Even though COVID-19 shut down most social events for 2020, it was still a big year for me. I was trying to learn more about photography and techniques in 2020, so the pandemic forced me to look in new places and consider new subjects. The photos below are some of the highlights from the year.

I usually use public transportation to get around, but the pandemic made me go back to using a bicycle to get around. Cycling was a good way to get some exercise, but using a bicycle is also a great way to do photography in a city. Downtown Chicago was pretty quiet for a lot of 2020. Took this pic of my bike one night in the financial district. The orange color comes from high-pressure sodium bulbs in the streetlights. Those bulbs are being phased out in Chicago, so it is nice to get a picture while they still line the streets.

This stretch of 26th Avenue in Little Village (also known as La Villita) is one of the busiest streets in Chicago. I had passed by Little Village a few times, but I never saw the arch that stretches over the street. The reduced traffic gave me an opportunity to get a picture of the arch from the middle of the street.

I decided to take a different route one day and found this ramp in Chicago. This picture was taken in the middle of the day, near Lower Wacker Drive. The concrete and steel has a cold, utilitarian look. The mix of sunlight and artificial light led to some interesting colors.

I took this picture on the South Branch of the Chicago River early one morning. My plan was just to take some pictures of streets in Pilsen, but then I saw Canal Origins Park while driving through an industrial area. This area by the South Fork South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River used to be quite infamous. I thought it was nice to be in a quiet little patch of prairie and still have a view of the industries that made Chicago what it is today.

The Black Lives Matters protests made me get out of my comfort zone and shoot a lot of people. I wanted to see things for myself and try to show others what it was like to be there. Editing pics from events like this can be hard. There is a lot of raw emotion in people’s faces and sometimes a risk that police will use photos posted on social media to harass protesters. This photo represents a lot of what I saw. It was mainly young people that were angry about policing in Chicago and officers banding together to show force and avoiding eye contact with protesters because they didn’t want to humanize them.

Protests in Chicago got bigger and took place in neighborhoods all around this city. This picture is from a protest in West Town. This rally started in Union Park and I was amazed at how big it was. I got on my bicycle and sped to the front of the march to take this picture. Over the summer I would sometimes use alleys and side streets to get the front of marches.

The vigil for Miguel Vega had so many of elements that have led to a lack of trust in the Chicago police. Police officers mostly live in a few parts of the city that are wealthier, whiter, and much more conservative. The officers don’t have a connection with the places they patrol and the people living there see them as outsiders. Pilsen also has the issue of gentrification. Many transplants are pushing out families that have been in the neighborhood for decades. A line of officers blocking you from entering a street in your own neighborhood seemed like a good way to represent the day.

Wildfires ravages the West Coast over the summer, but they also affected some other parts of the country. The ash traveled across the country and caused hazy skies in Chicago. Some people noticed ash that collected on cars parked outside. The orange sunsets were more noticeable. The sun had an orange color as it passed through the ash at the end of the day. I took this pic with a long lens on North Avenue.

I did a lot more driving in 2020, and it also led to some time with my Miata. I rarely do shoots with my car, but the lack of car shows let to me taking some time to photograph my car. This picture was taken under the L tracks in Chicago. I took this picture with a slow exposure and you can see a train passing above.

Most of the big car shows were canceled because of the pandemic, but Tuner Evolution decided to still put on a show for the Chicago area. They required masks and moved the entire event outside. It was nice to have a show like this happen because it draws cars from all over the country. I was eager to go to a car show because I wanted to see if I could use the technical skills I’d been working on during my free time. The show brought some amazing cars, but there was also rain. I remember taking the picture of this Lamborghini in the rain and just being happy that I had such a cool subject to photograph. I was also happy that I had some weather sealed gear, so I could keep shooting through the weather.

The lack of car shows led to an increase in car meets. I followed along and watched car clubs and lifestyle brands put together events for enthusiasts. This was like the Wild West. Meets could come together in few hours, and a meet that started with a few modest Fords could end with McLarens. It was nice to see people bring out whatever cars they were working on and just have fun. It was also frustrating to see large groups gather without masks. This picture really captures it all.

I spent a little time hiking in North Carolina in 2020 and there are some spectacular views in the mountains. I went on a short hike in the Craggy Mountains. Just driving up there is an adventure because of the windy roads. I decided to stop at an overlook on my way back and got this amazing view.

I took this picture one afternoon in Chicago over the summer. I was not planning this shot, but I really liked how the sunlight was hitting the clouds and the buildings. I ended up getting a pictures that reflected a lot of what Chicago was like that summer. Elements like the iconic skyscrapers, Lyft bicycles, and masks all reflected a lot of what Chicago was like near downtown that year.

I participated in a few bike rides with the Chicago chapter of Streets Calling over the summer. The Streets Calling bike club is focused on promoting social justice, so it was a nice opportunity to be active and help raise awareness about some important causes. This night ride was a very unique experience. The ride was over 10 miles and covered areas like the museum campus, Chicago’s lakefront, and Wacker Drive. I would never have imagined an event like this years ago.

During a long trip to the Northside, I took this picture of a young man looking at the skyline. It made me think of my own experience during 2020. I often found myself alone and finding pleasure in simple acts like observing the world around me. I think it reflects how I was longing for things to get back to normal.

I hope this gives you a good idea of what my year was like. There were a lot of lows, but I still found some joy and learned a lot during the year.