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.
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.
