I write this article with the following demographic in mind: visitors to the city who want to photograph something other than Grant Park and the Sears Tower but don't know where to go and people casually interested in photography who don't necessarily have the time and energy to traipse around constantly. I spent my first four years in the city on trains, buses, and foot looking for the most interesting scenery to practice photographing. In my travels, I gained a good sense of the geography of Chicago.
Some people enjoy taking photographs of buildings or cityscapes, some enjoy photographing more natural scenes. Whatever your preference is, keep in mind that Chicago is the third largest city in the nation meaning one should be able to find what they're looking for. However, for the purposes of this article, I'm going to concentrate on what I've found and what I consider interesting. Lets get started.
On the southeast side, under the Skyway, there are about three bridges where you can get awesome shots of industrial plants situated on the river. Cargo ships come and go quite frequently as do barges and private boats. I spotted some people having a gathering on a private boat heading towards downtown once while I was taking pictures in this area. After snapping their picture with telephoto lens, I waved to them and smiled, much to their chagrin. Such encounters amuse me, but never snap photos of unwitting people if they're bigger than you. But I digress. The best bridge in this area is 103rd street, as it offers the most outstanding views. The neighborhood around it is interesting as well. I presume the area is composed of factory workers and dock workers due to the proximity of said factories. You wont find any historical monuments or hot nightspots here, though.
Not too far south of the previously mentioned area are the neighborhoods of Pullman and Roseland. Pullman is the physical evidence of a very famous experiment in worker housing. In 1880, George Pullman, the owner of the train car company, bought a massive tract of land and commissioned architect Solon Beman to build a town for the company's workers. Amenities such as a bank and post office were included in the plan along with entertainment facilities. Currently, the neighborhood is a Chicago historic district, bounded by 111th street, Cottage Grove Avenue, 115th street, and Langley Avenue. On the north side of 111th street are the remnants of the Pullman Factory. There was a large fire recently and the charred skeleton still remains, awaiting ongoing restoration. There are many good opportunities for photography in this area, I suggest taking a walk up and down the streets. If you don't know where to start, there is a visitor center on 112th and Cottage Grove which is very interesting in its own right.
Roseland lies directly across the tracks from Pullman. I'd rather avoid the cliche of 'other side of the tracks'. but in this instance its definitely applicable. Roseland is what the average onlooker would label a 'dump', but I'm going to be more optimistic. If you take a stroll on Michigan Avenue from 111th street south to 115th street, you will find what remains of a once-vital shopping district, the losing end of commercial competition. Infact, there is an entire abandoned shopping mall and theatre on the same block. Though it may sound depressing this stretch of Michigan Avenue is an interesting contrast to the Michigan Avenue most people associate with Chicago. If you do end up visiting, it is imperative that you stay alert and be cautious.
Heading directly west of Roseland and Pullman, one can find historic mansions in Beverly. Though personally I don't care to spend too much time there, the mansions are definitely worth photographing. Longwood Avenue is the main street to go for the mansions, and I suspect that it is a historic district. If you take 95th street all the way east, you'll hit Calumet Park. This park is a bit out of the way but it offers a good view of the industry on the lake, visible all the way down to Indiana.
That covers the southern-most part of Chicago. In the next article, I'll cover the rest of the south side and anything I may have overlooked in this article. Remember, when you go out photographing, try to keep your eyes open for any people who may want to harm you. It shouldn't be a problem if you carry yourself with a sense of purpose. The key for safety in this respect is to appear as if you know what you're doing, even if you don't.
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