I’ve been saying I’d do it for a while but this post marks the start of my post-Chicago blog. Unlike Rideabout this will not be specific to my travels or a particular trip.  Although since I’m traveling now it might not seem that way initially.

Started my morning in Chicago on a beautiful sunny Fall day. While photographing “The Bat” in front of the Chicago offices of Social Security Department I was reminded of a disturbing trend of late when a security guard came out and warned me I could take pictures of the sculpture but was not allowed to point my camera at the building. I had this happen earlier this summer at another location and have seen it happen many times in and around the building of the Orbitz offices — none of which are federal buildings. But does it matter if they’re federal or not? It is no secret Social Security as it stands today is hosed. Were they afraid I’d uncover something?  It was quite obvious I was there as a photographer and not on a recon mission. I don’t think I look threatening or like I should be forced to wear an orange jump suit ala Ted Kaczynski. Maybe I’m wrong…

Anyone determined to get a picture of the Social Security or any other building downtown could do it without much trouble. It bothers me as a photographer in search of new pictures but it bothers me more in how this kind of attitude has begun to permeate American society. Not to mention I probably couldn’t count on my fingers and toes how many surveillance cameras captured me as I captured the bat from every angle which (mostly) didn’t include the Social Security Administration building.

I’ve always enjoyed looking at the city from this location.  For some reason it is quintessential Chicago to me –  I think it’s the El on Lake Street crossing over the river.  Of course the location where I’m standing is also where the Great Chicago Flood of ’92 started. And with that, my first trip back to Chicago as a non-resident was over as I was off to ORD to make my way to Central America for the rest of October. First stop, Costa Rica.