My Chicago weekend trip...

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi!  I went wild in Chicago this weekend...  Shot a total of 13 rolls in
less than 3 days!  Most of my shooting was early in the morning.  I would
get up at 6 am, go out shooting (nice low sun light, not crowded) and come
back 3-4 hours later just to find the family waking up and ready for
breakfast.  From the 13 rolls, 11 were Sensia 100 and two were Kodachrome
64, shot with the following equipment:

- 4 rolls with my SLRs (twin SLRs with 45 mm lenses mostly, also a few 135
mm shots and single SLR with 45 mm and 24 mm)

- 7 rolls with my Realist Ektar 7p

- 2 rolls with my Realist Ilex 5p

Most of the pictures were taken at Navy Pier.  A great place for family fun
and many photo opportunities:  Boats, sculpture, people, amusement park,
etc.  I also took pictures of streets, buildings, the Aquarium and Natural
History museums, beaches in Lake Shore Drive, and much more.  I was
actively looking for Detroit assignments (wood, flying things, bridges,
government, through the window, etc.)

For the first time I carried a monopod which allowed me to take many slow
speed shots.  I even tried a few several seconds long with the camera
supported on a rail.  (One of these might find its way to the "After Hours"
competition, there is still time!)  The monopod helps balance and support
the camera steadily even if it is not the main means of support.  I was
using a cheap light monopod without a head and could not tilt the camera up
or down.  Next time I will carry a small ball head that will allow me to
hold the monopod straight and still tilt the camera.  A full size tripod
might have been better but there is a point when carrying all this weight
will take the fun out of photography.  My objective is to carry as little
as possible and the monopod worked great for its size and weight.

Another new (for me) technique:  Taking shift SLR pictures of store window
decorations with the 24 mm lens.  This lens will focus closer than 12
inches.  An amazing variety of subjects are found in store windows  (I was
thinking this as tabletops that someone else set up and I was taking the
pictures.)  With the lens flashed at the window, slow speeds down to 1 sec
are possible.  Simple hand shift, nothing fancy.  The only problem are the
reflections on a bright day and color balance at night.

One of the laws of photography says that no matter how much film you bring,
you will manage to run out.  While I was packing my stuff I was thinking
that it would be impossible to use all that film in one weekend.  Sure
enough, after the first day I was panicked and had to slow down.  I finally
used all the film I brought EVEN the Kodachrome :-).  Now I am worried that
I don't have enough film left for Greece!

Greetings from Cleveland OH -- George Themelis


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