Like most Chicagoans, photographer Sandra Steinbrecher passed the old Morton Salt Complex on Elston Avenue with its massive billboard for years and wondered what was on the other side. So, when she had the chance to walk through the property and take some photos, she jumped at it. What followed was two years of documenting the deconstruction, reconstruction, and reinvigoration of this classic, industrial Chicago building. Through breathtaking photos and interviews with the people who made the restoration possible – including architects, developers and workers who did the daily labor – Steinbrecher's new book, The Salt Shed, takes the reader behind the scenes in one of Chicago’s most distinctive restoration projects of the 21st century.
The Salt Shed will be in bookstores in the US this September and is available for preorder now.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession?
I’ve been a photographer for around thirty years. Photography is a way to tell stories and express ideas, beliefs and feelings. Documentary photographers capture a moment with the intention to depict things as they are in real time, yet there is also timing, magic and mystery. It is a way to connect and engage with the world and understand both large universal truths and small details, which may be revealed slowly, over time.
What made you interested in photographing the Morton Salt Company Warehouse Complex in particular?
Like most Chicagoans, I’d passed the old Morton Salt Complex on Elston Avenue, with its massive billboard, for years and wondered what was on the other side. When I had a chance to walk through the property and take some photos, I jumped at it. I was immediately struck with a feeling of awe, especially standing under all that steel in the vast production shed. I saw the powerful work of the deconstruction, restoration and rebuilding and the coordination it takes. I had permission to return to photograph the removal of the original roof panels with the sign. It was a two-week process and then I kept coming back, returning again and again to photograph, often in the early mornings to catch the light. I knew it was an interesting story, and that it was a rare opportunity to document this transformation project: what it takes and how it’s done. These photos are a celebration of the past and a cultural resource for future generations.
What makes the Morton Salt building such an integral part of Chicago?
Built in 1929, the Morton Salt Company Warehouse Complex is nearly 100 years old. For all those decades, the oversized hand painted sign on the roof has been very visible to millions of people passing on Interstate 90 and on Elston Avenue. Along with the famous Morton Umbrella Girl logo, it is a solid and enduring part of our city’s history, and a humble, yet significant building. This place represents the resilience, vision and labor that built Chicago and that was centered around the salt, lumber and meatpacking industries. On the other hand, the Morton Salt complex was built by the most prolific architecture firm of the time and showcases the city’s innovations in architecture and design. It joins a long list of wonderful Chicago buildings that cements our reputation as a city with beautiful and important architecture. And it feels sturdy and reliable, almost like an old friend, appealing to people from every generation and all walks of life.
Tell me a bit about your editing process.
Editing is as important to the process as capturing images; it’s challenging and rewarding and the key to telling a compelling story. Over the nearly two years I was photographing at the Morton site, I probably shot 100,000 photos. I edited them down to about 500 images, then down again to about 250 to send to Trope for initial selection. There are a total of 136 photos in the book. Every time I photographed, I did an initial round of editing, but several rounds are necessary to create a strong series. It is very time consuming. Although some photos relate to each other as a group, every photo must be compelling and interesting enough to stand alone and tell a story. Ideally, looking at a photograph should make you feel something.
Is there a shot that you recently took that has inspired you above others?
I have many favorites! They are meaningful because they were either unexpected, a special challenge to capture, especially dramatic, or revealed something that I hadn’t realized was there. Those types of images usually combine many elements.
What advice do you have for other documentary photographers?
As a documentary photographer, I would suggest following a story that you love, or think is important and that interests you. Look for the action, the light, and go to every vantage point available to see what things look like. Find the humanity. Tap into your excitement about it. Stay with it and be as fearless as possible. This advice from my mentor and friend, Ron Gordon, also rings true for me: Look for the story you want to tell but leave room for the story that exists in the hearts of those who look at your work.
Learn more about The Salt Shed.