Chicago Air And Water Show 2024 Featuring U.S. Navy Blue Angels
October 23, 2024
Photographing Chicago Air And Water Show From A Skyscraper
During the summer of 2024, I spent a weekend in Chicago going to Metallica concerts and photographing airplanes at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. When researching other things to do, I discovered the Chicago Air And Water Show would be happening that weekend. I immediately bought my ticket to 360 Chicago, an observation deck at 875 North Michigan Avenue. This spectacular indoor observation deck is located on the 94th floor of the former John Hancock Center at the northeast end of the Magnificent Mile.
I arrived 90 minutes before the U.S. Navy Blue Angels were scheduled to fly over the east coast of Chicago. Having been to the 94th floor several times, I knew the elevator wait times would be long. I bought the express pass which got me to the top 5 minutes after arriving. When the elevator doors opened, I saw hundreds of people waiting for the show. Finding a window with the proper view was critical. Within 5 minutes, I was stationed on the north side looking up at the coast of Lake Michigan. I patiently waited there for the next 80 minutes.
Once the Blue Angels performance began, I shot hundreds of images. Knowing their show already, I was able to anticipate where the aircraft would be in relation to the building. This kept me from having to look around to find their F-18 Super Hornets. The show was great as always, and photographing these fighter aircraft from 94 floors in the air was completely unique. It was a view of these airplanes I had never experienced.
Knowing The Blue Angels Show Inside And Out
Photographing airplanes from a skyscraper challenges me in several ways. First, other people and the building’s structure limit my field of view. When crowds gather at the same windows, I struggle to find space for myself and my cameras. At 360 Chicago, the black steel exoskeleton that supports the building further restricted my view. These massive structural elements blocked additional sightlines. Second, I can’t rotate freely to follow the planes. At a regular air show, I can spin 360 degrees to track and photograph aircraft no matter where they fly. Inside a building, I’m stuck with a fixed 180-degree view at best. That said, photographing planes from this unique vantage point still excites me.
