This is going to be a challenge.
I am a good blogger, but I am not good at being a consistent blogger. Constancy and regularity are ideas, at least when in regards to blogging, that are foreign to me. However, this time, it's for a class and a grade, so I feel much more obligated to continue than I have before. Obligation isn't everything though. I'm glad the class requires this of me, as it's something I do like to do and do plan on doing for the rest of my life to be quite honest. In any event, and with all of this aside, I wanted to enter into a brief discussion of my goals and concept for this blog.
First, my title: "Snapshot Chicago." I found it clever, as the words in combination can have several different meanings at once. I am first and foremost (at least in my heart) a photographer. You can find my flickr link in the top right corner of this page. When I take a photograph, I don't like to think of it as only that. In my mind, a photograph should be a snapshot of a place. It should not only capture what's in front of the lens, but also the smells, sounds, ambience, and emotions involved in any particular scene at any given time. For instance, about a year and a half ago, I went to a local carnival in my small hometown in Colorado. I photographed a moving carnival ride - one of those that spins around while it lifts you off the ground. This doesn't seem special at all. Many photographers shoot carnivals and their rides. However, when I paged back through my images and came upon this one, the whole experience rushed back to me. I could smell the funnel cakes and hear the children running around trying to decide which ride would be their first. The night lights on the ride are lit in the picture, and from one look, the viewer can sense the anticipation and wonder that comes along with one of the first nights of summer. It is a snapshot of a time and a place and everything that happened there, not just a photo of a carnival ride.
I call this blog "Snapshot Chicago" because, in every entry, I'd like to paint a picture of a specific time and place within this beautiful city. Chicago is a place I am passionate about, and the restaurants, bars, events, and people are what make it special.
Every week, I hope to focus on a certain neighborhood here in the city. I'll explore local businesses, restaurants, nightlife venues, special events, newsworthy happenings, and even write some profile pieces on the people who make each neighborhood what it is. My hope is that it will grow into an informative, fun, and interactive snapshot of Chicago.
