I escaped to the city. A girl from the suburbs, even at the tender age of 17 I knew they would slowly kill me. I found a warm welcome in my new urban surroundings. I had a Hanimax 35mm hand-me-down, single lens camera. In the days before digital photography, the photo majors where the most broke kids on campus. Film, paper, chemicals and other necessary equipment—not to mention the camera and lenses—left little money for even coffee. Worse than that, I was there for the writing program so I couldn’t even pretend I was starving for my art. The space commitment for a dark room was impossible; and only photo majors could use the campus darkroom. It just got too expensive. I dabbled here and there but even proof sheets from Gamma were a stretch. Prints? Unthinkable for me.

After college, I grew to love publishing. I got married, had some children, stayed home with them, crafted, continued to ply the publishing trade, got divorced and worked on raising my children. They are the most amazing individuals, but parenting and supporting a family—mostly on my own—took massive amounts of juggling. The priorities were always shifting; the landscape different almost ever day. It was a daily combination of stellar catches and stunning fielding; with little time to breathe or even experience a sense of accomplishment. Decades passed at a breakneck pace.

In a very real sense, raising children left me with a degree of what can only be termed as ADHD. As each one moved out I found I couldn’t focus. My life had slowed but I was accustomed to living at the pace my life previously required. I now had the luxury of time. I had always wanted that; but I still couldn’t see the nuances that I so dearly craved. I had to slow down myself. I also had to share the way I see it.

Photography had advanced of course and I found my way back to it. My SLR is about as heavy as that old Hanimax but the options are worth the weight—and the wait!

Nelson Algren said you cannot know Chicago unless you know her alleys. He was so right. Sadly, her rougher side is fading; replaced by something more sinister--bland.

When I go out with the intent of taking pictures it's the SLR (just learning, thank you). When I see something I must save I am happy for Iphone. Sometimes it lands here. Sometimes it lands on Instagram. Find me there as madamelazonga. Cheers!