Chicago Travel Photography Featuring Wendella Boat Tour Chicago And The Chicago River

In September 2020 I traveled to Chicago, Illinois to shoot an engagement session in Lincoln Park and downtown Chicago. Having had such a good time photographing this couple but little time to photograph other parts of downtown that I wanted to, I made another trip to Chicago in October 2020. No matter how many times I visit, I always find new Chicago travel photography to create.

Chicago Travel Photography By Water

I took my 5th boat tour with Wendella Tours & Cruises in October 2020, the Chicago River Architecture Tour. This company is located on the northwest side of the intersection of Michigan Avenue and the river. City photos below are of buildings and other things you can see from the River. The other four times I have used this tour company, I did the river and lake cruise including one at sunset. Each has its own pros and cons, but the architecture one was absolutely the best for a photographer.

The Wendella Architecture Tour travels all three branches of the Chicago River, and the views are excellent. Some of the things you can see are 77 West Wacker, Merchandise Mart, train bridges, Willis Tower (Sears Tower), Civic Opera House, and several Amtrak trains. I love being a Chicago travel photographer. I love the symmetry of photographing from where the north and south branches of the river intersect with the east branch.

Looking east toward Lake Michigan, the massive medal bridges almost frame the massive buildings along the river. I can’t photograph these enough! I was lucky enough to see one of the drawbridges raised which was a first for me. It amazes me that these giant hunks of metal can be raised and lowered with the push of a button.

How Did These Photos Turn Out?

The air was clear and crisp on this day, so the photos turned out extra sharp. When I got home and looked at these, I couldn’t believe the sharpness I was able to capture. Some of these were so exceptional that I printed them to hang on my walls. I can’t wait to get back to the windy city to see what else I can do! The tour guides are excellent, by the way. I am a Dayton Ohio based travel photographer.

Wendella also offers 45-minute, 90-minute, and sunset cruises. I have done all three offerings, with the sunset cruise being the most epic as the sun sets behind the city! I am constantly astounded by the amount of original architecture you can see on any of their tours.