This week’s top photo comes from Visual Journalist Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere. Follow him on X, Bluesky and Instagram.
What makes this photo important?
Chicago is known for being a coastal city, so this image of some foolhardy boys jumping into Lake Michigan to cool off is a great visual representation of people enjoying this week's unseasonably warm weather. The image also screams "Chicago" with the Gold Coast in the skyline and our iconic concrete beaches.
How I got this picture
When assigned to cover weather, I already have some general ideas of how to tell the visual story based on the conditions. For warm weather, I look for people swimming, enjoying the water, the beach, running, walking or biking along the lakefront. With those ideas in mind, I headed to the Lincoln Park and North Avenue Beach areas. I walked by a group of boys from the Theodore Roosevelt High School football team who were jumping into the lake to cool off. After observing them for a while, we approached one another and chatted about how cold the water was and whether I could continue getting images of them jumping. A few agreed, and I moved in closer, setting up on one of the safety ladders that dot the concrete beaches to get a low enough angle to put the guys and the city in the same frame. I took off my shoes and socks, removed all electronics from my pockets, climbed down the ladder, planted my feet onto the last rung of the ladder that was submerged in the frigid lake and looped my arm around a higher rung. The water was almost up to my knees. After they splashed into the water, I made a mad dash up the ladder to make way for the boys to climb out as quickly as possible.
Technical details:
Equipment: Nikon Z7II
Focal length: 25mm
Aperture: f/4
Exposure: 1/6400
ISO: 500
Plus, 16 more great photos from Sun-Times photojournalists:
Protesters rally at Butler Field in Grant Park on March 28 as part of the “No Kings” nationwide protest movement against the Trump administration.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Thousands rally in Grant Park before marching through the Loop on March 28 as part of the “No Kings” nationwide protest movement against the Trump administration.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Macquline King, the Chicago Board of Education’s pick for Chicago Public Schools CEO, speaks to a reporter on March 26 in her office at the CPS headquarters in the Loop.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Adler Planetarium Senior Director of Public Programs Michelle Nichols (center) and Public Observing Educator Hunter Miller, right, cheer for the Artemis II launch Wednesday during a watch party at the planetarium.
Giacomo Cain/Sun-Times
An attendee watches the Artemis II launch Wednesday during a watch party at the Adler Planetarium.
Giacomo Cain/Sun-Times
Richard Smith shows off the ring of his son, former University of Michigan player Mike Smith, during a March Madness viewing party Sunday at Duffy’s Tavern in Lincoln Park.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Protesters waving a Mexican flag and holding a sign that reads “Abolish ICE” drive past a free speech zone on March 27 outside O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 1.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Ten African painted dogs born on Nov. 25 — five males, five females — peek out Tuesday as they get the opportunity to explore their outdoor habitat for the first time at Brookfield Zoo.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Bailey Sullivan, of Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, who is a nominee for the Emerging Chef Award, receives a hug during a James Beard Awards event. Restaurant, chef and achievement award nominees were announced at The Wellsley in River North on Tuesday.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Chicago Fire Department firefighters pay their respects on March 26 during the public visitation for Chicago Firefighter/EMT Michael Altman at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Chicago Firefighter Michael E. Altman’s casket is prepared for the procession to the cemetery after his funeral services Tuesday at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn. Altman was killed after battling a fire in the Rogers Park neighborhood on March 16.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Charles Joseph Smith, whose first album, “Collected Works and War of the Martian Ghosts,” is being released by Sooper Records, shows how he plays the melodica on March 24 in his home in Beverly.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Gov. Mike Braun peers out at the tracks along the South Shore Line Monon Corridor from Hammond, Indiana, on Tuesday.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Resilience Healthcare CEO Manoj Prasad stands among reporters as they speak to Dr. Chidinma Osineme after a press conference Wednesday to discuss the financial situation at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. Prasad announced that he was temporarily closing West Suburban’s hospital, emergency room and outpatient clinics.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Glen Hansard performs at SPACE Evanston on Tuesday.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
(From left) Marcelo Ruiz, Monsé Maldonado, Noah Vega and Ariana Solis learn bicycle skills and safety tips from the All Kids Bike program Monday at Sidney Sawyer Elementary School in Gage Park.