CHICAGO - 1987 to 2024

2024

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1991

Chicago

I first went to Chicago in August 1987 so I could see Wrigley Field before the lights were installed.  I had started following the Cubs on WGN and thought the atmosphere of Wrigley Field looked so pure, like it was the way baseball was meant to be experienced, that I had to see it in person before the change.

I sat in the bleachers, got a hotdog from the vendors, and had beers at Murphy’s after the game.  I confirmed that Wrigley Field defined what the baseball experience should be.  On that trip I also discovered how awesome it was to photograph in Chicago, the light was amazing, and I had access to so many people walking on Michigan Avenue.  I immediately felt so comfortable in that city.  The architecture was amazing, the restaurants fantastic, and the women were stunning.

I have visited Chicago more than any other city.  I have not added it up, but my guess would be about 30 visits totaling maybe 6 months.

Chicago may be the most “American” city there is.  It is made up of so many different communities.  There are ethnic sections which have maintained their cultural heritage and traditions since the first people immigrated there, and other distinct neighborhoods throughout the city which just have their own unique atmosphere.  People seem to get along well in Chicago, maybe because they share the bond of surviving winter together.  The architecture is amazing and unlike New York the buildings have enough space between them that you can see all their details.  Many of these buildings line the river and Michigan Avenue is wide enough that not only can you see the buildings easier, but the open space also lets more light in to the scenes on the street.  The light in Chicago has this amazing quality usually, I love photographing with it.  In Chicago people are almost always on the move on Michigan Avenue, some are tourists, others from the suburbs there to shop, other people working downtown, but it does not seem to have those same peak crowd times as rush hour in New York City.  Chicago is a sports town and very traditional which I like.  The Museums in Chicago are also incredible, the Art Institute being one of my favorites.

I don’t think it is possible for one photographer to completely document any big city.  There are too many diverse subjects to cover, logistics, and it is impossible to gain universal access and trust of every subcommunity in a city.  Obviously the more I photograph something and the longer period I revisit a subject there is usually more value and depth to the documentation of the subject but it is just hard to ever have a complete document of anything. 

Many of these images in this gallery are from Michigan Avenue, I feel that examining images from the same location over decades allows the viewer to see the change in the city and in cultures, as well as things which have not changed.  I have obviously included images from other parts of the city.  This gallery documents my Chicago experiences.

Images © 1987 – 2024 WILLIAM KARL VALENTINE