Chicago’s spectacular skyline over Lake Michigan during a freezing February blue hour.
Cityscape photographs, especially those taken at night, can be very technically demanding indeed to work on. They often need long exposures and have huge differences between the lightest and darkest areas of the scene. Focusing needs to be absolutely 100% accurate. City lighting, while looking normal to the eye, will normallly introduce a strong color cast to photographs which needs to be corrected. Careful editing is needed afterward to bring out the best in the photograph.
All of that said, night time cityscape photography can be extremely rewarding. When done well, the result can be a beautiful and colorful reproduction of the scene in front of you. A city can be rich in colors and detail, and captivating to look at.
This photograph is no exception and is actually quite a complex artwork. The huge difference between the bright city lights and the dark foreground areas needed a lot more dynamic range than any camera could handle in a single exposure.
With the camera mounted securely on a solid tripod and no movement between exposures, six different exposure times were carefully captured and later merged to produce this image, a process that preserves and reveals detail across shadowed, midtone, and highlight areas of the photograph.
Many hours of work were invested in producing this photograph, from the initial captures on a very cold and icy pier with a layer of pancake ice four feet away on Lake Michigan, through the post capture merging of the separate exposures into the one that you see here, and the final editing with the aim of bringing out the best in this image and hopefully making it worthy of pride of place on your wall.
February Freeze in Chicago
Pancake ice along the edge of Lake Michigan while capturing this photograph.
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Three winners will be randomly chosen on Sunday, May 17, 2026, to receive a 13"×19" museum-quality print (Fotospeed Natural Soft Texture paper 315gsm; retail $149). If you signed up in April or May, you’re already entered. Open worldwide. No purchase necessary.
February Freeze Goodies
Experience the serene beauty of Chicago in winter with this mesmerizing photograph capturing the city’s icy transformation in February, perfect for art enthusiasts and decor aficionados alike.
Captured during the peak of winter, showcasing the majestic city under a blanket of ice.
Perfect addition to any home or office to inspire and captivate with its serene beauty.
Printed on premium quality paper to ensure lasting vibrancy and detail.
This stunning photograph transports you to the frozen beauty of Chicago in February, capturing a rare moment of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. It’s a perfect piece to evoke awe and inspire contemplation.
Large Cotton Tote Bag, 20” x 16”. Lined with inside pocket. Beautifully printed.
Pack of ten 5” x 7” greetings cards. Premium matte finish. Envelopes included.
February Freeze in Chicago - Fine Art Collector’s Prints
This very special edition is printed to order on a choice of sizes from 24” to 48” along the short edge by a specialist photo printer and finisher in Columbus, Ohio. This is a single limited edition of just ten prints and no further editions will be released in the future.
The prints are on museum-quality archival Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308gsm paper using quality pigment-based ink to ensure at least an 85-year life without fading or deterioration. After printing the print can be delivered unfinished for you to have matted, mounted and/or framed by a specialist of your preference, or we can take care of this for you.
These prints are very much customized and limited in nature and cannot be purchased through the regular store. Your purchase will have our full attention from the moment of first contact until it is on display at your location. Please contact Mike using the button below to request a quote.
Please note that the watermarks on the photographs are for web purposes only and do not appear on any printed products.