"Transformers: Age of Extinction" Filming in Chicago

I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but I got management at The Columbia Chronicle hooked on the idea for a photo spread of the new Transformers movie being filmed in Chicago. I spent 24 hours over 5 weekends on or near their sets. I struggled to get enough explosion photos for the spread because I was busy with other things, but the last weekend I went to the set, I got my best photos (the main photo and top right photo in the spread).

Mark Wahlberg is the new lead, Kelsey Grammer is the human villain, and there are several new autobots (3 are in the spread if you look closely) and updates to some of the existing ones.

My colleague Tony Soave joined me one day and managed to get himself on the roof of an apartment complex that was right next to a filming location on Roosevelt Road Bridge (the helicopter pictures in the spread are his). Christine Fielder, a graphic designer at The Columbia Chronicle was responsible for the layout and graphics.

Below is the spread that ran in the paper and a few of my favorite shots.

The spread that ran in the October 7, 2013 issue of The Columbia Chronicle.

Extras flee from flying cars and pyrotechnics while filming a scene set in Hong Kong at the intersection of South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

Mark Wahlberg (right) and Jack Reynor (carrying black bag) run with extras while filming a scene on the Roosevelt Road Bridge in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

The abandoned Damen Silos at Damen Avenue and 29th Street are engulfed in flames in Chicago, Ill., on September 21, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

Director Michael Bay (far right) talks with a crew member in-between takes while filming on the center of Roosevelt Road Bridge in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

Optimus Prime, a Western Star 4900 Custom semi-truck is parked on South Wells Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

A car spirals through the air while pyrotechnics are used during a scene set in Hong Kong at the intersection of South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

A car bursts in to flames after it was sent flying in to a fake double-decker bus with a picture of Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel on it during a scene set in Hong Kong at South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

Northwestern vs Syracuse

Today was the first of 7 home games I'll be covering Northwestern University's football team for The Columbia Chronicle. Here are my favorite from their game against Syracuse.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) fumbles the ball after being tackled by Syracuse Orange defensive tackle Jay Bromley (96) and cornerback Wayne Morgan (2) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013. 

Syracuse Orange safety Ritchy Desir (6) knocks the ball out from the hands of Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Kyle Prater (21) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Chi Chi Ariguzo (44)  makes an interception during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats running back Mike Trumpy (32) is tackled by Syracuse Orange defensive end John Raymon (97) and safety Durell Eskridge (3) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) rushes for a touchdown during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) leaps over Syracuse Orange cornerback Brandon Reddish (4) for a touchdown during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats safety Traveon Henry (10) leaps for an interception behind Syracuse Orange running back Ashton Broyld (1) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) is tackled by Syracuse Orange cornerback Wayne Morgan (2) and linebacker Cameron Lynch (38) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) makes a throw while under pressure from \s during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald reacts during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

The Northwestern Wildcats' bench reacts after Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Dean Lowry (94) makes an interception during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Transformers 4 in Chicago

I just started working at my school's newspaper, The Columbia Chronicle, and the first assignment I got was to take a feature photo for the metro section. This past weekend was the first for "Transformers 4"filming, so I checked online to find the filming locations for the weekend. I didn't look for it soon enough, so I missed Friday's filming at McCormick Place, Saturday was a slow day and wasn't worth going out for, but Sunday there was some more interesting things happening.

I went straight to 300 E. Randolph, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield building where they were filming at, and camped out there until some fun happened. After hours of waiting, they finally blew things up. The shot they were doing was part of the visual effects for when a transformer erupts from the grates to lower Randolph. They attached wire to the deformed grates they created, so that nothing would fly away and damage anyone or anything.

A Weekend of Rowing

This post is a rewind to my last weekend in London before I came back home to Chicago, which just happened to be the wonderful night when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

I was desperately searching for something interesting to photograph for my last few weeks in London and I saw the World Rowing Cup would be the weekend before I leave. Unfortunately I couldn't find anyone to back my credential request, but just as I was about to give up, an American based website contacted me to see if I can shoot it for them. I sure lucked out! I didn't have many opportunities to break out the 400mm lens during my time in London, so I was excited for that too.

I have never photographed rowing before and I had no idea what to expect, so I turned in to research mode and asked a few photographers for some guidance on successful ways to approach it. Despite the preparation, I panicked a little bit when things were just about to start and messaged Ting Shen, my never sleeping friend back in Chicago. It was at least 3AM for him but it helped get me rolling for the day.

These photos are a selection of my 3 days of covering the World Rowing Cup at Eton Dorney and the Women's Henley at the site of the famous Royal Henley Regatta. I was at the World Rowing Cup for Friday and Sunday, and the Women's Henley on Saturday. Each day I commuted from central London with all my gear to the locations, and boy that did that get expensive. I spent £100 (~$155) on taxis alone and was very glad all my travel was reimbursed.

The best part of my weekend was dangling my feet over the edge of the pontoon and pretending I was standing on the water.

Messi & Friends

I'm at a bit of loss for words, but I can't believe I got to stand 2 yards away from Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, and Julio Cesar. I absolutely love soccer, I watch all of the big tournaments and matches all around the world (club and national teams). Fox Soccer Channel is mandatory to have on my family's cable subscription. I even got to watch the last World Cup final on a 9 foot screen at my friend's place and I watched all 63 matches in the finals before that.

During the game I felt really rusty with my shooting because I was always a bit behind on the play and slow to react, I guess I need to keep myself constantly shooting! One thing that's always difficult to do is to keep track of the play when it's at the far end of the field. The players and the background are so close to each other that they create an ugly blob. Every time I sit myself down at a shooting position, I focus on the goalie at the other end and save it to the recall so if there is a shot on goal, I give myself a better chance at getting the picture. Trying to get the focus from over 100 yards away of someone standing in front of a net, and probably blocked by other players, is pretty difficult. As you can see in the 3rd picture, this tactic paid off. Former Northwestern University student Matt Eliason scored with an amazing bicycle kick (http://tinyurl.com/kv9u7js) and I got a shot of the goalie after he missed the save.

There wasn't very much organization for the photographers, there was no marshal to direct us or to answer questions, and the rosters were hard to follow since there were so many versions. With a "photographer" presence of at least 40, it was pretty packed on the goal line during the first half. I put photographer in quotes because only 4 people went in to the workroom at Soldier Field at half. It did feel nice knowing my way around Soldier Field since I have been to one Bears game before.

It was really nice catching up with some of Chicago's shooters, David Banks (freelancer), Brian Kersey(freelancer/Chicago Fire team photographer), Chris Sweda (Tribune), and Ray Whitehouse, (freelance/Northwestern Alum) and it was a lot of fun being at such a big event only 12 days after I got back from London. Below are the favorites.

The View From the Shard at Sunset

I waited until the absolute last night (Thursday night) I could possibly go to the top (well, almost) of The Shard, as I'm busy until I leave back home for Chicago on Monday evening. There was a wonderful sunset that I missed just earlier this week so I was crossing my fingers for another, which isn't too likely in London. Well, I got lucky. Thursday was cloudy all day but it cleared up just in time for the sunset, which is when I booked to go up.

It slipped my mind to bring my polarizer to reduce some glare on the windows, which really bummed me out, but I got good enough pictures. it's noticeable in a few frames.

It was really an experience getting up to the top. First you walk through security (just like at the airport), metal detector and xray for items, and then several staff keep you on route to the elevators. You take that elevator to the 38th floor and that takes less than 20 seconds. Then you walk around the corner, directed by a bunch of people again, on to another elevator to take you up the remaining 30 floors. This is the lower level deck on floor 68, but you can walk up stairs to the 72nd floor, where there is no ceiling. I think there were about 5-10 additional levels, but the public aren't allowed up there. The Shard is like a pyramid at the top, where it gets skinnier, and the only structure above you were those levels.

I'm going to try something new and make the pictures bigger, I think it will look nicer, especially with these. The pictures are in chronological order.

The Shard is London's tallest building, at 1,012 feet.