Capturing The City: Chicago
Capturing The City: Chicago
A Midwest marvel that tells a story far greater than the city itself
Chicago, the heartbeat of the Midwest. Where sparkling lights dazzle in the night sky, and skyscrapers are locked in a battle with the Chicago River for the title of the city’s most beautiful sight. A city designed to stun in wonderment. From distinct architecture evolving over the centuries to world-class meals that break away from the Midwest norm. When it comes to Chicago, every creative aspect of this city is put on display in the highest and most fantastic form imaginable, just for you to capture.
Founded alongside the birth of the country, Chicago is so much more than the history of a city. It’s the story of the United States. From its initial search for a global identity all the way to the glistening present. Chicago is a living, breathing museum whose tale reads like a movie script.
A catastrophic fire in 1871 that reduced nearly one third of the city to ash, only to rise like a phoenix into a groundbreaking turn of the century metropolis. The crime lord Al Capone, whose spiderweb of criminal enterprises dominated the 1920s, made him one of the richest and most powerful people in the country. And, of course, the feats of engineering miracles like the Wrigley Building and Willis Tower that crafted America’s own cultural identity.
It’s stories like these, coupled with the stunning city sights, that make this place a one-of-a-kind photographer’s dream. The centuries of history allow you to capture pictures portraying a lifetime of experiences, all within a single frame.
While reliving the iconic events that took place throughout these streets is certainly reason enough to grab your camera and hit the streets, it’s the modern innovations that make Chicago one of the best cities in the country.
Creative constructions constantly sprout up around the town, always bringing a new and unique way to take in the surroundings while showing that this place refuses to sit back and rest on its visually impressive laurels. Sky-high sights like the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and the Willis Tower Skydeck open up the city to new angles and opportunities. Or the soft flowing Chicago Riverwalk that presents itself as the crown jewel of perfect downtown views.
It’s as if the people of Chicago are in a fierce competition to see who can create the next great Chicago attraction. And speaking of Chicagoans, that’s where Chicago really stands out.
In Chicago, people have lifelong, pure feelings of pride for their city. They represent their neighborhood on their clothes, tattoo the city flag onto their body, and stand for a connection to the streets in the sense of community you cannot find in any other American metropolis. Maybe it’s the dozens of suburban neighborhoods squeezed together or the deep-rooted love for their century old sports teams that unite the city as one, but when you’re in Chicago, you aren’t just a part of the city; you are the city.
An example of this becomes glaringly apparent when attending one of the infamous sports franchises.
It’s no secret that Chicago sports teams have been around since the beginning of the sport itself, but what seems to fly under the radar is just how impactful these teams have been.
A 1919 gambling scandal that changed the face of baseball and sports betting forever. Multiple of the country’s oldest and most notable stadiums in North American sports. And, of course, the home of the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. It’s moments like these that have reshaped American sports into the powerhouses of entertainment they are today.
Sure, the long and rich history of over a century of iconic moments set the stage for Chicago sports, but it’s the current fans that stop the show.
Few fanbases in the world can compare to the passion and intensity that the people of Chicago bring with them to every game. While New York, Boston, and even Los Angeles get all of the fame and recognition when it comes to American sports, it is Chicago that may top them all.
Diehard Chicago sports fandom is an ingrained quality passed down from generation to generation, like an inherited gene or, depending on the team, a sickness. Entire families living and dying on every pitch, or feelings of pure joy/pure anger with every pass thrown downfield. There’s no fanbase like it.
Thanks to this athletic obsession, incomparable photos are ever present within this town. Be it incredible pictures of people flooding the streets in celebration or one-off shots of the downtown river dyed bright colors for the championship team. These documentations show clear examples of the unparalleled love this city has for its teams. Even a mundane event like a normal midweek day game at Wrigley Field presents an opportunity to capture the truly magical feeling of Chicago.
Heading to a game at Wrigley Field is undoubtedly the best way to feel what Chicago is all about, but the next best way to take in the city, and any city, is through the food.
Food is the lifeblood of a city. The culinary scene captures the essence of what a metropolis stands for. It can provide a peek behind the curtain into a place’s past, tell you the culture of a location, where the people migrated from, how they channel creativity through their culinary art, and it can show what a city values most. No matter where you are, cuisine has an impact on a city’s identity that lets you know immediately what that place is all about. And when it comes to Chicago, it’s all about the best.
Chicago has become a hidden gem for world class dining. This Midwest Mecca of meals showcases incredible flavors, combinations, and presentations as stunning as the city itself. Michelin recognized restaurants to hole in the wall burger joints are spread throughout the town ready to take you on an eye-opening experience you won’t soon forget.
Exploring the food of Chicago allows you to capture this city in ways you never imagined. See the vivid culture and sense of community at the outstanding southern restaurant Virtue. The Michelin recognized Mediterranean and Latin mix at AVEC, that creates out of the box combinations as unique as the sights around the city. Plus, the most well known attraction, Chicago style pizza, and the pies at Lou Malnati’s do not disappoint in flavor and in an understanding of the staples this blue collar town was built on.
Food is a pivotal point for realizing what Chicago is. It’s new and bold in ways you didn’t expect. It’s about honoring the close-knit sense of community while welcoming in new people and ideas from around the world. It’s a glimpse into what makes Chicago one of the most remarkable places in the country, and being an absolute delight for the eyes as well as the taste buds doesn’t hurt either.
You see, Chicago is the United States. So much influence, so much history has come from this city to the point that it’s woven into the fabric of what makes this country what it is. From centuries of world changing history to impossible moments in sports, skyscrapers reflecting the smooth sunset to food so delicious it will have you begging for more. This city has an infinite number of ways to present itself as one of the most wonderful places in the country, all on display waiting to be captured.
So, how do you fully capture Chicago? A place of iconic creativity as well known as the country itself. A place stuffed with rich history while still leaving room to make more. A place that evolves and adapts just like the ever-changing needs of its people. How do you capture a place like that?
Easy
You go and experience it for yourself.
Capturing The City: Chicago
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