Black & White Architecture Photography in Chicago: 15 Iconic Locations + Pro Tips
Black and white photography strips a city down to its bones: structure, shadow, contrast. And no city wears those better than Chicago. With its steel-framed pioneers, Art Deco icons, and raw industrial relics, this is a playground for architectural photographers who think in monochrome.
This is your local guide to the 15 best places in Chicago to shoot black and white architecture photography, with tips tailored for striking monochrome results.
Map of All Locations
Click to View Interactive Map of All Locations
1. The Rookery Building
Address: 209 S LaSalle St
One of the most photographed interiors in Chicago. Wright’s geometric light court is perfect mid-morning. The spiral staircase? Pure shadow-play gold.
2. Marina City
Address: 300 N State St
Bertrand Goldberg’s corn cob towers are hypnotic. Use a long lens across the river at dusk for flat, abstract forms.
3. Aqua Tower
Address: 225 N Columbus Dr
Jeanne Gang’s rippling balconies become wave-like sculptures in grayscale. Overcast light brings out the texture.
4. Tribune Tower
Address: 435 N Michigan Ave
Gothic revival drama + stones from the Taj Mahal, Great Wall, and more. Zoom in and frame tight for surreal, textural close-ups.
5. Chicago Board of Trade Building
Address: 141 W Jackson Blvd
Symmetrical and cinematic. Shoot from LaSalle Street’s centerline for perfect leading lines.
6. Monadnock Building
Address: 53 W Jackson Blvd
The tallest load-bearing brick building in the world. Wait for side light to bring out its solid, curving form.
7. Federal Center by Mies van der Rohe
Address: 219 S Dearborn St
Miesian minimalism in pure grid form. Optional: include the red Calder sculpture for contrast — or go full B&W for brutal simplicity.
8. Bahá'í House of Worship (Wilmette)
Address: 100 Linden Ave, Wilmette
Intricate ornamentation and perfect symmetry. Use a telephoto lens to isolate geometric details.
9. 875 N Michigan Ave (John Hancock Center)
Address: 875 N Michigan Ave
Iconic X-bracing. Wide-angle from the base exaggerates its height and structure. Harsh light creates intense contrast.
10. Chicago Cultural Center
Address: 78 E Washington St
Stained glass domes and Renaissance Revival details. Shoot up into the dome with silhouettes for layered contrast.
11. Union Station Great Hall
Address: 225 S Canal St
Vast, echoing space. Use a tripod and long exposure to blur motion and isolate structure.
12. IIT Campus (Mies Buildings)
Address: 3360 S State St
Steel, glass, shadows. Classic Mies. Capture the repetition and minimalist rhythm.
13. The Robie House
Address: 5757 S Woodlawn Ave
Low, horizontal, and intentional. Oblique angles work best in black and white to show Wright’s Prairie layering.
14. Chicago Water Tower
Address: 806 N Michigan Ave
Gothic limestone textures that pop at golden hour. Survived the Great Chicago Fire — and still stunning.
15. Calumet Industrial Corridor
Location: South Chicago
Steel mills, rails, decay. If you love grit, shoot fast and handheld. Use deep blacks and sharp angles.
Final Tips
Cloudy skies = soft, smooth tones
Harsh sun = deep shadows and strong contrast
Look for lines, symmetry, texture in every frame
