Tag Archives: architectural photography

Hyde Park Architecture Photography

I photographed this recently-constructed single family home in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago for the developer. This stylish contemporary home set a record for the highest selling price in the Woodlawn section of Hyde Park, just south of the University of Chicago: $599,000.  This is a harbinger of what will be happening all over Hyde Park once the Obama Presidential Center is built just a few blocks to the east. 

North 680 Apartments

Just completed extensive architectural photography at North 680, a newly-opened luxury apartment community in Schaumburg IL. My client was HPA Design Group, an interior design company based in Dallas. I tried to capture the upscale, but comfortable interior spaces by using predominantly natural light.

The Homestead Hotel in Evanston

Nestled on a quiet leafy street in suburban Evanston, The Homestead is boutique hotel with a European ambiance, but the staff speaks English. I had the privilege of photographing the hotel earlier in the week and tried to capture the warmth and intimacy of the property. I could imagine spending a long peaceful morning on the veranda with coffee, pastries and the quiet hum of birds chirping.

Video Display at Northwestern Univ.

Photo assignment at the new Segal Visitors Center at Northwestern University in Evanston IL. The two expansive video displays were created by Planar and are valuable tools in making students and visitors aware of the university culture and events.

Chicago’s Victorian Heritage

Chicago is a virtual museum of Victorian-era structures.  Sure, an enormous number of buildings were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but those were in the downtown and near north area. If you explore Old Town and parts of Lincoln Park today you will discover a treasure trove of Victorian houses and commercial buildings. This just adds to the reputation of Chicago as one of the world’s finest cities for architectural excellence.

Chicago Presidential Suites

About ten years ago when the NATO summit was in town, our city played host to thousands of international visitors, and a couple dozen world leaders.  Where do these presidents, prime ministers and brutal dictators stay when they are here in Chicago? Surely not at the Days Inn or the Holiday Inn Express.  More than likely, they occupied the many uber-elegant Presidential Suites that are downtown.  I had the wonderful privilege to photograph several of them for Elite Traveler magazine. After shooting this assignment, I know that I will never be satisfied with any hotel room again…but then I rarely pay $4000 to 5000 per night for a room.  No, that isn’t a misprint.  Politicians, rock stars, Wall Street bankers, and world leaders are about the only people who can afford this luxury.  Here is a glimpse into that rarefied world that most of us will never be privy to.

Chicago’s Historic Union Station

One of the most incredible interior spaces in Chicago is rarely seen, unless you are a commuter or Amtrak loyalist.  And even then, most people rushing to or from their train have little time to stop and admire the breathtaking architecture surrounding them.  Union Station was completed in 1925 by the architectural firm of  Graham, Anderson and Probst, though Daniel Burnham drew up the original plans; he died before his plan could be realized.  The 110’ high, block-long Great Hall is a vast space defined by it’s barrel-vaulted ceiling and rows of Corinthian columns (not related to the Corinthian leather in your dad’s Chrysler).  As many as 100,000 passed through Union Station back in its heyday in the 1940s, though today it’s a small fraction of that number.  Next time you are in the west Loop, grab a sandwich and have lunch sitting on the benches in the Great Hall and just admire how grand architecture can inspire the soul–or at least make for an enjoyable lunch.