How a Blizzard in Chicago Sparked My Photography Journey

Back in 2005, my life was all about passing exams. My job after college required nine of them—each tougher than the last. Some were offered only once a year, which meant if you failed, you had to wait nine long months to try again. For each exam, I dedicated at least three months to pure studying, juggling long workdays with late nights immersed in study materials.

That autumn, I traveled to Chicago for a prep seminar. It was my first time in the Windy City and the furthest I’d ventured since high school. I borrowed my brother’s point-and-shoot camera, mostly on a whim—but it turned out to be anything but casual.

When I arrived at my hotel by the Chicago River, the city was caught in a blizzard. Despite the snow and no smartphone maps to guide me, I set out on foot. I wandered into Millennium Park, where I stumbled upon the Bean and Jay Pritzker Pavilion—icons I’d never seen before. I got lost, more than once, but it didn’t matter.

That day gave me something I hadn’t felt in months: a break. I wasn’t counting weeks till my next exam or stressing over topics I didn’t understand. I was simply there—present, cold, captivated—and trying for the first time to visually record what I saw.

Nine months later, I passed that final exam and bought my first real camera: a Canon Rebel XT. It marked the true beginning of my photography journey.

🖼 Want to see where that snowy walk has taken me? Explore my latest prints inspired by urban landscapes, fleeting weather moments, and the quiet magic of cities.