01/14/2014 - Pilsen, Chicago
Hi! Welcome to my very first blog! I am super excited to embark on this new journey of photography and decided to start a blog to document my adventures. I am new to this "blogging" thing so if you have any comments or advice for me, please feel free to comment back.
To begin, I always loved taking photos. I met Ernesto Cuevas about 2 years ago, and he really got me interested in the ART of the whole photography thing. So here we are present day. I am enrolled in photography school and ready for my first lesson. Today I'm doing my first assignment for class. The assignment is to take 36 pictures and see what happens every time I change the aperture of the lens.
So here's an idea. Why don't I explore a different neighborhood in Chicago for each of my assignments and see what I can find! This reminds me of a quote that my friend Cassie has on her wall that says:
"The Real Voyage of Discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." -Marcel Proust
That being said, lets explore my city! Today I will start with Pilsen. The reason I pick Pilsen is first, its right next to my hood, second, its a rich in culture, and third, it has a unique artistic soul. See, Pilsen has some of the best "graffiti" art in Chicago. I use the word "graffiti" lightly because some may call it by a different name or something other than simply "graffiti." I promise to take the "quotations" off the word in the future. Bottom line, I love graffiti art, lets do it.
Here I am, all bundled up because this is Chicago and baby it's cold outside. (ITS ACTUALLY SNOWING! ) I know, I know, shooting in the snow? Hey, that makes the adventure that much more interesting.
ME!
With my Nikon D7000 in my hand I am ready to shoot. Shoot I forgot! I do not have an 4GB SD card that my teacher said I needed to start the assignment.
Well thank goodness for a Walgreens around every corner of Chicago. Here is the Chinatown Walgreens right in my neighborhood. Notice the Chinese writing on the sign...YUP this IS CHIGAGO :)
Walgreens Pharmacy- 316 West Cermak Chicago IL 60616
"Welcome Dominic's customers" you may ask? Well, last month most of the Chicago land Dominic's supermarkets closed down, so all the prescriptions from their pharmacies got bought out by no other than Walgreens. This is why at my Walgreens we filled over 700 prescriptions yesterday which was a Monday AND by the way we are a non-24 hour store. If you know any pharmacist or pharmacy tech ask to see what that means....PURE CRAZINESS! Anyways, back to our homework. FOCUS Maria.... PHOTOGRAPHY!
So after a short 10 minute drive I arrive in Pilsen, but before I start shooting I need to eat something otherwise I will be too grouchy to even start. As I am driving around the city blocks, this colorful Mexican restaurant catches my eye...Nuevo Leon.
Nuevo Leon Restaurant- 1515 West 18th Street Chicago IL 60608
