Biography:
When I was 11 years old I won a red ribbon at the Indiana State Fair in photography. It was for a series of photos I took of our cats. My family went to Michigan that summer for vacation, I didn’t find out about the prize...
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Focus:Photographer, Photojournalist, Filmmaker
Skills:Research, Adobe Photoshop, Photo Editing, Black & White Printing
Michael waits for a friend at the corner of 48th and Loomis in the Back of the Yards nighborhood of Chicago. Originally the Back of the Yards neighborhood consisted of immigrants from Eastern Europe and over time became predominately latino.
Cynthia takes communion during a street mass lead by Benedictine monks from the local monastery a few blocks away. The Catholic faith is deeply held by most living in the Back of the Yards.
Stephanie holds her boyfriend in Laflin Park while watching his daughter. Stephanie is trying to get custody of the gril because the birth mom is addicted to drugs.
Julio works the AM shift on a Saturday. Julio wanted a legitimate job but figured out ways to pocket a little extra money from the register during each shift.
Miriam holds one of her children during Easter Mass. Miriam hopes to go to college but getting financial help is difficult because she is an illegal immigrant.
Michael and his sister, Terri, hang out in front of their house on a Saturday night. Terri just came home from work and they were hoping to find a party.
Salvador and Joe in Social Studies class at Second Chance High School. Salvador was arrested for shooting someone. Joe finished school and found work in construction.
Karen's daughter naps during a girls-only writing class in the school library. School policy was that students were not supposed to bring their to class but it happened fairly often.
Jesus chills between classes. Second Chance doesn't have its own building and holds class in Cesar Chavez Elementary School after the younger kids are done for the day.
Father Shea prays with students on Ash Wednesday. He was not directly affiliated with Second Chance but Father Shea tried to maintain a constant presence in the lives of the students.
Karen waits with classmates for their graduation ceremony to start. Her marriage didn't last a year but she stayed focused on school and finished at the top of the class.
After the prom there was a party at Joe’s. It was a steamy Chicago evening, but no one had thought to get ice for the beer. Mexican music was coming from a car stereo. Despite the temperature, it was a good night to be outside, hanging with your friends. No adults, no worries, and just a couple more weeks of school.
I did not photograph much that night. Instead I talked to Sergio and Carlos and Joe and Stephanie. They were used to me being around at school but were just recently letting me accompany them into their neighborhood. We talked about cars, who was dating whom, and plans for after high school. Sergio showed me his new tattoo.
For the first time, I was no longer the white guy with a camera. They were no longer gangbangers. We were just people hanging out together on a hot summer night.
This project isn’t meant to be anything more than me hanging out with the kids, letting them be themselves in front of me.
