Overlooked

"To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event
as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression."

                                                    - Henri Cartier Bresson - The Decisive Moment

These photographs were made in and around Chicago at locations where something of significance occurred.
Some of the places have great historical significance, while others have merely interesting history.
These photographs draw attention to these overlooked locations and their relationships of their present to their past.
Many of the locations are completely changed since the time of the occurrence to the present day,
while others are somewhat unchanged. The photographs explore the ideas of importance of a place and the sensation
one might get while standing in these places knowing what took place 20, 50 even 100 years ago.

I am interested in the passing of time in these locations and the significance that time has to the photographs I am making.
What is so important about a place where something significant occurred?
What is it about history that causes us to want to (or not want to) preserve, for instance, a historic building?
What is the significance of time?

- Jon Shaft

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