Chicago 19

As a farewell to the City that built my career, I am auctioning my favorite piece from my 7 year run in this city. This photograph was taken in 2019 during the Chicago airshow. Like most mornings I woke up and headed straight out the door with my camera, rolling the dice and hoping to capture something unique and beautiful. This day I was exceptionally lucky. The crowds from the Chicago airshow were packed onto Fullerton Beach, and I wanted to be there in hopes of a good photograph. Before I could get there I had to pass over the bridge on Fullerton Avenue, a view I had grown accustomed to. Today, however, things were different. Just as I crossed, two Aerobatic Aircraft swung over the beach, releasing smoke trails as they went. The noise was overpowering, but as I looked over my right shoulder I was suddenly plunged into silence. There, on the water, were two paddle boarders. I am not sure how long I stood there before I brought my view finder to my eye, but for those moments I looked over the skyline and how small these people looked emerging from the fog. I realized how incredible this city was because of how small we were in the greater story that continues to be written here since 1837. I felt the importance of understanding my unimportance, and that brought me an immense amount of peace. I know this city will live on in the pages of my writing and my artwork, but for this photograph. Just for a moment. It was Chicago's pages that I was writing in.