The Columbia River Gorge is one of the crown jewels of Oregon state and being only 15 minutes from my house for 4 of the last 7 years, it was an obvious choice for me to go shoot. Vista House is one of the most iconic places in the Gorge as it’s a beautiful building that stands 600+ feet above the river. I had always known that twice a year the sun rises out of one of the peaks on the Washington side of the river and the sun's rays bathe Vista House in glorious backlighting.

Heading out to Chicago but don’t know where to shoot? After exploring the city for 2 months, I have put together a 4 part series on the best photography locations in Chicago which include Classic Locations, Waterways and Boats, CDOT Trains and Parking Lots, and Alternative Chicago spots.

I’ve also included a few tips, the gear I used, and how to get to each location through Google Maps.