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It's best list time for Chicago Examiners. In line with today's theme, I created a best list for photography-related stuff. I have to caution you, the lists are... well, arbitrary, and by all means, not comprehensive. Aside from my own preferences, I also did an informal poll of my photography-inclined friends for their favorites and included them in the compilation. Again, the lists are not scientific, they're very subjective but I had fun doing and researching them. From time to time, these lists will be updated.
Here's what I have compiled so far (including their websites if available):
The first list is the best photography stores. The usual suspects that appeared in everybody's lists are: Calumet Photographic (111 N. Cherry Ave., Chicago, IL 60642), Central Camera (230 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60604), and Helix Camera and Video (310 S. Racine, Chicago, IL 60607),
Busy corner of Wabash and Jackson. Central Camera (green neon sign) is a few steps away.
I don't have a particular favorite among the three, except probably Central Camera because, primarily, it is situated two blocks away from work, on the same street, so i could just walk there. BUT I actually avoid walking along Wabash because Central Camera is ... quite irresistible. The last time I was there, I plunked almost a thousand bucks for a set of new toys, mostly lenses and filters. They've been around since 1899 and is billed as the city's oldest camera store, practically an institution in the Chicago photographic community. Anyone who's anybody will tell you this is the best place to go so far as photography is concerned in downtown Chicago. Manny is my guy over there and is very helpful to me.
One of my photo buddies on flickr, friendly american, swears by Calumet and says the best person to go to over there is Rick. I am so glad that Calumet is far away, and since I don't have GPS or ... a car, it is difficult for me to go there, much less find it, otherwise, I would be there all the time too. I have several of their own brand of filters.
So far as Helix Camera is concerned, it was my favorite store for prints and equipment rental when I was in grad school in Champaign (IL) where they used to have a shop. When I was working at Stroger Hospital and found out that they have a store on Racine, about 15 minutes walk from the hospital, I frequented their store there too. Usually during lunch. I think I bought my point and shoot Nikon from there.
I have to add here, i also used to go to Wolf's Camera on Chicago and Rush when I was working at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine a few blocks away. So for me, it goes without saying, it's the proximity that counts ... :-).
The next list is the best place for prints. Many friends trust Gamma (314 W. Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60610) for digital prints. However, another photo buddy, mikey's chicago roots for CSW (215 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612) where he says all the top pros go. Since I print my own, I have no opinion.
If you're serious about your photography, whether you're a beginner or advanced, and would like to learn more and improve your photography, here's a short list of best places to go for classes/training. The best place to go for short-term classes, according to many friends, is the Chicago Photography Center (CPC) on Lincoln Ave. I know many serious amateurs in my meet-up group who have honed their skills there in digital photography, lighting, flash etc., one of whom practically lives there. They're a not-for-profit organization with facilities including classroom space, a computer lab, darkrooms, a lighting studio and a gallery featuring students’ work. They offer weekday evening classes and single-session workshops on evenings and weekend mornings. An alternate choice for short-term classes is the Chicago Park District. I know that the one near my house, the Broadway Armory Park on Broadway and Thorndale (5917 N. Broadway St. Chicago, IL 60660) offers classes for ages 13-17 and 18 and over. Check it out!
For formal programs/degrees, the Photography Department at Columbia College Chicago is frequently mentioned in anybody's list. It's touted to be "one of the largest and most exciting Photography programs in the country. The Photo Department supports a wide range of serious and ambitious photography, including personal work, documentary, photojournalism, studio and commercial work, historic processes and cutting-edge digital imaging." (Caveat: I presently am working at Columbia College Chicago but NOT at a department related to the arts or photography - I am in science.) The students in the department are terrific - many of them have taken my class (when I was teaching reproductive biology). My final exam is a project that combines class lessons and the student's major - and the photography students would always come out with projects that are so out there - as examples, a photo book about the similarity of cancer and fire from a fireman who was also a photography student and an ad campaign for sildenafil citrate from a photography student who was concentrating in commercial photography.
Another frequently mentioned school is, of course, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Photography Department. I don't know much about this department, except that they are THE Art Institute. A former student assistant of mine, Irena Knezevic, who's a terrific artist and scientist at the same time is teaching there. It's all about degrees of separation, or proximity in my case. I also would like to mention the Harrington College of Design in this list. They have a unique Digital Photography program that is career-focused. I actually interviewed there when I had fantasies to become a professional photographer. But I woke up.
The last list is the most subjective: best photographers with Chicago connection. Either they have worked here, are based here or were born here. Some are famous, some are icons, some are up-and-coming ... and a few are dead. I'm going to list them without any order. Please click on the names to see their work ... and be in awe as I always am. They are a source of inspiration. Hope you agree with me.
Art Shay, Victor Skrebneski, David Plowden , Jack Lane, Danny Lyon, Aaron Siskind, Richard Nickel, Bob Thall, Ovie Carter, Marc PoKempner, Antonio Dickey, Sandro, Jeff Sciortino, bW Photographic, dimitre, Carrie Schneider, John White, Sydney Harris ...
Archie FlorCruz, Tom Denlinger, Peter LeGrand, William Frederking, Paul D' Amato, Dawoud Bey, Jonathan Gitelson, Armand Frasco, Sarah Hoskins, Colleen Plumb, Matt Siber, Judy Natal, Jin Lee, Mayumi Lake, Michael Meskis ...
And how could I forget? The Digitally Entwined collective ... should be on this list.
And the list ... will be continued ... stay tuned.
Thanks also to ChicagoSage, | Maria |, and scbchi for the heads up.
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