Start Your Own Project: #1 Intro

Be a Content King

Are You Ready to Curate a Project?

Since moving to the city I've started the Chicago Neighborhoods Project. I'm in the process of visiting and photographing architecture in all 77 community areas of the city.

When I arrived I was already in the process of writing my second fiction novel. However, I didn't seem to be getting anywhere after the move. I was too distracted by my new city to focus. I finally decided to go with my urge to get out and walk.

Flaneur

The Flaneur is a "man of leisure, the idler, 

the urban explorer, the connoisseur of the street."

My Project

I floundered around in the beginning, but I eventually decided on a format to visit every community area of my new city by taking photos during leisurely walks. I was amazed by the beautiful architecture. I also liked that every neighborhood has public transit links and sidewalks, things I don't take for granted after living in the newer construction neighborhoods of the Southwest.

My standard procedure is to pick neighborhoods at random to visit. So far, I've usually walked with others, mostly my husband or daughter. I can't cover every one of the 200+ individual neighborhoods in the city, so I've limited myself to the 77 community areas. I will only see a few blocks of each place.

After arriving at my destination, I often eat lunch or have a mid afternoon snack. It gives me something to write about, and I find my traveling companions will be more patient with my picture taking if they've been fed. I've learned to carry an insulated grocery bag, in case I stumble across specialty grocery stores. I've found some great food at inexpensive prices to take home.

Since I have so many areas to cover, I can't wait for the ideal light or weather. While my camera doesn't handle snowfall well, I've been out in pretty much everything else. When I edit my photos of the neighborhood buildings, I try to emphasize the architectural details and colors.

When I first started my project I was too ambitious. I tried to walk too far to see as much of the community area as possible. I wanted to write detailed histories or find something unique to write about each neighborhood. I wanted to meet people. All of those things proved too time consuming. I realized I was never going to get done.

The second place I visited was Lakeshore East on a Chicago Architecture Foundation tour of the neighborhood. While the foundation does an excellent job, I found guided tours weren't the right approach. I couldn't pay attention to the tour guide while focusing on taking pictures.

I've since realized I don't want anyone to narrate my experience of seeing a new neighborhood for me. I want to be surprised by what I randomly find. I've learned to limit what I read about an area before I go. There are a lot of biased reviews online. Not researching means I may miss the important monuments or the most historical houses, but those are already covered in guides anyway.

I've been lucky to have media interviews about my project.

• Read the article by Justin Breen, DNAinfo
• Interview by Marcus LeShock at WGN.

For anyone who wants to experience being a flaneur, taking random walks on city streets, I recommend limiting your research beforehand. It can help to know about a couple of well rated restaurants, in case you don't stumble upon anything else. However, don't look for certain buildings, or hope to find a specific architectural style. Don't look up where to shop. Instead, when you arrive, let the street be your guide about which way to walk. Most importantly, spend your time looking around instead of on your phone, and don't take any photo selfies.

Your Project

Getting Started

I would encourage everyone to start their own projects. Whether you're looking for a new hobby, or something which can eventually turn into a job, it's a lot of fun. Your project can be about a favorite subject or something you've always wanted to learn about. The possibilities are endless.

I will share more blog posts about which media you could use to share your project, how to find the time and money to pursue your creative work, and specific tips about equipment and software for photography.


Examples

Below are some interesting projects with links to more information about them.

Slow Roll Chicago

When I started my project I wasn't sure about how I would be able to see all of the areas of the city, particularly since we don't own a car. Plus, there are neighborhoods I'm not going to be comfortable wandering around on my own. Then I read an article about Slow Roll Chicago. They inspired me to realize I would be able to find ways to visit all of Chicago.

From their website:

Inspired by the energy, diversity, and spirit of the Slow Roll Detroit rides, Jamal Julien and Olatunji Oboi Reed founded Slow Roll Chicago in September of 2014. They explicitly set out to use the movement and bicycles as vehicles for social change. Slow Roll Chicago rides every Wednesday evening from April to October. The ride meets at various locations & venues throughout Chicago and takes a unique route for each ride. 

Slow Roll is for everyone; all ages, skill levels and types of bikes are welcome. We are called Slow Roll for a reason as our slow pace keeps the group safe and gives riders a unique perspective of our great city and its beautiful neighborhoods. An amazing and diverse group joins us from all over the Chicago area and beyond, creating what we consider one of the greatest gatherings of all time. The positive energy and community driven atmosphere is what keeps people coming back and sharing the Slow Roll Chicago experience with their family and friends! Let's ride...

Forty Blocks: The East Garfield Park History Project

I met historian Peter Alter on social media. He was in the process of helping with the Kickstarter campaign to raise money to buy equipment for the Forty Blocks: The East Garfield Park History Project. He graciously met me one afternoon and we walked an area of East Garfield Park he hadn't traveled. He explained community members and historians are working together on the project to fill some of the missing gaps about the history of the neighborhood.

From DNAinfo article:

West Siders will get a chance to flesh out their own place in the city's history thanks to a project by the Chicago History Museum and East Garfield Park's Breakthrough Ministries. "Forty Blocks: The East Garfield Park Oral History Project" is intended to balance the local history books, while at the same time providing training in the field to middle- and high-school students on the West Side through Breakthrough Ministries' Film Crew group.

Boystown LGBT Museum

I don't have any personal connection to this project, but I think it's a great example about what can be accomplished when a community works together. Plus, I've always thought it would be cool to start a museum. (I don't know what I'd put in a museum, I just think starting a museum sounds fun.)

From DNAinfo article:

The organizers of Pride Fest and Boystown's Legacy Walk are teaming up to establish a permanent museum and visitor's center on North Halsted Street, the neighborhood's main artery. Legacy Project founder Victor Salvo will join the Northalsted Business Alliance as the full-time project director and will oversee the joint efforts to open the center, dedicated to tourism and cultural programming.

The business alliance was able to pay for Salvo's newly created position with the help of grants, tour revenue and special events, spokeswoman Jennifer Gordon said. The collaboration is the first step in creating the museum and visitors center. A location has not been selected, although organizers insist it will be on Halsted Street.