Downtown Digital

A few digital photos from the downtown Chicago event a couple of weeks ago.  The previously posted photos from the same outing were film scans.

1.  Leica M EV1 @ f1.4 | 40mm | 1/125 sec | ISO 2000

2.  Leica M EV1 @ f2 | 40mm | 1/350 sec | ISO 64

3.  Leica M EV1 @ f1.4 | 40mm | 1/180 sec | ISO 100

Lens for all photos:  Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

All Photographed 8/15/26

Play Me!

Ogilvie Transportation Center - An open invitation for anyone passing through.

Looking Down To See Up

Downtown puddle reflection.

Man On A Mission

Downtown Film

Chicago, IL

I had not shot BW film for awhile, nor the Minolta X-700.  Figured a trip to the Leica store would be a good opportunity to do so.  This is a small collection of photos from the day.

Minolta X-700 | 28mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

MD Minolta Celtic 28mm  F2.8

All Photographed 8/15/26

Downtown Film

Kenn Cook Jr.

Painted Camera

Top Of The Tower

Where Are All The People?

Westside Passion

Leica Store

Chicago, IL

On Saturday 8/15/26, I had the privilege of attending a discussion and book signing of local photographer Kenn Cook Jr.  I will not attempt to describe Kenn's passion; rather am providing a link where his work is best described and book can be purchased.  From The Westside, With Love

Needless to say, it was an awesome & inspiring afternoon.

Minolta X-700 @ f4 | 28mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

MD Minolta Celtic 28mm F2.8

Photographed 8/15/26

Non-Verbal Communication

Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL

Making a statement. Couldn't agree more.

Leica M EV1 @ f4 | 40mm | 1/160 sec | ISO 250

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 8/15/26

Family Reflection

Downtown Chicago

Celebrating Linda's and my 75th birthdays with the family.  As tradition has it, getting my family to stop for a photo is a major feat for which I take lots of crap.  Notwithstanding, I am grateful for their rare indulgence 🤣.

Leica D-Lux 8 @ f2.1 | 30mm (equiv) | 1/1250 | ISO 200

Leica DC Vario-Summilux F1.7-2.8 24-75mm (equiv) ASPH

Photographed 7/31/26

Fortuitous Rain

Chicago, IL

Of course during an organized photowalk in Chicago, the rain would intervene...which actually created some good photo ops.

1.  Leica M EV1 @ F8 | 28mm | 1/160 sec | ISO 800;
Voigtlander VM 28mm F2 Ultron


2.  Leica M EV1 @ F8 | 28mm | 1/500 sec | ISO 1000;
Voigtlander VM 28mm F2 Ultron

All Photographed 7/17/26

Urban Nights

These photos were taken June 19, 2025 on a photowalk in downtown Chicago with some photography friends visiting from out of town and coincide with the 52 Assignments-Exposure project #26-Urban Nights.

Before or After The Vows?

The guy's shirt makes this a very puzzling scene.  What's the story?



Sony A7IV @ f4 | 1/640 | 20mm | ISO 6400

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G


Beacon

Chicago, IL

Chicago River, Riverwalk & Bridges

Sony A7IV @ f4 | 1/320 | 105mm (equiv) | ISO 6400


Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

More City Perspectives

The last few shots from June 19th & 20th photowalks in downtown Chicago with some photography friends visiting from out of town.

Three Scenes In One

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f5 | 1/400 | 50mm equiv | ISO 200

Contrast In Style

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/125 | 85mm equiv | ISO 125

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Urban Canyon

Sony A7IV @ f4.5 | 1/640 | 20mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Iconic "L"

While spending a couple of days earlier in June shooting photos with photography friends visiting Chicago from out of town, we did a photography tour with Teresa Peek - Tour Through a Lens (https://www.tourthroughalens.com). Teresa took us to this location where the "L" appears to turn in on itself.

As a local, I couldn't believe I'd never seen nor heard of this shot. Also, being a local, I could not pass up the opportunity to capture it myself.  See the BTS shots below where I'm hanging out of the parking structure with camera in one hand.

Iconic "L"

Sony A7IV @ f4 | 1/125 | 20mm | ISO 200

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Behind The Scene - Iconic "L"

Photographed by Vincent Harn

Behind The Scene - Iconic "L"

Photographed by Alex Tse

City Perspectives

A few more shots from June 19th & 20th photowalks in downtown Chicago with some photography friends visiting from out of town.

Winding Road

Sony A7IV @ f? | 1/3200 | 15mm | ISO 100

Voigtlander VM 15mm F4.5 (adapted)

Geometry Of Looking Up

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/125 | 20mm | ISO 125

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Places To Go

Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/3200 | 70mm | ISO 12800

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Fashion Footwear

Sony A7IV @ f4.5 | 1/125 | 91mm equiv | ISO 400

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Interested / Not Interested

"L" Platform

Chicago, IL

Spent a couple of days this week shooting photos with photography friends in from out of town.

Sony A7IV @ f4.5 | 1/125 | 105mm equiv | ISO 200

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 6/20/25

Getting Out & Wanting In

Millennium Park

Chicago, IL

Spent a couple of days this week shooting photos with photography friends in from out of town.  This shot is straight out of camera (SOOC) from the newly repaired GRIIIx. I love the color rendering of the embedded film recipe.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f5.6 | 1/500 | 50mm equiv | ISO 200

Photographed 6/19/25

Cruising

52 Assignments Exposure 27 - Panning For Gold

State & Washington

Chicago, IL

Sony A7Cii @ f20 | 1/15 | 35mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 6/7/25

Chicago Blues Festival

A few shots from a photowalk in downtown Chicago on 6/7/25 during the Chicago Blues Festival.  We covered parts of the loop, Grant Park and Millennium Park.

Capture The Light

Sony A7Cii @ f5.6 | 1/160 | 44mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Agora

Magdalena Abakanowicz

Sony A7Cii @ f5.6 | 1/500 | 28mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Urban Oasis

Sony A7Cii @ f7.1 | 1/500 | 60mm | ISO 250

Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Beer Hug

Sony A7Cii @ f8 | 1/160 | 42mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Purple Mike

Check him out at:
https://wslr.org/

Sony A7Cii @ f7.1 | 1/160 | 28mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Clearing The Path

Sony A7Cii @ f9 | 1/160 | 28mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

High ISO Alternates

In yesterday's post, I described how I had a hard time selecting which photo to use for the 52Frames submission, so I'm presenting these alternates as a separate post.  All Photographed on 5/21/25.

Chase Tower

Sony A7Cii @ f4 | 1/125 | 35mm | ISO 12800

Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 w/ 1/4 Pro-mist filter

LaSalle Street

Sony A7Cii @ f4 | 1/1250 | 35mm | ISO 12800

Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 w/ 1/4 Pro-mist filter

Sears and the Lantern

Sony A7Cii @ f3.5 | 1/80 | 35mm | ISO 12800

Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 w/ 1/4 Pro-mist filter

A Shot In The Dark

52 Frames - Week 21 - High ISO

EC: 12800+

Heading to a late night train after a dinner in downtown Chicago. Virtually empty streets with a light drizzle made for some cool IRL photo opportunities. I truly had a hard time selecting which photo to use (as opposed to the all-to-often one shot streak-saver).

Sony A7Cii @ f3.5 | 1/640 | 35mm | ISO 12800

Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 w/ 1/4 Pro-mist filter

Photographed 5/21/25

Hands Off!

Attended the Hands Off! rally and march in downtown Chicago, at Daley Center Plaza, on April 5th. The crowd ultimately swelled to 30,000 densely filling the plaza and surrounding streets.  I had not experienced a similar event since 1969-1970 during protests of the Vietnam War.

The march and rally were peaceful...but people are angry.  Many scenes and signs were observed expressing this anger and disgust for the present state of affairs in this country and for the people in power.  I'm creating a zine with 16 of my most representative photos of this event, some of which are too off-color for posting in this blog.

All In On Hands Off

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/125 | 70mm | ISO 200

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

The Crowd Grows

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/530 | 6.76mm (24mm equiv) | ISO 80

Breakfast Bust

Chicago, IL

Busted as the shutter clicked.

Sony A7IV @ f4 | 1/200 | 43mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 4/5/25

Which Came First?

Chicago, IL

I spotted her from across the street and was compelled to ask the question. She confirmed that the coat came long before the hair, but the shoes were a more recent addition.

It was ironic because I was downtown on the way to a rally protesting the "Orange One".

Sony A7IV @ f4 | 1/125 | 20mm | ISO 200

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 4/5/25

White Scarves

Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL

Shot this image during the Beers & Cameras-Chicago meet-up.  These white scarves were just screaming to be photographed.  Photographing strangers is one of my favorite genres so it's fitting I end the year with one.

Sony A7Cii @ f5.6 | 1/320 | 15mm | ISO 1600

Voigtlander VM 15mm F4.5 (adapted)

Photographed 12/22/24