Millenium Park, what we were allowed to see...

[Sebastian]

DSL712, HBT, myself and John, another friend of ours, decided yesteday to head downtown and shoot Millenium Park. Most areas were closed off due to an event for those who funded the park, but we spend some time at Crown Fountain.

[Asylum Steve]

Must be fun having a dynamically lit city to play around in at night. Really makes me miss Miami...

It looks, though, that some of the lighting pushed your exposures to the limit. I was just thinking the other day about the digital technique of shooting multiple frames with seperate highlight and shadow exposures, then combining them in photoshop to artificially compress the contrast range of a scene.

I think some of the spots you shot would be great places to try that...

[opus]

I *love* the last one. The color is exquisite! And the spotlights give it a ghostly feel.

Where is Milennium Park? I've been to Chicago quite a bit, but I just can't place it.

[Sebastian]

Must be fun having a dynamically lit city to play around in at night. Really makes me miss Miami...

It looks, though, that some of the lighting pushed your exposures to the limit. I was just thinking the other day about the digital technique of shooting multiple frames with seperate highlight and shadow exposures, then combining them in photoshop to artificially compress the contrast range of a scene.

I think some of the spots you shot would be great places to try that...

Great mind think alike I guess...took multiple exposures of all of them in RAW. Problem is, they really lose the impact when the xposure is balanced. I prefer the blown-out look, it has much more of the effect of seeing these things in person IMO. Plus, the change color, so every exposure had a different hue to it. It made compositing the different exposures LESS than ideal...

[Sebastian]

I *love* the last one. The color is exquisite! And the spotlights give it a ghostly feel.

Where is Milennium Park? I've been to Chicago quite a bit, but I just can't place it.

It just opened earlier last week, that's probably why you can't place it.

[Sebastian]

Dear Sebastian:

These photographs are very well done. I love the high tech lighting mood and all the geometry going on in each shot. You've captured the place beautifully!

Thank you for sharing these excellent pictures.

Best to You,
Penny

Penny,

As always, thank you. I I just need two more things, 1 tilt-shift 24mm, and a 15mm fisheye...

[mtbbrian]

Good Stuff Seb!
Where is this at?
Very Colorful!
Brian

[Sebastian]

Good Stuff Seb!
Where is this at?
Very Colorful!
Brian

Thanks Brian. It's in Chicago.

[opus]

Ahh, the tilt-shift lens. I was going to post a question here if anyone had one.

*IF* I take my photography more seriously, I should invest in one, because I do a lot of travel photography and I think it would make my building shots worth taking.

[Sebastian]

Ahh, the tilt-shift lens. I was going to post a question here if anyone had one.

*IF* I take my photography more seriously, I should invest in one, because I do a lot of travel photography and I think it would make my building shots worth taking.

Hehe...unless you make money off of it, such a specialized lens would be difficult to justify. I have wanted one for as long as I can remember, but 1100 bucks for something that I can't make pay for itself is VERY hard to swallow. Even for me, I can justify ANYTHING...

[opus]

Tis true, tis very true.

My "holy grail" lens is the new EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM. But, like you, I can't justify $2500 for the "convenience" of not having to change lenses.

So I console myself with the thought that it's probably too heavy to carry around, anyway... :-)

BUT, I can dream...

[Sebastian]

Tis true, tis very true.

My "holy grail" lens is the new EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM. But, like you, I can't justify $2500 for the "convenience" of not having to change lenses.

So I console myself with the thought that it's probably too heavy to carry around, anyway... :-)

BUT, I can dream...

Personally, I don't know if the performance justifies the cost:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...n-28-300.shtml

Like with all super-zooms, two sperate lenses would probably give you better results, and would cost less. The 70-200 IS with the 17-40 would cost less, be faster, wider, and are optically excellent.

[Liz]

you guys had a great time.

I enjoyed viewing your photos. I LOVE the 2nd one. I've viewed it several times and see more to love each time. The lighting is perfect....I like the figure walking in front of the building - and the effect of the water especially where he is walking. You framed it perfectly - figures on the right, water spray both sides. Excellent composition IMO. Wow.

I like them all - my 2nd favorite is the last one.

Did I tell you how much I like No. 2?

Liz

DSL712, HBT, myself and John, another friend of ours, decided yesteday to head downtown and shoot Millenium Park. Most areas were closed off due to an event for those who funded the park, but we spend some time at Crown Fountain.

[dsl712]

Haven't had much time to post. But been shooting more than ever. Here are a couple that caught my eye.

[dsl712]

Can't decide which one I like better. Any thoughts? This girl was having so much fun, spinning and dancing near the water.

I could have shot a whole roll...uh...I mean CF card on her.

[Sebastian]

Damn D-Rock, the spotlight, the columns and the last shot of the girl are amazing. I was at John's last night and he showed my some of his shots and we all came away with such varying views. I hope he posts some soon.

I haven't seen anything from Hieu yet, but I'm hoping him and John post something.

[dsl712]

Dude,

After I saw your shot number four, I almost didn't post anything. Sharp with movement all in one image.

Dennis

[natatbeach]

especially the one of the kids and the lighting...nice work Mister.

[Chunk]

DSL712, HBT, myself and John, another friend of ours, decided yesteday to head downtown and shoot Millenium Park. Most areas were closed off due to an event for those who funded the park, but we spend some time at Crown Fountain.

All great shots. I've been hearing reports about the park on WGN. It sounds like lots of people like it. Any shots of "The Beam" ?

[Sebastian]

Dude,

After I saw your shot number four, I almost didn't post anything. Sharp with movement all in one image.

Dennis

At ISO 1600, f/2.8 and with IS on, otherwise it would have been a blurry mess. I tried to get kids splashing in that thing all night, they never cooperated.

That spotlights shot is awesome.

[Sebastian]

especially the one of the kids and the lighting...nice work Mister.

You told Larry about me?! I was afraid this would happen, what's the next step? Marriage counceling? Before you go further, consider the children, they need a father...

In the end, I'm just a meaningless internet fling. Do what's right, please, don't take my feelings into account, as hurt as I may be, I will get over it, eventually...

Just messing.

Thanks for the kind words! I've never struck myself with awe, maybe I should try that at my next masochist meeting?

I need coffee...

[Sebastian]

All great shots. I've been hearing reports about the park on WGN. It sounds like lots of people like it. Any shots of "The Beam" ?

I think Dennis got an awesome shot of the "Beam," but I think you mean the "BeaN." The sculpture titled "Cloudgate" is a big bean-shaped metal piece with a mirror finish. It reflects the skyline in really cool, distorted ways.

Infotunately, I do not have any shots of it. The area where it's located was closed to us common folk while those that paid for most of it partied their rich asses off. My timing, being typically bad, brought me down there when they were celebrating those that funded the park. I really need to go back there and shoot it though. They are soon polishing it to the point of being seamless, and I want some shots of it still with the seams, just for the hell of it...

[Chunk]

I think Dennis got an awesome shot of the "Beam," but I think you mean the "BeaN." The sculpture titled "Cloudgate" is a big bean-shaped metal piece with a mirror finish. It reflects the skyline in really cool, distorted ways.

Infotunately, I do not have any shots of it. The area where it's located was closed to us common folk while those that paid for most of it partied their rich asses off. My timind, being typically bad, brought me down there when they were celebrating those that funded the park. I really need to go back there and shoot it though. They are soon polishing it to the point of being seamless, and I want some shots of it still with the seams, just for the hell of it...

Thanks for the correction and explanation. I understand that they had to plant trees to keep the reflected glare from bothering drivers on Lakeshore Drive or some other road.

[Sebastian]

Thanks for the correction and explanation. I understand that they had to plant trees to keep the reflected glare from bothering drivers on Lakeshore Drive or some other road.

I forgot the smilies in the rpevious post, but I'm sure you know I was just teasing you in that little "eplanation." I really don't care what you or anyone calls it, I just wanted to play with Dennis's beam shot and make a bad pun...I apologize.

Anyway, I can totally see the trees being put there for that reason. These things are BRIGHT. And with the water relfecting off of them, at the right angles it's just a flood of light. As you can see in the shot of the two kids splashing, the car inbetween them is very visible. This is located right off of a busy street.

[Chunk]

I forgot the smilies in the rpevious post, but I'm sure you know I was just teasing you in that little "eplanation." I really don't care what you or anyone calls it, I just wanted to play with Dennis's beam shot and make a bad pun...I apologize.

Anyway, I can totally see the trees being put there for that reason. These things are BRIGHT. And with the water relfecting off of them, at the right angles it's just a flood of light. As you can see in the shot of the two kids splashing, the car inbetween them is very visible. This is located right off of a busy street.

I understood and I do appreciate your correcting my misunderstanding. I didn't think you were rude or anything - sorry if my reply gave that impression. The tree planting that I heard about was specifically for the Bean because the polished concave surfaces were concentrating sunlight and zapping driver's vision. Looks like I'll have something more to look at if I get down to look at the Seurat exhibit at the Art Institute in the next few weeks.