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Discovering Chicago In the Early 70s
Earl Ripling Photography
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These are the first photographs I shot as  a series.  This was my first photography class at UICC, the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle campus. My instructor for this class was Hans Shau, who studied at Illinois Institute of Technology's 'Institute of Design' the reincarnation of the Bauhaus of Germany established in America just before WWII.  At this time I was most influenced by Harry Callahan a Chicago street photographer also associated with the 'Institute of Design'  I liked how he shot pedestrians amongst the architecture of Chicago and other cities he visited. 

I was also attracted to a Russian avant-garde Utopian photographer, Alexander Rodchenko, who shot many of his subjects from above. It was a POV I never  would  have recognized had it not been for the Rodchenko images I had come upon while absorbing all I could about Photography.  
 I found the elevated train platforms surrounding Chicago’s loop business and retail district to give me that Rodchenko POV and used it like a studio to produce many of the images you see here.

​This being the early 70’s and with my shoulder length hair I stood out, which produced reactions from some of the people I photographed.  

​
After moving to NYC in 1975, I continued with this overhead POV, perched on various elevated spots throughout Manhattan.
Elevated 'EL' train platform surrounding Chicago's 'loop' business and retail district's 'el' train platform where I shot this series
Elevated train platform from where I shot this series
Randolph and Wabash, Chicago, 1971
Randolph and Wabash, Chicago, 1971
Russian Utopian Alex Rodchenko influence
Russian Utopian Alex Rodchenko influence
Looking north on Michigan Ave, Chicago, 1971
Looking south on State Street from Randolph, note movie marque featuring Shaft which I used to date this picture, Chicago,1971
Looking south on State Street from Randolph, note movie marque featuring Shaft which I used to date this picture, Chicago,1971
Looked like dance from overhead POV
Looks like dance when shot from above
acknowleged my long hair with a peace sign, Chicago, 1971
acknowleged my long hair with a peace sign, Chicago, 1971
Caught, looking down on her from up above, Chicago, 1971
Negative space from overhead, Chicago, 1971
Negative space from overhead, Chicago, 1971
Looking South on State Street from Randolph. Note movie marque showing Shaft which I used to date this series, Chicago, 1971
Looking South on State Street from Randolph. Note movie marque showing Shaft which I used to date this series
hippie take his picture, State and Randolph, Chicago, 1971
Not happy having hippie take his picture, State and Randolph, Chicago, 1971
Pedestrians crossing, Wabash and Madison, Chicago, 1971
Pedestrians crossing, Wabash and Madison, Chicago, 1971
Rushing to catch the train, LaSalle Street Station, Chicago, 1971
Rushing to catch the train, LaSalle Street Station, Chicago, 1971
Dazed and confused, LaSalle Street train Station, Chicago, 1971
Dazed and confused, LaSalle Street train Station, Chicago, 1971
End of day, long shadow,LaSalle Street Train Station, Chicago, 1971
End of day, long shadow,LaSalle Street Train Station, Chicago, 1971
earlripling.com
  • Home
  • portfolio 1
    • NYC overheads
  • Portfolio 2
    • PORTFOLIO 3 SEQUENSES
  • Portfolio 4
    • more deconstructions
  • Portfolio 5
  • portfolio 6
  • About
  • Blog
  • CONTACT