Balconies

If you ever want to take the Chicago Architectural Tour all day, for about 10 bucks, buy an all day pass for the Water Taxi. Sure, there's no guide telling you the names of the buildings (which would be helpful for this photo), or sharing stories about the architects and builders (also unknowns on the Water Taxi version), but you can travel from 18th Street near Chinatown all the way up through downtown and back as many times as you like.

You'll get to know the pilots and crew, and probably a few folks who wonder why they're seeing you at 5:30 pm when they rode with you at 8:00 am on their way to work. All that time gives you some excellent opportunities to shoot buildings in myriad ways. Go early and stay late enough and you'll get some great color reflecting in the buildings, as well.