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Chicago Photography Project – 3 Years

October 26th marked the three year anniversary of my Chicago photography project. As with previous entries I’ve updated the map detailing all the locations I’ve walked. This update, however, also includes the areas I've been to by either El train or car. I finally added my walks around Garfield Park and have included my visits to Pilsen.

(click for a larger view)

I'm at a bit of a loss for something to write about this past year. I feel somewhat bogged down in so much as I've really covered most of the ground I can cover without resorting to taking the El every day. I know there are tons and tons of things I've just not "seen" when walking by or have missed opportunities, but at the same time it feels a little monotonous. Traditional street photography (i.e. photographing people instead of just buildings and scenes) still scares me to no end. I don't know how photographers do it. Well, I sort of know: they project a positive image of themselves through body language and act like they have every right to do what they are doing, which they do, and so it works. And that, of course, is the sticking point with me...

I do not, however, wish to give into doom and gloom. I mean, I have walked A LOT this past year and have pushed myself to go further and faster. Thanks to swanksalot acting as tour guide, I got a good "feet-level" introduction to the Pilsen neighborhood. I've also walked through areas that are outside my comfort zone and lived to tell the tale (because, of course, they're never as bad as they are made out to be, at least, not at noon in the middle of the week). This is all Really Good (tm) and I'm grateful for the opportunities to indulge in these pursuits.

Even before the two year mark of this project, I've been thinking more about the equipment I've been using for this project. I have found a digital point and shoot a great tool because it fits right in a jacket pocket or in a small camera bag slung over my shoulder or across my chest. But the camera, due to the nature of its sensor and lens design, makes it very difficult to isolating a subject by way of a more narrow depth of field. In fact, more often than not, for a photo project that's taking place at noon, it is nearly impossible. As I mentioned earlier, I do have a fair amount of film sitting in the fridge, and developing + scanning at Target (for color negative film) is only $3. Perhaps it's time to start bringing a film SLR out during these walks.

So, three years in and: still no photobook (and very few prints), a map that continues to grow and grow, ruminations on cameras, and I guess, in the end (of this entry at least), I did have something to write about.