PHOTO ESSAY: CHICAGO IN BLACK & WHITE

Chicago is a great city especially if you are an avid photographer like me. For my daily morning walk from the train station to my skyscraper office on the Magnificent Mile, I can basically walk a hundred different ways across the megalopolis of the city. I can walk pass the historical buildings of the financial district, into and out of the loop area, along the new Chicago river walk, through the River North area, down the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue to my skyscraper office in the Gold Coast.

After trekking across the city five days a week for over 17 years, I've been able to snap thousands of photographs, originally with my pocket camera, now with just my iPhone. I decided to create a photo essay of some of my favorite snaps of my city, all in black and white.

Trump Tower Portico

James R. Thompson Building Atrium: a photographer's delight!

Financial District Architecture

Marina City Towers: also a photographer's delight.

House of Blues snuck into this photo.

Willis Tower entrance

Franklin Street Bridge with Merchandise Mart in the background.

The sign on the front of the Wit Hotel.

Inside the Apple Store

 

Chicago bridges from the river walk

The zigzag of a section of the new river walk

  











































Bike rack

Michigan Avenue decoration 

Window washers

 
An afternoon conversation in the park

I hope my photos give you an idea of what a joy the city Chicago is to photograph. I would really appreciate any feedback you could give me, positive or negative.

Thank you for visiting,

 A Great Europe Trip Planner 

All photos were taken by me. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

MARTIN LUTHER KING AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, the National Portrait Gallery is holding an exhibition titled One Life: Martin Luther King, Jr. through June 1, 2014.

The exhibition's curator: "...In his thirteen years of public life as an advocate for civil rights, economic opportunity, and world peace, King motivated others not only by communicating his vision for a brighter future but by acting boldly to challenge injustice. Despite enormous odds and the ever-present risk of failure, King led by example, exhibiting courage and character as he maintained his steadfast commitment to nonviolent resistance and direct action."

Along with memorabilia from the National Portrait Gallery collection, the one-room exhibition contains historic photographs tracing the trajectory of King's career.

Martin Luther King Jr. with Coretta Scott King and their daughter Yolanda on the steps of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in 1956.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy ride the first integrated bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1956.

King after being arrested in Albany, Georgia in July, 1962 for peaceful demonstrations outside the local city hall. Although sentenced to 45 days in jail, the local sheriff ordered his release after 3 days.

King watches as President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 1964. He received one of the pens used to sign the bill.

Martin Luther King receives the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

Martin Luther King along with Dr. Benjamin Spock (left) in an anti-Vietnam march in NYC in 1967.

The National Portrait Gallery tells the stories of America through the individuals who have shaped U.S. culture through the visual arts, performing arts, and new media.

The National Portrait Gallery is conveniently located at Eighth and F Streets NW, in Washington D.C., above the Gallery Place–Chinatown Metrorail station (red, yellow, and green lines).

Open: 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. Closed Christmas Day.

Admission is always FREE at the National Portrait Gallery.

For more information about the Martin Luther King exhibition, click here.

Click here to visit the National Portrait Gallery's website.

All photos in this blog post were taken by my husband during our visit in September, 2013.