Chicago Crosswalk – Limited Edition Urban Street Photography by Michael Hart

A Return to the City That Shaped Me

I grew up in Northern Indiana—Elkhart to be exact—just a couple hours from Chicago. As a kid, I took YMCA trips into the city: White Sox games, deep-dish pizza, and wandering the Museum of Science and Industry. Those early experiences left a lasting impression, and as an adult, I’ve returned often, drawn to Chicago’s architecture, pulse, and unforgettable food.

Following Light, Lines, and Instinct

On a golden June afternoon, I wandered solo through downtown Chicago, letting my eye follow the slant of light reflecting off the river and glass towers. The city offered an endless composition of lines and shadows, movement and stillness, humanity and geometry.

A Bird’s-Eye View Without a Drone

I ducked into a parking garage and climbed several floors, curious about the view. From above, the scene transformed—crosswalks, lane lines, and light poles all arranged on a canvas of deep, inky asphalt. No drones back then. Just instinct and elevation.

A Rule Breaker Walks Into Frame

I started photographing the shifting patterns of the street below, frame after frame. Then she appeared—the woman who stepped just outside the crosswalk lines. Her pale shirt became a punctuation mark, her placement an elegant defiance. Click. I had my moment.

Recognized and Exhibited

This image was later selected by juror and acclaimed photographer Jamey Stillings for the Texas Photographic Society’s Urban Landscape Exhibition—a gratifying acknowledgment of one perfectly timed photograph.

Available in a Limited Edition of 15 prints, with 2 Artist Proofs.