On a recent trip to Chicago to visit our daughter and son-in-law, I brought my camera in hopes of getting some photographs of the city.  I am FOREVER on the lookout for a photo opportunity  While on the rooftop I noticed the "L" (elevated train) ran right past the apartment.  During the day it didn't look like much, but I imagined how cool it would look like at night.  Just after dark, I made my way to the rooftop and mounted my camera on my tripod.  My goal was to capture the city at night and include the "L" as it passed by.  I wanted to use a  long exposure to use the train's running lights to make the photograph more dramatic.

I used my 28mm f2.8 lens set at f11 with the shutter open for 20 seconds.  I photographed for more than an hour, composing, re-composing, using different lenses, and various exposures. It was such a beautiful late summer evening and I didn't want to stop making images.  Don't put your camera away when the sun goes down.  Use your imagination and get creative.  Try a long exposure, maybe a flash, or even a colored filter.  Experiment and grow your skills.  Trust me, you won't be sorry!