If there is one city that gets me going as far as photography goes it has to be Chicago.  To experience Chicago you must get up early and beat the crowds.  So, on a cold winter morning, I invited Michael Durr our videographer who was in Chicago on family business to join me and document a few hour photo walk in Chicago.  

I have been shooting in Chicago for many years and I kind of have my favorite walk that encompasses a number of good locations.  The route takes a few hours and also includes a breakfast and coffee break.  

We met at the Chicago Bean and started our walk from there.  The Bean is one of those places that never lets you down.  I did an article on how I shoot the bean “The Four Beans” a while back.  We then walked through the park, then to one of my favorite high rises in Chicago, The Wave or properly known as the Aqua Tower.

From there we walked towards the river and walked down to the end and found a lot of fun stuff to shoot during the walk.

The Camera

I have become quite a fan of Fuji cameras lately.  Even, more so than before.  For this walk, I used the the Fuji X-H1 as well as the 16-55mm lens, 10-24mm and 100-400mm lens.  All of this gear fit neatly in my still preferred shoulder bag made by PacSafe.  I covered this bag a while back in a review and article.

There are plenty of reviews on the XH-1 out there so that is not what this article and video is all about.  It’s about a camera that is easy and more than anything else fun to use.  The X-H1 is the first Fuji camera with in body image stabilization (IBIS) in it.  It works great and makes handheld photography like I did on this walk reliable and easy.

There is something about Fuji camera that just brings a smile to my face.  The dials and knobs that are part of the settings side of things are reminiscent to the old days.  And, if you haven’t figured it out, I am kind of an old guy so I like dials and knobs.

More than anything else the camera doesn’t get in your way.  My favorite lens is the 100-400mm.  That’s equivalent to roughly a 150mm – 600mm in full frame size at a fraction of the weight of anything in that focal length in full frame size.  This lens allowed me to do some fun abstracts that are part of a whole new series I’m doing now called picture in a picture.

Fuji cameras are just getting better and better.  The NEW X-T3 camera has been named camera of the year by a number of my fellow content providers.  I just got my X-T3 a few weeks ago and I am in total love with it. In combination with the X-H1 and the stable of lenses I have I am totally hooked.  

My wife has decided the X-H1 is her camera so now I have to sneak it out of the house to use it.  She enjoys its simple settings and the work she is making from this camera is just simply excellent.

The Video

The video is another great video by Michael Durr.  It follows me on the walk and shares a bit of fun I like to have while taking photographs.  I am addicted to shooting images and a walk like this does wonders to keep therapy bills at bay.  Please enjoy.

More Photos

Below are a number of images made on the walk.  I hope you enjoy them.

Kevin Raber
December 2018