The Trope City Edition series is a curated collection of urban images taken by photographers from around the world. The Chicago Edition is comprised of 206 photographs produced by 27 independent photographers from Chicago and beyond. Editors Sam Landers and Tom Maday spent nearly a year identifying and meeting with the photographers and meticulously editing their portfolios to produce this unique first edition. While the photographers come from all walks of life, they share a common passion to visually capture their city like never before. They demonstrate incredible resolve and discipline – shooting tirelessly day and night, often in rain and snow, to get “the shot”– resulting in images and perspectives that few Chicagoans experience.

Collectively, the photographs represent a distinctive urban view of the city. The Chicago Edition is divided into eight chapters, primarily focused on the lakefront and downtown areas that showcase iconic buildings, streets and parks. Each chapter is accompanied by a map of the area along with the location where the photograph was taken. The collection is first and foremost about photography. The images reflect the interests of the photographers rather than serving as a comprehensive guide to the city. In many cases, there are several photographs of the same location, shot at different times of the day, in different seasons, with different tones. These studies offer a strong point-of-view, whether digitally processed, filtered, toned, or sharpened — giving each image a contemporary and urban sensibility. 

Why start with the Chicago Edition? Chicago is by all accounts recognized as the “birthplace of the modern skyscraper.” Following the devastating Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed nearly 3.5 square miles of the downtown area, Chicago was rebuilt in ways unthinkable at the time, making way for vertical building and igniting the growth of modern architecture. With its magnificent skyline, public art, and unparalleled lakefront, Chicago is one of the most photographed cities in the world. Coupled with the infamous Chicago weather – ever-changing, unexpected, unrepentant – the city makes for a spectacular collection of images. Enjoy.