As a young child, Jan Tratnik stepped off a bus and into conversation with a “small man” in a child-size car. A photo of this interaction between Jan and what was actually a ventriloquist’s dummy appeared in the Sunday paper soon thereafter. She was fascinated by this. Thus was born her life-long passion for photography. […]
As we close the chapter on 2022, we asked some of our favorite Chicago-area photographers to share their standout image from the year. Here are their favorite images, and the stories behind them. Avinash Biradar “Morning Stillness – Chicago is such a busy city, buzzing with all kinds of noise. But, early morning sunrise is […]
Vivian Maier, the photographer who famously left behind thousands of prints and negatives that were only discovered after her death, has earned almost as much notoriety for her mysterious life as for her stunning photography. Slowly, details of her time working and shooting in the Chicago suburbs are coalescing in much of the same coincidental […]
As the year comes to a close, we asked some of our favorite Chicago photographers to share their standout image from 2021. Here are their favorite images, and the stories behind them. Avinash Biradar “2021 had some memorable sunsets in Chicago and I was able to capture many of them. This particular sunset came out […]
There are places that happen to you and places you choose. For photographer Dorothea Lange, California was both. She was 23 years old when she left her native New Jersey and arrived in San Francisco. The year was 1918 and she thought she was just passing through — instead, she stayed for the rest of her […]
During a year when many of us were confined to our homes, these Chicago-area photographers allowed us to view the city we missed so dearly through their eyes. Here are their favorite photos they captured in 2020. Jack Gillespie “June 24th, 2020: I took this photo of a sunset over Chicago’s skyline while on a […]
An introduction to the people responsible for some of the most stunning images of Marin.
When COVID-19 hit and the Illinois stay-at-home order was put in place, life was put on hold. Among the many industries that took a big hit, the wedding, event and photography industry saw their work for the foreseeable future essentially disappear overnight. But, as many of us have seen, a lot of good has come out […]
As the year comes to a close, we asked some of our favorite Chicago photographers to share their standout image from 2019. No easy task—not only are these images some of the best we have seen over the last year, but the stories behind how they paint a beautiful picture of our city. Shannon Kunce […]
French influence has spread across the world, including to the coastal nation of Morocco, a gem in the far reaches of northwest Africa. On May 15, the Alliance Française will transport guests to this colorful, fabled country. Join us as we experience the world through the “Eyes of Morocco.” The centerpiece of this fundraising event […]
