Cabrini-Green Demolition (1/125 at f/14 30mm, ISO 125)
I remember one of my first cab rides was right here in Chicago at the ripe old age of 19. I was visiting the Windy City scouting out potential graduate schools, or so the story was that a few friends and I had told our parents. Truth be told, we thought the legal drinking age was 19, but come to find out we were a few years off on that one. But, I digress, so there I was a very sober 19 year old cruising the city (late at night) in the back seat of taxi-cab with a few friends. I remember the cab driver asking us , “Do you mind if I cut through Cabrini-Green?” Well, honestly I had no idea what Cabrini-Green was but I knew I didn’t want to sound like a small town kid, so I spoke for all of us and said “sure.” That shortcut, with a few stop lights thrown in, felt like a lifetime back then….I was very young, very naïve, and most of all afraid of the unknown.
Fast forward, 20 years later, I find myself driving by Cabrini -Green several times a week. I’m older now and a lot has changed, but fear is the last emotion I think about when I drive by Cabrini-Green. Cabrini-Green has undergone tremendous change in the last few years. The area that once housed nearly 15,000 residents and was thought undesirable by many people has now become a valuable asset as Chicago’s Near North Side has been developed. Many of the area’s residents have been forced to relocate as their neighborhood has slowly been demolished, while watching multi-million dollar townhomes being erected in their place. The point of this isn’t to make a political statement, but simply to explain that while many of us might rejoice in the demolition of Cabrini-Green for a variety of reasons, there are still many people that continue to reside there and call it home. And those being forced to relocate may have left behind family, friends and many fond memories.
So, here’s where I’m going with this. The teardown of Cabrini is every bit as historic as its original construction, and I think as photographers it’s our nature to document our surroundings. But, I think it’s our job to be as respectful as possible in that process. Case in point, while I was taking photographs at Cabrini I noticed car after car rolling in taking quick snap shots. Sure, it’s cool to watch a building this large being torn down. I mean how often do you see a 15 story building with a wrecking ball taken to it? But the image that stuck in my mind as I was photographing the scene was the two teenage school kids walking home with groceries. As they walked by me, I gave them both a smile and quick hello but they offered nothing in return other than a look of disgust. That’s when it dawned on me that I was being just like the snapshot photographer only with better equipment. I should have taken more time to get to know someone who lived in the building or connect in some other fashion, but I had failed. I took a few more shots, called it a day, and reminded myself it’s not always about getting the shot, but how you go about getting the shot that counts.
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John, I just love this post especially your last few words. It is something that has been on my mind ever since I was in Kenya. I saw some people so focused on getting the shot, they did it at the expense of others. Not just other photographers who were there traveling with them but also the children that we met.
Whatever we have in our hearts when we create an image, will surely be reflected in those pictures.
It’s always a tough balancing act. At the end of the day, feeling good about my approach is every bit as important as the photo itself.