"Garfield Park" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 16-85mm lens, 1/500sec at f3.5, ISO200.
I recently paid a visit to the Garfield Park Conservatory on a cold February afternoon. The Conservatory is a great place to visit any time of year, but in the winter it's really something special. If you're not from Chicago, imagine you've just spent two months where the temperature outside doesn't crack 40 and most days is below 20. Also imagine you live in a radiator heated building that's so dry you may as well be in the desert. It was in that context that I entered the conservatory and was greeted by a blast of heat and humidity that my brain had almost forgotten existed. The first room, the Palm Room, is warm-- mid 70s at least-- and any illusions you have about keeping your coat on will be immediately squashed. You can also expect to have your camera fog up for a good five minutes. I didn't mind.
Of course, it eventually started working again:
"Kids be Kids" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 16-85mm lens, 1/60sec at f5.6, ISO200.
"Balmy" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 16-85mm lens, 1/125sec at f8, ISO400.
"Water Works" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 16-85mm lens, 1/80sec at f8, ISO3200.
Visiting the Conservatory was an opportunity to pull out that Macro lens that I hardly ever use:
"Tangled" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 105mm lens, 1/160sec at f8, ISO1600.
"Candy Cane" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 105mm lens, 1/160sec at f5, ISO1800.
"Cactus Abstract" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 105mm lens, 1/160sec at f5.6, ISO400.
These stairs lead to the ceiling and were sadly off limits:
"The Climb" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 16-85mm lens, 1/30sec at f4.5, ISO200.
If you visit the Conservatory, it's worth noting that parts of it are still under construction from the hail damage in 2011. This shouldn't discourage you from going, but just realize you won't be getting the full experience.
"Off Limits" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 16-85mm lens, 1/80sec at f4.5, ISO200.
This last photo is the view out the back door into the Conservatory gardens. I didn't venture out there on this visit, for obvious reasons.
"Out Back" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 16-85mm lens, 1/500sec at f8, ISO200.
To see more of my Garfield Park Conservatory photos, from this and past visits, I suggest a visit to my flickr account.
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