This is the second of my two photographs of the Chicago Board of Trade Building, captured during a walking tour through the city with my ever-reliable plastic Holga camera, loaded with 120-size black and white film. Like its companion, Board of Trade #1, this image was scanned and finished in warm sepia tones—a nod to the building’s rich history and timeless aesthetic.
Late Light and Sepia Shadows
But where the first image climbs vertically, this one steps back and lets the building stretch across the frame. I love how the late afternoon light peeks around the corner from the right, casting just enough glow to edge the structure in a soft highlight. I was facing south when I made this, and the light, the texture, and the gentle imperfections of the Holga all came together in a single frame.
Architecture with Quiet Power
This photograph feels quiet and resolute, evoking both strength and nostalgia—just as the Art Deco design, completed in 1930 by architects Holabird & Root, demands. The 605-foot building is topped with Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, referencing the exchange’s roots as a commodity market. The sculptural details by Alvin Meyer still stop me in my tracks.
Awards and Exhibitions
Black & White Magazine – “Plastic Camera” Competition (2020)
Available in a Limited Edition of 15, with 2 Artist Proofs.
