Then & Now Art®: The Art Institute - Chicago, IL [1915/2018]

Then & Now Art®: The Art Institute - Chicago, IL

Years: 1915 & 2018 = 103 years in transition.  

This view is showcasing the iconic Art Institute of Chicago's historic lion statues.  The statue faces south, along Michigan Avenue, one of the locations located on the Magnificent Mile of Downtown Chicago.  

This image is very cool, because theres a lot of people walking amongst each other from both time periods on the sidewalk.  If you look close, you can actually see that they are using the same light poles, over a 100 years later.  I assume that they are actually new poles but they used the same style of pole as the old ones.  

To purchase this image, click here: 

https://thenandnowstore.com/collections/chicago-series-collection/products/then-now-art®-the-art-institute-chicago-il-1915-2018

Then & Now Art®: Harper Memorial Library - University of Chicago [1910/2015]

Then & Now Art®: Harper Memorial Library - University of Chicago 

Years: 1910 & 2015 = 105 years in transition.

This image is very cool.  Its the only indoor Then & Now in our collection.  Thats because indoor photography was much more rare in the early 1900's - the reason for that is there is a lot less light indoors compared to outdoors, and with photography still in its infancy, lenses and films weren't capable of capturing light as quickly as we do it now.  Because of this, people had to hold very still when taking photos indoors. 

In this particular image you can actually see some people building the Library (now its mostly used as a study hall).  The man on the right is posing for the camera, you can also see a man working along the back wall on the scaffolding.  On the left, amongst the students from Now, you can actually see a worker taking a much needed break - drinking what looks like his milk for the photo.  

If you're looking for a way to purchase this image, go here:

https://thenandnowstore.com/collections/chicago-series-collection/products/then-now-art®-harper-memorial-library-university-of-chicago-1910-2015

Then & Now Art®: Hutchinson Courtyard - University of Chicago [1900/2017]

Then & Now Art®: Hutchinson Courtyard - University of Chicago

Years: 1900 & 2017 = 117 years in transition.

This image spans 117 years of center of The University of Chicago.  This image weaves in and out from then to now and now to then.  A few notes about this image: you can see a woman from 1900 walking along the left hand side, as well as another woman from 1900 walking through the center of the courtyard.  

Want to purchase this image?  You can find it here: 

https://thenandnowstore.com/collections/chicago-series-collection/products/then-now-art®-harper-memorial-library-university-of-chicago-1910-2015

Then & Now Art®: Water Tower - Chicago, IL [1950's/2016]

Then & Now Art®: Water Tower - Chicago, IL [1950's/2016]

Years: 1950's & 2016 = 60+ years in transition.

One of the few buildings to survive The Chicago Fire of 1871.

This image was a VERY fun image to blend together.  There were so many bricks from the buildings that were identical when comparing the two images.  The other interesting part about this blend is that from the original photograph there were no buildings standing behind the Water Tower itself.  If you look closely, you can actually see how the bricks change from black and white to color seamless across the entire image. Blending this image was something that resembles a coloring book.  The black and white area was the blank page and the Now image was my color palette.

Another difficult part of this image was the tree branches that were through the top part of my image. You can see the photoshopping that I did below:

To purchase this image, you can click here: 

https://thenandnowstore.com/collections/chicago-series-collection/products/then-now-art®-water-tower-chicago-il-1950s-2016

Then & Now Art®: Buckingham Fountain - Chicago, IL [1941/2016]

Then & Now Art®: Buckingham Fountain - Chicago, IL 

Years: 1941 & 2016 = 75 years in transition!

This image is really special to me.  I often use this image for a reference when i'm telling a customer about how we photograph our Now photo at the same time as the Then photograph.  When you capture your new photo at the exact same time as the old photo it makes it much easier to blend the image, which its more of an official recreation of the original as well.  

In this image, if you look closely at the two groups of people, you can see that their shadows are falling in the same direction, and also at the same length.  

To buy this image, follow the link below: 

https://thenandnowstore.com/collections/chicago-series-collection/products/then-now-art®-buckingham-fountain-chicago-il-1941-2016

Then & Now Art®: Michigan Avenue - Chicago, IL [1925/2015]

This image went over smoothly.  It was pretty easy to get to, and very easy to tell where the photographer had been standing in the past.  Being able to photograph the iconic lions of The Art Institute was a real treat for me.  Then it was all about the people, and where to place them.  Below you can find a zoomed in version of both photographs of the same area of the photograph.  

A zoomed in comparison of both the Then and the Now images:

Then & Now Art®: Buckingham Fountain - Chicago, IL [1941/2016]

Then & Now Art®: Buckingham Fountain - Chicago, IL [1941/2016]

Years: 1941 & 2016 = 75 years in transition. 

This is one of my personal favorite blended image.  I often use this as an example to show how its important for me to photograph the Now image at the exact time of day as the Then image. 

In the image above you will notice, if you look at the two groups of peoples' shadows, that the shadows are falling the in exact same direction and length.  This is very important, as it allows you to more easily blend the Then to the Now of each image.

To purchase this image, click here: 

https://thenandnowstore.com/collections/chicago-series-collection/products/then-now-art®-buckingham-fountain-chicago-il-1941-2016