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Photographer Captures Chicago's Cool Colors From A Bug's-Eye View

By Justin Breen | August 30, 2016 5:20am | Updated on August 30, 2016 10:10am
 Buena Park's Gene Tenner takes photos just a few feet off the ground from the seat of his recumbent trike.
Gene Tenner photos
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CHICAGO — Gene Tenner pictures Chicago's Lakefront Trail — and the nature around it — as a giant canvas.

The Buena Park 68-year-old, who has commuted six miles to work Downtown daily since 2010 on his recumbent trike — never missing a trip even in Polar Vortexes — uses his time outside to stay fit and to look for photos.

Carrying a small Canon S120, Tenner takes pics of skylines, plants, flowers, trees and water — capturing the city in all its magnificent colors.

"It never ceases to amaze me," Tenner said. "We've got the most beautiful sandbox, and I get to play in it every day. Where else do you have a lakefront path that's that beautiful?"

RELATED: Gene Tenner, a Former State Rep. Candidate, is 'The Weird Guy on the Trike'

Tenner clicks all his photos from just a few feet off the ground while seated on the recumbent trike. He said the lower angle is much more interesting than shooting from higher up.

"I like getting the bug's-eye view of wildlife," he said. "You're getting this immense amount of depth. To me, it's a far more interesting perspective."

Tenner's lakefront photo journey started by accident six years ago. He had taken his trike to get fixed and, needing exercise, he decided to walk on the lakefront path with his camera. When he got his trike back a few days later, he started bringing the camera, too, tucking it in a fanny pack.

Now, he said, the additional activity has been a godsend.

"Bicycling is a great sport, but it can be kind of boring, and having the camera just took that all away," he said. "Now I'm always on the lookout for something."

Check out some of Tenner's photos below or in the slideshow above. Photos can also be purchased here.

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