Some of you may have seen my original blog post about the Chicago Cultural Center last month.  You can find it here: http://annebelmont.zenfolio.com/blog/2013/2/chicago-cultural-center.  This past week I went back to the Cultural Center to take some more photographs.  After working on my previous photos, I wanted to try some different vantage points and also focus on some of the details in the stained glass and sparkling mosaics.  This time, luck would have it, Bradley Preston Hall and the G.A.R. Rotunda were completely empty, with none of the chairs, tables, recycling bins or distracting elements that had been there during my previous visit.  It was fun to photograph the rooms in their pristine state.  

The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Rotunda and Memorial Hall

Bradley Preston Hall and the beautiful Tiffany dome

I was eager to capture more images of the grand staircase with its beautiful marble and mosaics.

A few of the close ups of the dome and mosaics using my Tamron 180 mm macro - wow, I love that lens more and more each time I use it!

This is an odd angle to shoot the clock but, because of a light fixture in front of it, I couldn't take this shot head on the way I wanted.  I guess I just need to go back and shoot some more with different lenses!  After 4 hours, my energy was waning.  Many people don't realize how physically demanding photography can be - carrying heavy equipment, bending, kneeling or getting into odd positions to get the right angle, etc.  It keeps me in good shape.