Navy Pier Cityscape
Navy Pier stretches out into Lake Michigan and gives you one of the best unobstructed views of the Chicago skyline, with the city's iconic towers rising along the waterfront to the southwest. Walk out along the pier to find your distance, as shooting from further out compresses the skyline nicely and separates the buildings from the immediate foreground clutter. A wide angle lens works well for capturing the full sweep of the skyline, while a longer focal length lets you isolate individual towers and create a tighter, more layered composition. Sunrise is the standout time to shoot here, with warm light hitting the east-facing facades and calm lake water that often mirrors the scene below. The pier is publicly accessible and open early, so arriving before the crowds gives you clean shots without people in frame. (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
