Come "behind the shot" with photographer Graham Chapman as he shares the stories behind some of his favorite photos from his upcoming book, Chicago in Transit.
Graham a photographer, video editor, and content creator based in Chicago. In 2013, he bought his first camera, and what began as a tool for video work soon exposed him to the beautiful world of photography. For Graham, “stepping into the street” means stepping into the world. What began as a personal exploration has grown into a community of over 40,000 followers who connect with his way of seeing the world.
Chicago in Transit is available for pre-order at Trope.com and will be in stores on April 14th. Pre-order before April 10th and receive a limited edition signed by Graham.
The 146 Bus
This was one of those shots that just presented itself right to me.
I was out shooting near the lake and decided to hop on a bus downtown. Whenever I’m riding the L or a bus with my camera, I try to keep it out in case something worth framing shows up. As soon as I sat down and took in my surroundings, I noticed the gentleman opposite me reading the paper and knew I had to take the shot.
I always try to be discreet during street photography because I prefer to let moments unfold naturally without any influence from me. Since my camera was already out, I didn’t have to do much to pop the lens cap off and grab a few frames.
As you can see, the subject was very aware of his surroundings. Even though I had my camera resting on my backpack and was shooting through the bus seats, he spotted me. Whether or not he knew I was actually taking the photo is unclear, but I’m glad he looked up. In my mind, that eye contact is what makes the image.
LaSalle Street
Chicago is beautiful from every angle, especially from above.
This shot was taken from a rooftop patio of the Wintrust Building on LaSalle Street. I was soaking in the surrounding skyline views, and when I got to the corner of the patio and looked down, I noticed people moving through the intersections at Jackson, LaSalle, and Financial.
I spent some time pointing my camera around the different crosswalks that I could see, waiting for the right person or group with the right stride to enter the frame. This frame ended up being my favorite.
Two things stand out to me in this photo. First, the construction paint on the street adds a gritty, urban feel with colors that really pop. More importantly, both subjects are mid-stride. Their movement is in sync, and their shadows make the image even stronger. That is what makes this one for me. You can even rotate it, and it still works from different angles.
E Oak Street
I like this photo for its simplicity, but it brings together a few elements I’m always looking for when I shoot.
Scale is a big one. This city is full of massive buildings, and I like placing a small subject within that larger frame to emphasize the contrast.
Shadows are another. I’m constantly watching how light falls across streets and buildings. Sometimes it creates a natural spotlight that is just waiting for someone to step into it. Here, I noticed the light hitting the building and sidewalk and waited until a single person passed through. I was lucky to catch their stride and line it up cleanly within the light.
Then there is color. Most buildings in Chicago lean toward grays, browns, beiges, or darker tones, but this one had a striking green facade that immediately stood out. It’s on Oak Street near the lake, a spot I don’t really traverse too often, so finding that light and color combination felt like a win.
It all happened pretty quickly. I noticed the scene, got into position across the street, and waited for the moment to line up.
W Washington Street
I’m always keeping an eye out for a great hat.
It was a snowy February morning, and I took my camera out before work to walk the Loop when I spotted one. A great hat.
The guy wearing it had already turned the corner, so I had to hustle to get him back in frame. I usually prefer a profile or head-on shot, but he had some speed to him, so I fell in behind and framed it from there.
I chose this frame because of the moment. He’s reaching up to adjust his hat while also moving his hand toward his pocket. I didn’t even notice until editing that he was holding a wad of cash.
Between that, the snow, the color palette of his outfit, the rings, and the hat, it all comes together into a really strong, detailed image.
Learn more about Graham Chapman and pre-order your limited edition signed copy of Chicago in Transit today.