other is so interesting to me and seems different in a way, than say New York City, for some reason.  Perhaps it is the constant contrast of old and new, all mixed together.

I hope the next time I visit I can make it farther than just the Sheraton and the park because I know there is so MUCH more to see (and take photographs of!)

Have you been to Chicago?

GFunkified

Filed Under: blogher, Outings, Photography, traveling

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Comments

  1. Michelle Nahom says

    August 7, 2013 at 1:53 am

    Gorgeous pics! Wish I had gotten to go to BlogHer! Next year for sure!

  2. angela says

    August 7, 2013 at 2:02 am

    It’s like being back there. I got all teary!

  3. Julia Hunter says

    August 7, 2013 at 2:10 am

    I love your perspective! The shots of the architecture are gorgeous but there is something about the picture with the bride and groom being photographed by the photographers with the yellow bags. The bags just pop with all the gray.

  4. Susi says

    August 7, 2013 at 2:26 am

    Love love love these. I’ve never been to Chicago but thanks for bringing it alive for me with these images! 🙂

  5. tracy@sellabitmum says

    August 7, 2013 at 2:41 am

    Beautiful!

  6. Andrea Mowery says

    August 7, 2013 at 3:13 am

    Chicago is great. I’ve only been once but it was love, very quickly.

  7. Robin @ Farewell Stranger says

    August 7, 2013 at 3:18 am

    I love Chicago, and that area in particular. The architecture is so amazing. I could stare at it all day.

  8. Kerstin Auer says

    August 7, 2013 at 3:59 am

    I’ve been to Chicago, but that was a long time ago.
    I wish I could have made it to Blogher and meet you there!
    Amazing pics, as always.

  9. Kim@Co-Pilot Mom says

    August 7, 2013 at 11:37 am

    I have never been to Chicago – but it looks like such a beautiful city. The architecture is amazing! Love your pics, Elaine. 🙂

  10. Heathers Happenings says

    August 7, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    Those are some beautiful pictures! Ive never been to Chicago but would love to visit someday.

  11. Kat says

    August 7, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    Aww. I am so sad I missed you. We could have met up! I think I was there just two days after you left. Boo. 🙁

    I LOVE Chicago. It is seriously one of my very favorite places. Did you do the riverboat tour? The architectural tour is my fav and I’m no architect. Even my kids found the facts interesting. If you haven’t already done that you must. Shoreline cruises are great.

    Beautiful photos! You could take a million there, couldn’t you? It really is a beautiful city.

  12. Leah says

    August 7, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    Amazing pictures! Chicago is on my list of “next cities to visit”. It’s only a 10 hour drive from me, so I hope I’ll be heading there sooner rather than later!

  13. Tamara Camera says

    August 7, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    I’ve been to Chicago twice – once in the frigid cold and again in the fall when it was warm and perfect. I love Hyde Park – where our friends live. Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy the blurry iPhone pics from BlogHer because I love searching for my cousin and some of my friends in there. However I’m enjoying these “real” photos a lot. Next BlogHer, I hope to see you and we’ll both have our cameras!

    • Elaine Alguire says

      August 13, 2013 at 8:04 pm

      I hope so too! Let’s do a photowalk together, that would be SO fun! 🙂

  14. Wendy Bartlett says

    August 7, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    ONE of these years I’ll make it to blogher. these are gorgeous shots!

  15. Arnebya says

    August 7, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    I love the one of the bride and groom at the bean. And wait, is that another wedding dress in the median?

    • Elaine Alguire says

      August 13, 2013 at 8:03 pm

      It is! It’s the same bride from the first couple pic, with the yellow bags. 🙂 I was stalking them. lol.

  16. Katie E says

    August 7, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    You have quite an eye. I love them all – especially the ones at the bean. So cool. And no, I’ve never been to Chicago, but now I kind of want to go 🙂

  17. Laura O'Rourke says

    August 7, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    Your photography keeps getting better and better, friend! I LOVE them! Especially the ones from the cool perspective. Sometimes I wish I had a better eye for those things.

    I think the bridge photo would look stunning in black and white.

    • Elaine Alguire says

      August 9, 2013 at 9:00 pm

      Thank you, Laura! That means a lot coming from you. And it DOES look great in B&W. You are SO right! 🙂

  18. Katie says

    August 7, 2013 at 5:59 pm

    We go to Chicago often and it’s one of my favorite cities. I love so much about it and your photos capture it so well! beautiful!

    • Elaine Alguire says

      August 9, 2013 at 8:59 pm

      I wish I could go more often! Thank you! 🙂

  19. Tonya says

    August 7, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    These pictures are amaze balls! I love Chicago and you caprtued it beautifully. Well done.

  20. Loukia says

    August 7, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    I love your pictures, Elaine! I SO wish I was able to make it to BlogHer this year, can’t believe I missed a year! I can’t wait to find out where it will be next year… the suspense is killing me! 🙂

    • Elaine Alguire says

      August 9, 2013 at 8:59 pm

      same here! I was sorry to miss you this year. xo

  21. Greta @gfunkified says

    August 7, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    I haven’t been in a long time! Gorgeous pictures, as always. My favorite is the bride and the photographers with the yellow bags… That gray and yellow is stunning together.

    • Elaine Alguire says

      August 9, 2013 at 8:58 pm

      I know, I took those photos mostly for the yellow bags! HA! 🙂 Great minds think alike…

  22. Greta @gfunkified says

    August 7, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

  23. Alison says

    August 8, 2013 at 4:42 am

    Really, really stunning photographs, my friend!

  24. Keely says

    August 8, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    You’ve made my town look so purty! And aren’t pix at the bean SO MUCH FUN?

  25. Emmy says

    August 8, 2013 at 9:30 pm

    Beautiful pictures! Love the close detail shots you got– I often don’t think to get shots like that I just get the overall a lot.
    And yes Chicago has one of the best skylines I think

  26. Larks says

    August 8, 2013 at 10:41 pm

    Those are gorgeous pictures! I wish I could have gone to BlogHer! I was actually born in Chicago. It’s a beautiful city. But I gotta be honest: I can’t hack the winters.

  27. Alma says

    August 9, 2013 at 5:24 am

    I have never been. These shots are great! I would love to visit, I am a fan of architecture as well.

  28. Colleen @AMadisonMom says

    August 23, 2013 at 6:34 pm

    Finally getting around to catching up on my blog reading!

    I had such a nice time walking around with you. Thanks so much for the meetup at the bean!!!

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Miss Elaine-ous Me

Hi! I'm Elaine, a transplanted Texan who has spent almost 15 years living in Cajun country. I am re-married to Brandon and we have five kids: together, ages 19, 16, 16, 14 and 14 and crazy but lovely dog, Charlie. I am also an office manager, occasional writer, prayer, and lover of life! Find me on Instagram (misselaine0375) and contact me at misselaineous0375 (at) gmail (dot) com.

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