Posted by Mike Canzoneri on the Big Photo Hunt community board.
I know there are a at least a few members from chicago. I grew up in the city on the west side (Austin neighborhood), went to lane tech high school, and then to U of I (circle campus) where I spent more time on Maxwell street than I did in class. transferred to Loyola university on the north side where I got my degree in math/computer science and my minor in photography. I was the photo editor of the school news paper, the Loyola phoenix, my last year there.
I bought my first real camera, a nikon FE, around 1980 from central camera on Wabash. I shot mostly black and white back in those days. for a photo class at Loyola in 1983ish, I did a photo documentary of Maxwell street. I need to find the scans of those shots so I can post some on the board.
one of my big regrets was not photographing all the great chicago blues artists. from about 1980, when I was 18 years old, I started hanging out at the blues clubs in chicago. before I turned 21, I mostly went to biddy mulligan's because I never got carded there; it's where I first saw buddy guy, Luther Allison, David Bromberg, Albert collins, Fenton Robinson, James cotton and so many more. i got to meet most of them and even party with some of them....I had great access....I never thought about doing black and white portraits of these guys, but I wish I had.
I get back to chicago once or twice a year. I would love to meet up with all the chicago photographers in the group, maybe downtown, to grab a beer and then do some urban street shooting. chicago (and chicago area) photographers, check in here....tell me about yourself, what part of the city you're from, how you got into photography, what you like to shoot, and anything else of interest.
David Davis
Hey Mike - I am located in Chicago and would love to get together to shoot or grab a Whiskey (not a beer guy). I split time between Logan Sq area and the West Suburbs. Here is a link to my personal photo site www.daviddavis.photography. Let me know when you are in town
David Davis
Sounds good to me
Mallory Warner
I lived in Chicago for over a decade in my early twenties and see it as the city that made me a grown-up. I love seeing all of the Chicagoans on the app posting amazing shots of the city. While I'm not there ot join on a photowalk, I can't wait to see what y'all shoot. Cheers! And have a malort for me ;)
Nisah Cheatham
I'm Chicago based! Moved here in 2008, but didn't start shooting around the city until 2015. 🤷
I've been into photography since 1983 or earlier. My parents were into it enough that they converted some room into a darkroom for awhile. Then My mother made it part of her creative living (pro rodeo photography at one point even). Back in the 90s, I got re-inspired and bought a Nikon and lenses (Nikon was the only brand I ever knew.) But then I became frustrated with film and digital wasn't ready yet. So I got better and better point and shoots for travel in the 2005 thru 2012 years, then dove back into mirrorless with an NEX-6. A couple of years later I jumped up to the a7R II and realized that I didn't just have to take photographs when traveling. 😎😂
I live in River North and try to get out once or twice a month to just roam the city. I decidedly call my stuff "urban" because street photography purists always gatekeep that term. I have a car, but refuse to use it, so if I can walk or train there - I'm could be convinced of a meet-up.
Mike Canzoneri
@[David Davis](db638bb6-9545-4d22-9e2b-b190f707ef67) sounds great! and, whiskey, beer, wine, pop....it doesn't matter...let's get out and do some shooting. I don't have my next trip planned yet, but I'll let you know.
David Davis
@[Mallory Warner](162e998c-e2c8-4c4a-8fef-b9718401afbf) I will save you all the Malort you want to drink
Mike Canzoneri
@[Nisah Cheatham](cf53a09d-1eb6-45e0-b529-06e3bf21aaf4) awesome! yes, I refer to my street photography as urban portraiture. we're gonna do this on my next trip in......I'm gonna hold off until spring if I can.
Mike Canzoneri
@[Mallory Warner](162e998c-e2c8-4c4a-8fef-b9718401afbf) no malort for me....special export was my beer of choice back in the 70s and 80s. now, I'm all into goose island brews and anti-hero. let's plan this in advance so you can get to town for a meet up!