Behind the scenes

When exploring downtown Chicago, you really never know what you're going to find. In August 2017, the windy city became my home. It's a city that truly reminds me of Melbourne. Its energy and public image is so much like home its uncanny. Walking along Lake Michigan was like walking along the beach at St Kilda in Australia.

Wondering through the maze of office buildings and skyscrapers, Chicago is full of colour. Located near the MOCP (Museum of Contemporary Photography) is Columbia College of Chicago. Here the walls of the building are splashed with artwork from its talented students. Famous quotes light up alley ways with intense typography, dirty car parks are unrecognizable as ginormous portraits watch over the area, and courtyards are booming with life as artwork decorates everything from the tallest trees to the smelliest trash can.

I only have a year here in Chicago, so I better make the most of it. I have tried to get myself here as much as possible, so I can explore every square centimetre of this vibrant and spectacular city. The Wells Kinzie Garage is a popular spot for photographers. Ideally, this shot would be taken from the roof, but a heavy chain and a big grey door stopped me from doing so. This shot was taken from the 7th floor as I poked my head outside a small gap in the garage wall. I waited there for 20 minutes for a train to move by, which I thought was exceedingly long from a train line in a major city. Seeing the train come around the corner was quite exhilarating in a way, as it curved around the building and weaved its way towards the next station. The composition of this setting draws the viewers gaze towards the snake-like train, as its centered location dominates the foreground.

Simple images such as these are the most breathtaking in my point of view. Beautiful and unique aspects of our world can be found in the everyday, we just need to keep looking. Having a camera in my hand has more than broadened my curiosity. It has motivated me to challenge the normal and common aspects of our world and give them more meaning. This motivation and feeling of pure curiosity is something that brings me great joy. I know for a fact that I will look back on images like this one for many years to come.