“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them”
I am currently a little over a month into my internship with The Associated Press in Chicago. I wanted to share a few of the images I personally think shows what I covered so far. Additionally I would like to share some of the things I have learned. This blog will be a little different from the others because I will post short blurbs in between images:
THE FEATURE HUNT
Here my assignment was to "FEATURE HUNT". This pretty much means that it was my job to return with a pretty photo. This can be a little intimidating becuase if you don't return with a great image, you basically didn't do your job. I love taking photos of children because they will eventually ignore you and go back to having fun which will then allow you to become invisible and capture them in a natural moment. This assignment strengthened the fact that pretty images are everywhere, we just have to find them. In fact I remember making a Facebook post one day stating that in "in order to take a beautiful image one must first see the world as beautiful".
Anthony Muzi stands in water from the Crown Fountain at Millennium Park, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Stanley Cup Victory Celebration
It was my assignment to search for moments during the 2015 Stanley cup victory celebration at Soldier Field stadium in Chicago. A few days prior I had just documented the initial celebration/almost border line riots. Those photos can be seen in another blog post here. Below I have posted a few images from the 2015 Stanley cup victory celebration at Soldier Field. The first image I posted is of a lady making a confetti angel. This is by far my favorite. I think it really encompassed how everyone felt that day and a few days prior the night of the victory. It was a surreal moment, it was as if everything in their lives were okay now due to the Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory.
Chicago Blackhawks fan Holly Frolek, creates a confetti angel as she celebrates the 2015 Stanley cup victory at Soldier Field, Thursday, June 18, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Chicago Blackhawk fan Dawid Partynski, celebrates the 2015 Stanley cup victory at Soldier Field, Thursday, June 18, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Chicago Blackhawk fans celebrate a 2015 Stanley cup victory at Soldier Field, Thursday, June 18, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
A Chicago Blackhawk fan holds up the number three symbolizing the amount of Stanley Cup Championship victories the team has had in the past six years, Thursday, June 18, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Talia Pisano's Wilms Tumor patient
Frankly this assignment almost brought me to tears. I tried my best not to cry because I did not want to make the situation uncomfortable. Talia is a one year old who has just undergone surgery to preserve he ovaries in an attempt to allow her to give birth in her later years. She is a Wilms Tumor patient, as an effect Pisano has had one of her kidney's removed and has relapsed in the brain. This is a cutting edge procedure because it hasn't proven successful for children her age. I had the opportunity to take portraits of her and document her 2nd birthday party.
Talia Pisano, 1, stands in her hospital bed Thursday, June 11, 2015, in Chicago. Pisano is diagnosed with Wilms Tumor, a form of cancer that effects the kidney. As an effect Pisano has had one of her kidney's removed and has relapsed in the brain. She is undergoing a rare option where doctors will attempt to freeze her ovaries in efforts for her to reproduce in later years. Although the procedure has been tested in women with developed ovaries it has not been attempted for girls her age.(AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Talia Pisano, 1, heart rate is checked by her doctor Thursday, June 11, 2015, in Chicago. Pisano is diagnosed with Wilms Tumor, a form of cancer that effects the kidney. As an effect Pisano has had one of her kidney's removed and has relapsed in the brain. She is undergoing a rare option where doctors will attempt to freeze her ovaries in efforts for her to reproduce in later years. Although the procedure has been tested in women with developed ovaries it has not been attempted for girls her age.(AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Talia Pisano celebrates her second birthday with family and friends Saturday, June 13 2015 in Wheaton, IL.
Talia Pisano celebrates her second birthday with family and friends Saturday, June 13 2015 in Wheaton, IL.
Talia Pisano celebrates her second birthday with family and friends Saturday, June 13 2015 in Wheaton, IL.
Talia Pisano celebrates her second birthday with family and friends Saturday, June 13 2015 in Wheaton, IL.
Pride Parade 2015
This parade was very historic for Illinois because it was the first parade since The Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United States. Illinois same-sex marriage has been legal since June 1, 2014 due to a bill that was signed by former Gov. Pat Quinn.
A roller derby team slaps paraders hands at the 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade Sunday, June 28, 2015 in the boystown neighborhood of Chicago.
Paraders celebrates at the 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade Sunday, June 28, 2015 in the boystown neighborhood of Chicago.
Paraders celebrates around a pit of water at the Chicago Pride Parade Sunday, June 28, 2015 in the boystown neighborhood of Chicago.
Paraders celebrates around a pit of water at the Chicago Pride Parade Sunday, June 28, 2015 in the boystown neighborhood of Chicago.
Paraders carry a Human Rights Campaign flag while celebrating at the Chicago Pride Parade Sunday, June 28, 2015 in the boystown neighborhood of Chicago.
Press Conferences
I have been given the assignment to document press conferences a lot since Ive been here. After you shoot them about 3 time they all seem to become a blur, but I try my best to come back with great images every time. The below image I took at a presser, I think this was my favorite photo take at a press conference.
Muslim chaplain Tahera Ahmad responds to a question during a news conference Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Chicago. A Shuttle America flight attendant "will no longer serve United customers" following an investigation into the Muslim chaplain's complaint of discriminatory treatment during a flight last week, an airline spokesman said Wednesday. Ahmad said a flight attendant declined her request for an unopened can of Diet Coke because it could be used as a weapon. The flight was operated by Shuttle America for United. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Protests Galore
Illinois is currently undergoing a budget crisis and many groups have taking to the streets to voice their concerns. Below are a few of the images I have taken of protests.
Pamela Broomfield, 56, warns Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner of how the proposed budget cut will affect her on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, in Chicago. Broomfield is a resident at St Taici Place Apartments and she is one of the many residents who will be affected from the proposed budget cuts. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees protest outside in Chicago June 9 2015. More than 40,000 state workers’ contracts are set to expire at the end of the month, but no agreement is in sight between the various labor unions representing them and GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has made damping down the union might a focus of his first months in office. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees protest outside in Chicago June 9 2015. More than 40,000 state workers’ contracts are set to expire at the end of the month, but no agreement is in sight between the various labor unions representing them and GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has made damping down the union might a focus of his first months in office. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Craig Cleve, left, marches with members of the Chicago Teachers Union as they picket outside City Hall to protest $200 million in planned public schools cuts Thursday, July 2, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union picket outside City Hall to protest $200 million in planned public schools cuts Thursday, July 2, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union picket outside City Hall to protest $200 million in planned public schools cuts Thursday, July 2, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
7 year old's death
7-year-old Amari Brown was shot and killed over the fourth of July weekend in Chicago. Sometimes you feel like a jerk when your asked to photograph a memorial site at the location where someone was killed. When I arrive on location I was not greeted happily. The family had been bashed by the media and did not want anymore attention. Sometimes I realized instead of trying to explain to a family why you need to photograph them, it is better to listen to their concerns.
This incident reminded me of the severity of the violence in Chicago. However it did not surprise me because I am a Chicago resident and violence has always been around. Below are a few of the images I took for this assignment.
Antonio Brown looks at memorial to his son, Amari, after Amari was gunned down on July 4 2014. (AP Photo/ Christian K. Lee)
Antonio Brown, father of Amari Brown, speaks near a make-shift memorial near the 1100 block of Harding on Chicago's West Side Monday, July 6, 2015. Authorities say 7-year-old Amari Brown, who was celebrating the Fourth of July with his family, was among three people who were shot and killed overnight during a weekend outbreak of gun-related violence in Chicago. Police say Antonio Brown's refusal to cooperate with detectives highlights the city's ongoing challenge in curbing gang-related violence. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Amari Brown is seen in a photo with his father, Antonio Brown, Monday, July 6, 2015, at a memorial in Chicago. Authorities say 7-year-old Amari Brown, who was celebrating the Fourth of July with his family, was among three people who were shot and killed overnight during a weekend outbreak of gun-related violence in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Amari Brown is seen in a photo with his father, Antonio Brown, Monday, July 6, 2015, at a memorial in Chicago. Authorities say 7-year-old Amari Brown, who was celebrating the Fourth of July with his family, was among three people who were shot and killed overnight during a weekend outbreak of gun-related violence in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
A memorial in honor of Amari Brown is seen, Monday, July 6, 2015, in Chicago. Authorities say 7-year-old Brown, who was celebrating the Fourth of July with his family, was among three people who were shot and killed overnight during a weekend outbreak of gun-related violence in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Antonio Brown, left, father of Amari Brown, is embraced by a community member, Monday, July 6, 2015, in Chicago. Authorities say 7-year-old Amari Brown, who was celebrating the Fourth of July with his family, was among three people who were shot and killed overnight during a weekend outbreak of gun-related violence in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
A person displays a memorial pin in honor of Amari Brown, Monday, July 6, 2015, in Chicago. Authorities say 7-year-old Brown, who was celebrating the Fourth of July with his family, was among three people who were shot and killed overnight during a weekend outbreak of gun-related violence in Chicago. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
Members of the community march on Chicago's West Side to protest the death of 7-year-old Amari Brown Monday, July 6, 2015, in Chicago. Brown, who was one of seven people shot to death in Chicago over the holiday weekend, was the son of a gang leader with a lengthy arrest record, and police say the man's refusal to cooperate with detectives highlights the city's ongoing challenge in curbing gang-related violence. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
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