The world is full of noises. Even as we seek silence, it's hard to quiet the chatter in our brains—the remnants of a Twitter feed may invade our mental landscape; a shadow of a blue Facebook box pops into a subconscious mental slide show as we finally submit to sleep. We talk so much these days, even when it's not out loud. We debate the big issues and the small—we passionately expound on gun violence one day and Instagram's terms of service agreement the next. We discuss furthering the Occupy movement; we show each other our brunches. Through social media, we have become so tight-knit, so technologically close, yet every moment experienced there—our words and ideas—have become that much more fleeting.
It's become hard to keep up with the world that we, ourselves, have created. That's exactly why this year's Photo Issue has taken on new meaning for me.
A photo makes no sound; it writes no words. It hovers in quiet stillness. Perhaps most importantly, a photo makes that moment stay.
The year 2012 saw big moments: the Arab Spring and Pussy Riot, Hurricane Sandy and Sandy Hook. We held our breath for Obama to get reelected and some states got the right to exhale a celebratory bong hit.
But there were also tiny moments from our daily lives—and those didn't go unnoticed. As I sifted through the hundreds of submissions for our sixth annual Photo Issue, I got to inhabit those moments. Mark Hetzel captured life and death in the same moment at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Paul Moody exposed the quiet solitude of a man sitting alone at Millennium Park on a chilly April day. Ashley Marchi offered a shred of hope for times when we feel like the whole world has gone mad.
The following pages pay homage to the tiny moments that our readers found artful, soulful, ephemeral, or, for whatever reason, worthy of preserving. Enjoy the silence. —Andrea Bauer
Readers chimed in and voted for their favorite submissions to our Photo Issue contest on Facebook and Instagram. Congratulations to our winners: Bill Guerriero (Facebook) and Carey Lundin (Instagram).
- Carey Lundin
- I'll Fly Away. Milwaukee and Halsted, September. By Carey Lundin, 51, producer of the documentary Jens Jensen Harmonious World, Hamlin Park.
- Andrew Mine
- Untitled. Glenwood, November. By Andrew Mine, 51, attorney, Rogers Park
- Ashley Marchi
- Untitled. Bissel Street, Lincoln Park, May. By Ashley Marchi, 22, employee at Monterey International, Lincoln Park
- Bill Guerriero
- What's A Dog To Do? Montrose Beach, March. By Bill Guerriero, 43, copy editor, Andersonville
- Bill Guerriero
- Hey Bulldog. Montrose Dog Beach, July. By Bill Guerriero, 43, copy editor, Andersonville
- Carrie Allen
- Identique. Sheridan Road and Glenlake Avenue, Rogers Park, October. By Carrie Allen
- Edward Anderson
- Johnnie's Beef. Summer. By Edward Anderson, 34, musician, Logan Square
- Edward Anderson
- Rosie's on Elston. Rosicrucian Office on Elston Avenue, Summer. By Edward Anderson, 34, musician, Logan Square
- Ellie Pritts
- Garbage. The Metro, August. By Ellie Pritts
- Ellie Pritts
- Tame Impala. The Metro, November. By Ellie Pritts
- Gene Tenner
- Bug and Flowers. Waveland and the lakefront, July. By Gene Tenner
- Heather Philips
- Industrial Strippers. Hammond, July. Heather A. Phillips, 32, research manager, Ravenswood
- Heather Philips
- East Chicago, Indiana. East Chicago, July. By Heather A. Phillips, 32, research manager, Ravenswood
- Heather Philips
- Waukegan, Illinois. Waukegan, March. By Heather A. Phillips, 32, research manager, Ravenswood
- Heather Philips
- Something Good: Hammond Indiana. Hammond, July. By Heather A. Phillips, 32, research manager, Ravenswood
- Iwona Biedermann
- Lake Michigan on October 30, 2012. Lake Michigan, October. By Iwona Biedermann, 52, photographer, Wicker Park
- Iwona Biedermann
- Along Milwaukee Avenue. Milwaukee Avenue, October. By Iwona Biedermann, 52, photographer, Wicker Park
- Jacob Watts
- Untitled. Multiple Chicago locations, July. By Jacob Watts, photographer and freelance retoucher, Logan Square
- Jacob Watts
- Untitled. Multiple Chicago locations, August. By Jacob Watts, photographer and freelance retoucher, Logan Square
- Jacob Watts
- Untitled. Multiple Chicago locations, January. By Jacob Watts, photographer and freelance retoucher, Logan Square
- Jacob Watts
- Untitled. Multiple Chicago locations, January. By Jacob Watts, photographer and freelance retoucher, Logan Square
- Jacob Watts
- Untitled. Multiple Chicago locations, November. By Jacob Watts, photographer and freelance retoucher, Logan Square
- Jeremiah Loren
- Untitled. Chicago River, March. By Jeremiah Loren, banker, Edgewater
- John Case
- Untitled. Near Ping Tom Park, Chinatown, September. By John Case
- Katherine Hodges
- Vacant Houses. Roosevelt and Rockwell, February. By Katherine Hodges, 36, Humboldt Park.
- Katherine Hodges
- The Now-Demolished Tower of Valspar. North of Ashland Orange Line, August. By Katherine Hodges, 36, Humboldt Park.
- Mark Hetzel
- Untitled. Garfield Park Conservatory, Spring. By Mark Hetzel, 35, educator and musician, Buena Park
- Matthew Duff
- Untitled. Across the street from Buckingham Fountain, May. By Matthew Duff, 31, private dancer, Logan Square
- Michael Ritchie
- Untitled. Division Blue Line stop, November. By Michael Ritchie
- Michael Salisbury
- Untitled. Chase Tower, November. By Michael Salisbury
- Michael Salisbury
- Street Performer. Adams and Wabash, November. By Michael Salisbury
- Neil Arsenty
- Relieves Fatigue. 5434 Clark St., October. By Neil Arsenty, 33, web content specialist and comedian, Ukrainian Village
- Patrick Brady
- Untitled. Didier Farms, Buffalo Grove, October. By Patrick Brady, 29, buyer, Bucktown
- Patrick Brady
- Untitled. November. By Patrick Brady, 29, buyer, Bucktown
- Patrick Brady
- Untitled. Wrigley Field, October. By Patrick Brady, 29, buyer, Bucktown
- Paul Boucher
- Nato Protest. Grant Park, May. By Paul Boucher
- Paul Boucher
- Michael Brantley Robs Alex Rios of a Home Run. US Cellular Field, May. By Paul Boucher
- Paul Boucher
- Dewayne Wise Lays Down Bunt Single. US Cellular Field, August. By Paul Boucher
- Paul Moody
- Millenium. Millenium Park, April. By Paul Moody, 25, student, Lakeview
- Paul Moody
- Sunset at Diversey. Diversey Harbor, June. By Paul Moody, 25, student, Lakeview
- Paul Moody
- Waves. Museum Campus, September. By Paul Moody, 25, student, Lakeview
- Rogelio Gamez
- Untitled. 600 West Chicago bridge, June. By Rogelio Gomez, 35, student (art director/Columbia) and server, Lincoln Square
- Ryan O'Connor
- Music Exchange Mirrors. 3350 N. Lincoln Ave., November. By Ryan O'Connor, 33, wine director, North Center
- Matthew Hardman
- Sizing Them Up. Downtown, May. By Matthew Hardman
- Zach Gingold
- Ephemeral. West Town alleys, July. By Zach Gingold, 28, media analyst, Wicker Park
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