Chicago

Having just one gallery on the page is a bit boring, to be honest. I have so many Chicago and Manchester pictures flying around, so why not whacking them out? First thing to say here, though: Some of these are digital. I. Know.
Chicago is awesome. It lacks the post-Warhol-pseudo coolness that makes New York so indigestable. New York makes you feel like youre not cool enough. Chicago makes you feel like its made for you. It has everything you need (whatever that is, stranger), and it comes in masses. The skyscrapers can be as shiny or as art deco as they want, the city will never loose its gritty midwestern feel, and thats what makes it special. Also, they make sandwiches in there that are soaking with fat and THEN they dip them in grease. Sadly though, I only got to see it in winter, and I keep being told its billions of times better in summer. I shall find out!

You can also go back home if you fancy.

Milennium Park
Looking north there. This is March, and you can already see everyone ripping off their clothes because WINTER. IS. GONE. If you look close, you can see the Crown Fountain with its faces. All this used to be railroad horribleness until they've decided real estate prices could be boosted by putting some serious green up. Fair play.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

Michigan Avenue, looking south towards The Loop
This one, in contrast, is from early autumn. People are already gearing up for the, mind my french, fucking freezing winter. Its still sunny, so thats nice. Innit?
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

Chicago River with Trump Tower standing all over it
What it says on the tin. See, I'm from a little german countryside village. When I take Maraika there in April, I'll take some pictures and show you. THIS stuff is like from the movies. I mean, look at this, and it goes on for miles.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings. Handheld though, beyotches.

Urban planning a la CTRL+C CTRL+V CTRL+V CTRL+V ...
This is the beautiful neighborhood of The Avalon Apartments in Bloomingdale, IL. At the end of the road, there's a left turn and youre facing EXACTLY the same thing as youre seeing on this picture. At the end of that road, there's another left turn, and again, same picture. Its a full-blown circle of exactly the same housing development, inside and outside. Shiveringly unpersonal.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

Shut down Office Max
Just around the corner from the previous image.
Sony 200 alpha blah blah camera stuff.

Willis Tower!
This thing used to be called Sears Tower, and every kid in the world who's a bit nerdy has at least once in their lifetime tried to fly through in between of its two big antennas in Flight Simulator.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

The L.
It's just public transport, Whatchagonnado.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

Western Avenue
It doesn't look all that wonderful, but this is one of my favorite streets in Chicago. Its a few miles west of the downtown area, and its got everything on it that you'll ever want. Especially some proper decent pubs.

Cloud Gate
This massive thing gets polished, every. Single. Day.
Ilford HP5+ on Rolleiflex 2.8e

JOY! TERIYAKI!
This one saved my life, like, sixteen times. Its tiny, and apparently the only one in the mid west.
Ilford HP5+ on Rolleiflex 2.8e

The Loop, a bit Gotham City - ish here.
Ilford HP5+ on Rolleiflex 2.8e

This is Crown Fountain Plaza or so.
I was talking about this in the first image, remember?
Ilford HP5+ on Rolleiflex 2.8e

The grittiness I was also talking about comes through here. Its a very special style, this, and its bloody deafening when a train rattles past.
Ilford HP5+ on Rolleiflex 2.8e

La Salle St!
I've taken about 293 pictures of this road. Also, that poor workaholic to the left probably doesn't like his picture taken. Oh well.
Ilford HP5+ on Rolleiflex 2.8e

Again, The Loop.
Ilford HP5+ on Rolleiflex 2.8e

And see? La Salle St. Again!
It looks freezingly cold and boy it was.
Fuji Provia 400X on Leica M3.

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