THE CITY THAT WORKS
Moriah Warner
Photography is an opportunity to go back in time by capturing a moment. As a photographer, I have the power to tamper with my photos as much or as little as I like. The subject of my photos are mostly my friends. For me, everything is a moment worth capturing. Using my camera, I have a way to create a story, a documentary that holds people’s lives. Documenting things has always interested me, I love when I take a candid of someone and they also like the picture, it’s a mutually beneficial situation. I almost never over-stage my photographs, as opposed to setting up photoshoots. I find that taking pictures as they are happening is more satisfying than staging them. I enjoy the work from photographers like Albert Watson, even though he stages his portraits. I’m motivated by his artistic integrity. Personally, I prefer to let the person decide how they want their story to appear on camera. That’s important to me because it’s an opportunity for me to learn more about the person and myself.
I got my first camera when I was about 9 or so, it was a red point and shoot Sony. I have a bunch of pictures around my room of things that intrigued me, like objects that complement each other. Years later I invested my own money into a camera, a 35mm Minolta Maxxum. I could use a dSLR (digital single lense reflex) but I prefer my film camera, an SLR (single lense reflex) because it makes me more aware of my work. The whole process of waiting and reflecting is satisfying, seeing the end product that I expected makes me happy. Photographers that inspire me are Philip-Lorca diCorcia and Nan Goldin because their work is so dense with emotion yet not too complicated to take in, I really appreciate that. This project explores the different lives of workers in Chicago. Chicago is known as The City That Works. The city that works is a slogan created by Mayor Richard J. Daley. He created this slogan to describe Chicago as the hard working city it is. It’s important to be conscious and appreciative of everyone’s job. I decided to capture people at their place of work because people mostly identify themselves with their job.
My intentions throughout this project were to acknowledge people and to create a feeling of concord for the viewer and the subject. Every person has something to say, even if it’s to a complete stranger like me. I pushed myself to go out of my comfort zone and address people on the streets of Chicago. I heard a lot of no’s and “what’re you going to do with my picture”, which is understandable. It was important to capture the person in their element which involves them being comfortable even if that meant compromising my comfort. I learned people are more willing to be photographed when I introduced myself with my reason of approach and shaking their hand. Something that really interested me was that a lot of people actually like their job. It changed my perspective on the working class. We’re made to believe that if you’re a blue collar worker, you’re not allowed to be content, when in reality a lot of people do enjoy their jobs. Working is what you make it and it’s important to remember that. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to speak to different people and gain different perspectives while doing something that I’m passionate about. Before going up to people, I never really expected anyone to say yes. So when they did allow me to record them and be a part of my project, I was very appreciative.
What do you work as? I’m a laborer, union laborer. Do you like your job? Why? Love my job. Pays good, good benefits, great medical. What’s the typical workday like for you ? I work for a general contractor so mainly we manage the job, we keep everybody moving. What’s your most memorable memory? I used to build scaffolding, so I guess that would be the most memorable memory. Being up on high places that are completely dangerous.
Denny Union Worker
Are you from here? Do you like it here? Yes. Love it, except in the wintertime. Chicago would be the greatest city in the world if it wasn’t so damn cold in the winter. What’s your favorite movie? Die Hard. Worst thing you’ve ever done at work? Walking down on 15ft beams
So what do you work as right now? Valet Parking. Do you like your job? Why? I love it cause it a good job, great benefits, and I get to deal with a lot of beautiful people. What’s your best memory working here? When I go the extra mile, I do it all the time so it’s not only one, it’s many memories. To help anyone that needs help in any way possible. Does this city motivate you? Yes, of course, it’s a lively city. It’s not like Vegas but you do just about everything around here. You got restaurants, good food, good entertainment, so it’s very helpful.
Jesus Valet
Are you from Chicago? Do you like it here? I was raised here. I love it. What’s something that you always wanted to say but you never got the chance to? Come back
I was wondering if I could ask you some questions. I’ve only got about one minute because three other people are waiting to see me in there. (further inside of the church) What’s the question? What’s something that you always wanted to say but you never got the chance to? Probably to my uncle Ted, one more time that I love you cause he died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 59. I wish I would’ve said that to him one more time while he was living, “I love you”. He just had died so suddenly.
Father Greg Preist
What is your job? Pretty much as security for the theatre. Is there any reason you work in the theatre? I wouldn’t call myself a real thespian and I do like the plays and it’s a different level of people you deal with doing security at the theatre than some other job locations. Do you like your job? Yeah it’s pretty nice. Pretty much off and on, I”ve been doing security for about 13 years. What’s your best memory working here? There’s a lot of them. It was one show, pretty much packed house. The show started at the last minute and we had a couple of cast members from Empire come to the show and we got to speak with them and everything on their way in. You know, you get to meet a lot of famous people when they come in to watch the show.
Centrell Security
Do you have any talents that you want to brag about? I’m more of a laid-back and try to be humble person. I play three instruments...I can lift 310 over my head. What’s something you always wanted to say but you never got the chance to say it? People sometimes act like cattle
What is your job? A letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. How long have you work as this? 30 years. Do you like your job? Why not? No. I like the pay but I don’t like the job, just how it works and its a wear and tear on your body. What’s your best memory working here? The most memorable experience is when I first started and a dog came up to one of my friends and I was in shock and I couldn’t move. I had never experienced that before.
Shanel Letter Carrier
What’s something you always wanted to say but you never got the chance to say it? If you do work for the post office, don’t go for 30 years. What was your dream job growing up? My dream job was being an airline stewardess.
What is your job? Associate Creative Director with Leo Burnett in Chicago. What’s your favorite album? I like All Eyez on Me by Tupac.
Twan
Associate Creative Director
What’s something you always wanted to say but you never got the chance to say it? I wish that everyone can really be their true self without being afraid of what the world may think of them. What they may look like, what they may say. What their true ambitions, true thoughts, true feelings are. If the world was truly, truly judgeless how would the world really be? Would it be chaos or all lovey dovey? I always wanted to say that but is it really true? So you dont really say it. So it’s only a metaphor, it’s only a philosophy. Can we really be who we are without true judgement? When the lights go out at night, just you and your universe, who are you really at that moment? When you look in the miror behind closed doors, who do you really see? That person you see when you reflect it into the world, that person you see when you write it on paper and describe it in words. Can you really write those words? If you could say anything that you’ve wanted to say, is it really what you want to say? Is it because you fear the world and what the next person may think? Is it what you really want? How you really feel? If I had something to say, I would just say I’m not that strong and I’m not that weak either. My mind races but sometimes I just have nothing in my head. If I ever had something to say. I don’t know if it’s truly what’s on my mind.
What is your job? I work for LAZ parking enforcment, basicallly writing tickets for the meters. Do you like your job? Why? Yes, because the pay and I get to go outside and explore the city. It’s better than working a labor job and I don’t really have to carry much. Were you born here? Yes What’s your favorite album? Sade
Corri
Parking Enforcer
What’s something you always wanted to say but you never got the chance to say it? I feel like most jobs shouldn’t put people on probation where they can’t have a sick day off because when people get sick, they’re not allowed to call off and if they do, they get a write up.
What is your job? I’m a lawyer What made you become a lawyer? My grandfather was a lawyer. Do you like it here in Chicago? I haven’t been here a lot. I’ve been here before. I guess I like it, it’s a bigger town than where I’m from, Indianapolis. What’s your best memory working as a lawyer? Passing the bar was important. Couple of the cases I did, some jury trials and things like that. I have a decent day to day. Those are all good memories.
Grant Lawyer
What’s something you always wanted to say but you never got the chance to say it? Maybe I can just quote Ellen instead, she says, “be kind to one another”.
I particularly enjoyed talking to Twan and he inspired me. I saw him at a poetry slam for my LTAB event and he was taking photos for work so I decided to ask him if I could interview him. When I first asked him the question, “What’s something you never had the chance to say?”, he didn’t answer and asked me to follow him around while he thought. After about 10 minutes of observing, I asked him again and at first he was hesitant but once he started talking it seemed like he couldn’t stop.