Living in Chicago, and being a photographer, I have a serious love/hate relationship with winter. When the icy winds blow from the north, sweeping down with it the polar air, there are not enough layers to wear to really protect you from it. Snow piles up, usually with some ice mixed in, making walking and driving treacherous. But, at the same time, winter has a beauty all its own. That’s where the “love” kicks in for me. Snaking through the loop, the frozen river adds a textural element that is a sight to behold, especially as evening descends. The frozen river shimmers as the street lights turn on, turning “blue hour” into a rare jewel of gold and turquoise.
The last two winters have been unusually mild, and neither the lake nor the river held ice for very long, if at all. I wasn’t complaining, but, as a result, I did not get out to do much winter photography. Since Christmas, we have been in the grips of the arctic air again. The river started freezing over, and I have been waiting for the ice to cover most of the main branch of the river. Usually, only the main branch freezes, the south and north branches have stronger currents which do not allow for much ice formation. But, this arctic air has been so cold that the ice has now spread into both branches.
Some friends of mine and I decided we needed to pounce on this opportunity. This past Wednesday evening, and yesterday, we ventured downtown to explore the icy river. Wednesday’s excursion centered around the DuSable Bridge, and the river walk just to the west and east of the bridge. We had to go out in short stints, the wind chills rapidly dropped down into sub-zero temperatures after the sun set.
Yesterday, we met up further west near Wolf Point, where the river branches to the north and south. We captured sunset, blue hour, the night reflections, and made a circuit to the Kinzie Street Bridge, and finishing on the river side of the Merchandise Mart.
Winter photography is special in many ways. If you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your photography gear, you will capture something incredible.
