One really fun aspect of touring Chicago from the water (see my Chicago: On the River post) is the opportunity to catch the reflections in glass buildings. I wish I’d noticed this earlier in the cruise, but I was obsessing about the bridges. Took me a while to notice all the reflections.
If you’re going to build a very big building, why not cover the exterior with glass? It makes for a cool look and you get a free art installation as well because those reflections are super cool and change depending on the light of day and the angle you’re at.
Sometimes the reflection can look like there’s a building inside a building, like in this photo.
A curved building, where the Chicago river curves to the south channel, picks up reflections of several buildings. This might be my favorite reflection of all the ones I saw on the boat tour.
And, just for fun, here’s a reflection of the boat I was on when I took all these photos. The angles look a bit weird, and the next photo shows why…
The architect had to fit the building’s footprint into a very long, narrow space, so they came up with this design. Look closely, both sides of the building jut out from that narrow concrete core. I’m not sure what those angles look like from inside, but I can’t imagine there’s much usable space until things get back to 90-degree angles.
So yet another cool thing about Chicago is all the buildings that reflect other buildings!
Architecture is the very mirror of life. You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit of a place; they are the reflection of society.
Thanks, Peg! You get the credit for coming up with the boat tour, which is where the best reflections are 🙂
I love that view in Boston. I try to get a photo of that every time I’m there but I never quite capture it.
Hi Annie, What a spectacular collection of Chicago River photos and reflections! Your are an artist!
It reminds me of Copley Square in Boston, where there’s a glass tower that reflects an old church. Old and new in one picture. Thanks for the pics! They’re great!
Stunning shots, Annie! You really did have the perfect day for a river cruise.
Glass buildings are one of the few things I like about cityscapes, but they do kill thousands of birds. Your pictures are great, of course!
Sooooo cool!!