Now... Your Book Pages Explained
Each "Page Number Title" has a link, just click it ;)
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The water tower and the beautiful paintings on the building. If you want to check by yourself, click HERE for more info about it on ABC
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Walking around, you will notice small details that, to a photographer's eye, are a delight; it is there, but people normally pass by without pausing and enjoying them a little bit. There is a "Distance arrow" that brought my attention since I moved here in 2017
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The locals know Kathy Osterman Beach as Hollywood Beach. I love this place. If you can visit during "outside peak hours," it is a very calm and relaxing view. I can't recommend bringing your camera in the morning or at the end of the day. It was hard for me to pick only three pictures of it.
Osterman Beach is located at the northernmost tip of Lincoln Park at Ardmore Avenue. It is located between Hollywood and Ardmore Avenues, and in the past, it was referred to by both street names. A surprising amount of what is now Lincoln Park is made from landfill, and this landfill was completed in stages. Lincoln Park’s final landfill extension was completed in the 1950s between Foster and Ardmore Avenues, and the fill included a new beach at Ardmore Avenue. more info HERE and HERE
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Foster Beach, a surprising amount of what is now Lincoln Park is made from landfill. Lincoln Park’s final landfill extension was completed in the 1950s between Foster Avenue and Ardmore Avenue, and the fill included a new beach at Foster Avenue.
Planning and design for the extension started in 1947, but construction and fill began three years later. The fill project continued for most of the decade and was finally finished in 1958. More info HERE
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Helen Pierce School of International Studies (sidewalk and trees) On October 3, 1893, Helen Caroline Peirce, a Chicago socialite, founded the Lake View Woman’s Club. more info HERE
The Club played an important role in Chicago society. From the inception, Club members acted as a service organization to the community, had a forum for study and discussion, and gathered for social purposes.
The first Club project was a proposition to the Chicago Board of Education, that a kindergarten class be formed in a poverty stricken area called Clay Holes. In December 1893, a kindergarten was opened at the corner of Perry and Dunning. The Club paid for the rent, heat and maintenance, while the Chicago Board of Education provided a teacher and supplies. This arrangement continued until 1898 when the Chicago Board of Education began to fully finance kindergarten classes.
The first Club project was a proposition to the Chicago Board of Education, that a kindergarten class be formed in a poverty stricken area called Clay Holes. In December 1893, a kindergarten was opened at the corner of Perry and Dunning. The Club paid for the rent, heat and maintenance, while the Chicago Board of Education provided a teacher and supplies. This arrangement continued until 1898 when the Chicago Board of Education began to fully finance kindergarten classes.
Page 15-16
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I call this "my secret bench"; I have several pictures of it, made with the cheapest to the most expensive camera, always in monochrome, so I would try to guess what camera + lens was used. This place is a milestone for me as a photographer, where the basics of photography hit me in the head, like it was 1989, again, when I started using film. And since it is secret, there is no location here. Try to find it and let me know :)
Page 17
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This birdhouse especially caught my attention; it was built on a space (removed branch) of the tree, and with time and weather influence, it melts together with the tree. I always used combinations of vintage lenses with the best sensors (digital camera), and I love the results. Another "secret spot" that I love to take pictures of it ;)
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I call this the "bird bath moment"; do you know that perfect and unexpected moment? I was browsing the scenery while walking and found this little bird having the best moment. Buses pass around, and cars and the little bird don't care. I took the shot using a long lens and was pretty happy with the results.
Page 19-20
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One day, I decided to use a very old camera with new glass (Lenses), and the sun was in a perfect position. I don't know if it was because the colors just turned on something beautiful; it was a special kind of flower with different colors. When I got back home, I looked at my computer, and I knew that photo had a special place in the magazine. Honestly, I remember the place was a couple of blocks from my house... I'll try to find it again ;)
Page 21-22
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I call it the "power box shot," just the average city infrastructure box, but I returned home and picked up my camera, trying to get the sun and shadows at the tree in the background. I love this shot because it's technically basic, but it was done with the intent of getting it done. I also love the "bokeh" from my oldest lens, from 1955. Well done, Nikon, well done.
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Nice sign, no further explanation :)
Page 24
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A beautiful flower that I could see from my window. So, on my way to the coffee house, I took a picture of it.
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With a few simple upgrades, residential streets can become low-stress alternatives to arterial roadways. Priority for cyclists is created with traffic calming for motor vehicles, enhanced signage, special pavement markings, and sometimes facilitating two-way bike travel on one-way side streets.
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The most important structure connected to Chicago's role in the early history of motion pictures, Essanay produced hundreds of early motion pictures, featuring such stars as Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, and cinema's first cowboy hero--and a co-founder of Essanay--G.M. "Bronco Billy" Anderson.
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I just love the art of this building; if you have the chance, pause and look at the number 1062 and all the art around it. More info here. The hotel represents a later development in housing in the area. It is in John Lewis Cochran’s First Addition to his Edgewater development, which he began in 1885.
Page 29-30
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You can see the water tower from almost anywhere while you are walking in Andersonville. But I really love this take; it looks like the water tower is another building, and the monochrome gives special attention to it. I'll be walking around again to find the location, and I'll post here.
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The "Calo Building" is just majestic; I have so many different pictures of this place, using Film, using digital, mid format, Leica, Sony, Nikon, Lumix... It was hard to pick one. Since 1915, it has been a gem in the middle of Andersonville. During the summer, the blue skies just make it even more noticeable. "Opened November 20, 1915 for the Ascher Brothers circuit, the Calo Theatre, which originally seated 1,000, is located in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood on Clark Street near Balmoral Avenue. By 1964 it had been converted into a bowling alley. It was originally equipped with a 2 manual theatre pipe organ."
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I took this one closer to the Alley Cat entry; I was holding a coffee in one hand and trying to select the correct lenses to take the reflection picture. When the coffee spilled right on the lens, I had to use the only one that was clean; while I was waiting, the person created a shadow on the other person inside the store. I always shoot in "M" mode, so it was fun to make the adjustments while the person was walking. I am glad it works.
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This neon sign is terrific. Every night, I repeated to myself, "Get a shot of it," and I am so glad that I did. I love the colors and the impact on the sidewalk. If you have the time, take a look at it at night. I love the staff and mostly all the content there.
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Valentine's week and sunset. I was coming back from UPS or something and I noticed the sunset light fading out while reflecting on the window. All the golden/silver arrangements started to reflect the sunlight, which fascinated me. I went home, grabbed the first camera I had close to my door, and went back, almost running to take this shot.
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Another glitch on the Matrix while the reflection goes into reflection on neon sign ;)
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Yeah! Sushi and BYOB! You can easily find me there! It's one of my favorite places in Andersonville. I love the ambiance, food, and people. The light is perfect for testing your photography skills, low light, texture, colors, and, of course, taste. Do yourself a favor and bring your real camera, order the oysters, crack open the sake bottle (or, in my case, sparking wine), and challenge yourself as you eat and take pictures (no flash, please; I know you can do it). Telling from a friend's experience, of course ;)
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It's literally around the corner for us. I love this place; it has a fantastic selection of wine and two of my favorite dishes ever (that I'll keep in secret). Oysters during the summer, with sparkling wine at the patio, are hard to beat. Everyone is so friendly and accessible. Aaron (the sommelier) is knowledgeable and ready to tell you what's happening on the wine side and will match what you are looking for. You can start at the wine taste and stay around ;) It is almost sure to find us during happy hour. See you there.
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Yeah! It's my favorite dive bar—since 1934. :) Walking around Clark? Get in, get a nice sip of your favorite drink—there is a high chance they have it there. What I love the most about the place is the history inside; I've been to Stockholm several times, and his secret glögg (mulled wine) recipe is to die for! This bar was even featured at SAS Airlines (mentioning the Swedish heritage)
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This place is my "default coffee," meaning I can walk blindfolded from my doorsteps, get in, order, and then start using my other part of the brain (the coffee unlocks it). When I have to edit photos or meet clients, that's the place; I love everybody there! So friendly and in good spirits. As a Brazilian-American, I AM VERY PICKY about coffee, and that's the place to understand the difference :) They also have a book section with a fantastic selection of content. Do yourself a favor, grab a coffee, and "levitate" towards the book section... Yeah, you can thank me later (I'll probably be there too) LOL
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Two words: "tuna tartare." Yep, you read it right. I was so busy eating that I always forgot to take a picture. The picture in the book is from the desert. Every time I am at Holywood Beach (pages 7 and 8), I have to go and get the "tuna tartare"; you also have different drinks to enjoy during the summer, but, hey... let's focus here :)
All Remaining pages:
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From now on... All "Random pictures" while walking around have a special meaning; they are all about photo techniques and the different cameras I used. This project started with one target: what does a local photographer do while walking with a camera? I caught myself going to my favorite places, sometimes forgetting to take the "gramm photo." while enjoying what MY Andersonville has to offer; of course, business, food, and shopping are noticeable, but pay attention to the people around you. Yep, pause, put your camera/phone down, and look at them; you can see diversity, meaning you are learning just for being here; enjoy the ride because despite what you think about time, it is not refundable; invest with the ones you love or trust (but not love yet).
Feel free to follow me or send a message. I am not famous or "trendy"; I am just a guy who has traveled a lot with a camera and loves the area.
THANK YOU ELLEN!
Thank you, Ellen (aka my wife), for helping me insert the photos in the right sequence; I was working with colors only (yep, I am a photographer , right?); thanks to her, you have a meaningful flow of pictures. Ellen, I love you so much <3
More information about
Andersonville in Chicago,IL
"Google Maps"