Let's Go to the Beach in Chicago, in Winter

It's January, in Chicago, during the most precipitous winter in a long time. On a Sunday, the clouds parted for a brief respite from the Months of Gloom. There is nothing like Montrose Harbor and Beach in Chicago, on a sunny 25 degree afternoon. We explored the sculpted icy coast, and crunched the wet snowy sand. A stroll through the bird sanctuary, where the snow is pristine but for animal footprints. In the harbor, possibly brave men ice-fish. The outline of downtown Chicago looks like a sharp peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan.

Chicago Fog

I have always loved how fog affects the world we see. It is kind of like putting a filter on the whole world, instead of just the lens of your camera. Only no actual filter can create the layering of shades that fog adds to a scene. Any time a decent fog rolls through Chicagoland, I head for the lake. A little haze or fog transforms the Chicago skyline into a palate of grays and blacks.









Fog is also a challenge to photograph, especially at night. Here are some experiments I did in one of the thickest fogs I've seen.