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Outdoor Nudes in Chicago
I will have two models staying with me for a week and they've expressed in shooting nudes outdoors around Chicago. I realize the obvious: it's a very busy city with people (and cops) everywhere. Does anyone know of secluded and safe places to shoot around the city or surrounding suburbs? If not, then it's off to the rooftops! I know sometimes it's the "when" and not the "where", and early mornings can have their benefits. There are too damn many police cameras around the downtown area, and some of the most industrial and cool places are in bad neighborhoods. Any advice is appreciated. Jun 24 05 09:32 am Link Guido and company can solve the bad neighborhood problem. Good luck on this, I think rooftops are going to be it. Jun 24 05 09:35 am Link Shoot very early, plan to be done by 8ish. Better ligthing and way less people. The lakefronts are normally empty, forest perserves, etc. There are actually tons of spots but to go but early is generally the key. Jun 29 05 12:58 pm Link The Chicago area is getting so weird about photos these days, I'm thinking of taking up needlepoint instead. In March, I was arrested by the DuPage County Forest Preserve Police for shooting fully clothed casual shots at Graue Mill. The oinker raked me and the model's boyfriend over the coals and pulled her aside and tried to get her to say that she was being abused by us somehow or held against her will. I think Officer Friendly was having white slavery fantasies. In June, I was on the shore of the Fox River, and was hassled by the Conservation Police for taking pix of boats on the river. The cop too exception to the fact that I was not a "newspaper photographer" and that I had a "fancy" camera. Cripes, it's a crummy little Nikon D100 and it had a Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8. Given what I've been thru lately, I wouldn't try to shoot any nudies outdoors in the Chicago area. Jul 02 05 10:11 pm Link Unfortunately Belair is quite right. The cops out here in the Chicago suburbs have been a little nutso lately. I do some work for a publisher that makes promotional books for different cities. Even with a letter from each Chamber of Commerce I still get stopped occasionally and questioned for 10-15 minutes. But I'm surprised by the reaction you had at Graue Mill, Belair. I've shot there before with no problem. I'm sure alot of it is luck too. I just happened to be shooting on Officer Friendly's day off. There is a secluded spot or two on the Dupage river that I've used before- south of I-88. And usually if you go far enough down the Prarie Path you should find a good field or farm that will work well. But actually shooting in Chicago? Good luck. Stick to the roofs, private apartments, balconies, etc. I hope it works out for you. Jul 04 05 01:34 am Link Sundays work pretty well in some of the industrial neighborhoods, I've done nudes a couple of times right on the streets without any problem, one very close call though when a cop came around the corner and the model was covered up while I changed film. There is always risk involved in Chicago, but one advantage of the city is that the cops have more important things to do, and odds are you'll get hassled for a minute and then told to go away... unlike the 'burbs where it might be the big excitement of the week. We also tried once on the lakefront at 6:00 am but it's just too busy now, even early too many bikes, runners, etc.; within a few minutes some creepy GWC was trying to get close enough to sneak a few shots and we had to chase him off. Once when I still lived there I shot in my backyard near North and Clybourn, threw a coat over the model every time the elevated train went by (right across the alley) and it worked, but lots of distractions. I know lots of relatively safe places on public land in the outer 'burbs if you don't mind a hike, but it would require detailed directions and I'd need some idea of what's realistic for you to get to. We shot for hours once on state land without any problems. Let me know if you need more info. The rooftop idea is also a valid one. Life for an art photographer is so much simpler on the west coast.... Jul 04 05 01:57 am Link Posted by Jeffrey Ross: I was really surprised at what happened at Graue Mill as well. I have shot there for years, including in participating in photography workshops with a couple of dozen folks. Jul 04 05 05:04 pm Link I had a model once and was shooting in Red Rock Canyon with her and she was saying they fine you if they catch you shooting nudes there. So we agreed that if the rangers caught us we'd just tell them we were having sex, which has a much smaller fine! I was kinda bummed that, like, they didn't catch it because I was hoping maybe she'd kiss me or something to make it real like they do in the movies when that happens. GWC Jul 04 05 05:17 pm Link Posted by Belair: Y'know, you're absolutely right that you were subjected to major stupid unnecessary B.S. Jul 04 05 05:47 pm Link You know I am glad this topic came up. I printed a paper out a while back which was informative about a "photographer's rights" It came from the ACLU ..not a really a popular group these days but it was informative. If I come across a link to it..I will post it. Jul 04 05 05:58 pm Link There was a news story on NPR related to these situations. I can't find it but an attorney who works with ASMP has a fact sheet on his web site. http://www.krages.com/bpkphoto.htm Jul 04 05 06:04 pm Link The shoot went really well, as I stayed on the rooftop. No one in this city looks up! Gave the folks on a nearby building a thrill. They left when I pointed the camera at them. Got some good shots I'll be posting soon. Jul 05 05 09:17 am Link Posted by Brian C. Winter: I was mistaken and this was the sheet I was refering to in my previous post! Jul 05 05 09:23 am Link |
