October

Here are some of my favorite images that I made during the month of October. As much as I love the emotions that the North side of Chicago exuded for the Cubs, I will honestly say, I’m happy the baseball season is over! 

October has been full of many new experiences (and mistakes) that have kept me humble. Being able to hash out ideas and issues with members of the Tribune’s photojournalism department has been a huge help in my personal growth. Speaking of members of the Tribune’s photojournalism staff… I’m excited to say that I have been given the opportunity to stay at the Chicago Tribune a little longer! I have accepted a two-year residency and I will be further exploring Chicago until 2018. 

I seriously can’t believe this is thing! Something in my spirit told me, prior to coming to Chicago, that when I arrived I would stay here a while. I can’t say that I didn’t hesitate with that thought after the first couple weeks. But after I was reassured that I was doing a good job (both by my boss and mainly, myself) I went back to my initial thought. 

So, here I am. Twenty-three years old, six-months exactly out of college with two-years worth of stability. I can only thank God, my work ethic and the powers that be for this opportunity.

Cheers to Life-After-College!

Seamstress, Dorina Karakosta, shows Anne Carmean the changes she made to Carmean’s wedding dress in a private dressing room at Dimitri’s Bridal Couture, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Chicago. “I did good,” Karakosta said reassuringly to Anne. Dimitri’s Bridal Couture supplied the dress, veil and jewelry, free of charge, for Carmean’s wedding, which was provided by the Wish Upon A Wedding Chicago Chapter.

Yuliana Gomez, left, holds he mothers hand during a protest downtown outside of the Chicago Public School Headquarters, Thursday, October 6, 2016, in Chicago. Chicago charter school advocates gathered to protest a provision that would cap the number of charter schools in the city under a contract with the Chicago Teachers Union. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

Pedestrians walk passed a car riddled with bullet holes sitting in front of the Chicago Police Department, located at 1438 West 63rd Street, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, in the West Englewood Neighborhood. Two women that occupied the vehicle were shot in the head at 67th Street and Racine Street early Thursday evening.w  (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

A Chicago Police officers secures police tape at the scene of a shooting, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Englewood. One person was killed and five others were shot at 67th Street and Winchester Street, Monday night. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Pedestrians walking on East Ohio Street use their umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain of an afternoon thunderstorm, Thursday, October 6, 2016.(Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

Le Bouchon’s, “Return of the Mac” macaroni and cheese at the 3rd Annual Chicago Mac & Cheese festival in the University of Illinois in Chicago Forum, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in the University Village neighborhood. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Personal trainer Darryl Lee and one of his client’s dog, Jack, enjoy a light jog at Lincoln Park during a crisp early afternoon, Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, in Chicago. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Cherish Smith, 7, giggles as a cluster of leaves shower her before a memorial rally for Laquan McDonald, Thursday, October 20, 2016, at Chicago Police Headquarters. Cherish and her mother, Zerlina, attended the rally for McDonald, who was 17 when he was shot and killed by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke two years ago.

Cynthia Lane, a mother who lost her son to a police involved shooting, is comforted during a memorial rally for Laquan McDonald, Thursday, October 20, 2016, at the Chicago Police Headquarters. Lane’s son, Roshad Mcintosh, was 19- years-old when he was shot by Chicago police officers in 2014, on the city’s West Side. “I miss him,” Lane said as she fought back tears. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

New White Sox team manager, Rick Renteria, left, and White Sox general manager, Rick Hahn, during a press conference, Monday, October 3, 2016, at U.S. Cellular Field. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn named White Sox bench coach, Rick Renteria, the new team manager replacing Robin Ventura. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

Erik Mendez hands out free signs that read, “#$@& CURSES,” outside of Wrigley Field, before the start of Game 2, of a National League Division Series.  (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs fan celebrate in the street after the Cubs beat the Dodgers, 8-4, during the first game of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

A man jumps from a light pole on N. Sheffield Ave. and West Addison Street following the Cubs win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-0, at Wrigley Field, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Wrigleyville. The Cubs will advance to the world series. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Seconds later, the man was caught by the crowd.

Nancy Parra writes her name on Wrigley Field with blue chalk following the Chicago Cubs win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Wrigleyville. The Cubs won the NCLS and will advance to the world series. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) reacts after being charged with a foul against Chicago Bulls forward Cristiano Felicio (6) during the first half of a preseason game at the United Center, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Chicago. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Charlotte Hornets guard Ramon Sessions (7) defends Chicago Bulls guard Jerian Grant (2) during the second half of a preseason game at the United Center, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Chicago. The Hornets beat the Bulls in overtime, 108-104. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bulls guard Isaiah Canaan (0) dribbles passed Charlotte Hornets guard Ramon Sessions (7) during the  second half of a preseason game at the United Center, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Chicago. The Hornets beat the Bulls in overtime, 108-104. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)


Five Weeks & Counting

I still can’t believe I have been given the opportunity to document life in Chicago. I remember making the Chicago Tribune internship a priority immediately after I met photo editor Todd Panagopolous, at least 2 years ago. I sent post cards displaying my work, thank you cards, and emails. I was relentless…I’m surprised I got it. 

Below are some of my favorite moments from the last 35 days that I have been working for the Trib. I will post more as the weeks pass. 

As always, thanks for looking.

All photos copyrighted to the Chicago Tribune. 

Ashvin Lad, 42, of Lakeview, lifts a plastic laundry basket full of Wrigley field sod into his car Sept. 8, 2016. Lad, a small business owner, made a pit stop to pick up the grass on his way to work. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Kyra Smith, mother of the three girls that died in the Southeast Side fire, places roses atop of her daughters’ graves during the burial at Mount Hope Cemetery on Sept. 10, 2016, in the Marionette Park neighborhood. The sisters, Shaniyah Staples, 7, Madison Watson, 4, and Melanie Watson, 3 months, died in a fire on the city’s Southeast Side that authorities believe was arson. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

People walk down 26th Street before the start of the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade on Sept. 11, 2016, in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Oscar Long practices with a basketball before the start of the fifth annual Peace Basketball Tournament in the St. Sabina Church gym on Sept. 17, 2016, in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.  (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

A crowd disperses throughout the Heavenly Angels funeral home parking lot following the emotional outburst of a man attending the funeral for Nahmar “Nemo” Holmes on Sept. 18, 2016, in the East Beverly neighborhood. Family and friends told the young man to release his emotions before he left the service in order to keep the negative energy away from his children, who were at home. After much convincing, the man released his anger and was comforted on the ground as he cried. Nahmar Holmes, 23, was shot to death outside his home in the Brainerd neighborhood Sept. 10

A herd of adolescent ostrich walk around in their pen at J & D ostrich farm, Thursday, September 22, 2016, in Sumner, Illinois. Dawn Steber and her husband, Jeff Steber, have over 100 ostrich on their property. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Nichelle Moss, 25, sweeps in between a row of bleachers in a classroom at Leo Catholic High School, Saturday, September 24, 2016, in the Englewood neighborhood. Moss has a brother that graduated from the school in 2012 and decided to volunteer her time because she loves the new principal. Friends, school alumni, local organizations and volunteers from the community came together Saturday, September 24, 2016, to help clean Leo Catholic School. People swept classroom floors, washed graduated cylinders, scrubbed down lockers and shined stained glass windows within the school. Leo Catholic High School is an all boys high school with a one hundred percent graduation rate. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Tenesha Barner watches in the distance as brothers Deamonte Welch, front middle, Darreon Harris, left, and Darren Anderson, back right, walk Roo and Belle down the sidewalk in the Parkway Gardens apartment complex, Saturday, September 24, 2016, in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. This was the first time the boys had been given the task of walking the dogs. Barner, a family friend and owner of the dogs, gave the brothers instructions as they navigated throughout the complex.  (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Tomas Carrilo, middle, winces as he watches handmade rockets launch during the second annual adventure day, hosted by the Boy Scouts of America’s Pathway to Adventure Council at Centennial Park, Saturday, October 1, 2016, in the Oak Lawn neighborhood. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

Tommy Wong, 50, smokes a cigarette during a game of Chinese Chess at Sun-Yet-Sen Park, Monday, September 19, 2016, in the Chinatown neighborhood. Wong said he visits the park everyday in order to play with the retired men. Wong ended up losing the game.(Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

Secret Service personnel lookout on the rooftop of McCormick Place convention center as Marine One lands in the Soldier Field Stadium parking lot, Friday, October 7, 2016, in Chicago. President Barack Obama visited Chicago Friday to attend a fundraiser luncheon for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

A special operations U.S. Marine walks past a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, part of the Marine One squadron, as it lands in the Soldier Field Stadium parking lot, Friday, October 7, 2016, in Chicago. President Barack Obama visited Chicago Friday to attend a fundraiser luncheon for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

President Barack Obama visits 69 West Washington Street to cast his vote for the upcoming presidential election, Friday, October 7, 2016, in Chicago. President Barack Obama visited Chicago Friday to attend a fundraiser luncheon for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

Building dwellers peer out their windows in order to get a glimpse of President Barack Obama after he voted for the upcoming presidential election, Friday, October 7, 2016, in Chicago. (Alyssa Pointer/ Chicago Tribune)

President Barack Obama speaks during a fundraiser for Democratic U.S. senate candidate, Tammy Duckworth, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, at the Stony Island Arts Bank in the Grand Crossing neighborhood. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)

A woman smiles toward President Barack Obama as he speaks during a fundraiser for U.S. senate candidate Tammy Duckworth, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, at the Stony Island Arts Bank in the Grand Crossing neighborhood. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune)


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