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As I near the age of 42 (yes, I really am that old), I have learned that life really is filled with many chapters. Right new a new one is about to be opened for me. So, it is with both joy and sadness that I am announcing (officially) that Looper will be ending soon. (I mentioned there was to be big news.)
Recent events in my life have provided me the opportunity to fulfill a life long dream of living in New York City, and since I have passed upon previous opportunities, this time I simply must go. I cannot explain what the draw to NYC is, but the burning in my heart has been there as far back as I can remember. I simply cannot ignore it.
My job of more than six years is ending next week (5/25), my finances are better than ever (I have no debt!), my condo is being put up for sale (Wanna own a loft in the Loop?), and very recently my relationship of more than two years came to a close (it was the right thing to do). I have reached the point that to stay would simply fill me with more regrets than I already have for not having gone earlier in life. The really hard part; I love Chicago! My past eight years here have been among the best of my life. Leaving (or the thought of) has been incredibly difficult (I will so miss me some Mies), but I take comfort in knowing that I can always return and step back into the life I am leaving. In the mean time, I look forward to visits to check in on my Second City.
That said; there will be a descendant of Looper. I am already working on a new site to go live upon my arrival in early July. How does the name “24Gotham” sound? My focus will be a bit less on architecture (New York is the architectural step child to Chicago after all), and more on the urbanity of it all. I can’t wait to begin my work.
Oh, yeah… The picture above was taken a few years ago from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. You are looking at the Brooklyn Bridge with the Empire State Bldg. in the background. The shot was a happy accident, and has become one of my all time favorite images.
I will write more on this, as the time grows more near, for now, Looper will continue.
So here comes the big official announcement!!!
The post sounds so full of emotion … looking back, looking forward … candor in expression …
Best Wishes Devyn,
You’ll be missed,
but then I’ll look forward to seeing more of New York … lets meet up sometime before you leave … maybe Pilsen or someplace new [for me!!!] … as I’ve yet not seen so much of Chicago or it’s neighborhoods …
Comment by Intern — 15 May, 2007 @ 8:45 am
This is indeed sad to hear. Even sadder that I only recently discovered the looper.
Any chance the looper will remain up so we can enjoy the existing pictures?
Comment by Griffin Caprio — 15 May, 2007 @ 9:15 am
Thanks Jyoti, I would very much enjoy going on another shoot before I leave. My schedule is already quite tight, but I am certain there is room to get together.
Griffin, I plan to keep the current site up for at least a year. I hope to move it to a cheaper host, but I don’t want to make it go away.
Comment by Devyn — 15 May, 2007 @ 9:19 am
Devyn,
First, congrats on following your heart. I know it will be the right choice for you!
Second, thanks for all the wonderful photos and commentary! You’ve helped keep me in touch with the city that I love for the past few years, and it will surely be missed. I’ve never been to New York, though, so this is an opportunity for me to learn about that city, too, and possibly make it to NYC someday. I’ll see you on your new site!
– I
Comment by I — 15 May, 2007 @ 9:29 am
Traitor.
Comment by Kevin — 15 May, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Chicago’s loss will be NYC’s gain! I hope you will come up my way sometime (Albany) and I look forward to exploring the streets of Manhattan with my new NYC friend.
Hey, the picture is great. I like it because I can imagine it as the view through a film of tears.
Comment by Bob — 15 May, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
With your talent, I’m sure you can make New York City look interesting. The great thing about pictures of NYC is you can’t smell it.
Anyhow, good luck.
Comment by James Miller — 15 May, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
You and your talent will surely be missed in Chicago. Good luck with your move to New York City.
Comment by spy — 15 May, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
What a bittersweet moment.
I am excited for you as you begin your new adventure, but I am quite sad at the thought of not being able to see Chicago through your eyes anymore.
Oh, there are other great Chicago photoblogs, but yours is my favorite. You have a very special gift of capturing Chicago in all its magnificence.
I am glad you will be keeping Looper up for a while. Please let us know how to find it when you change hosts.
Godspeed, Devyn.
Comment by Chicagolvr — 15 May, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Thank you everybody for the kind words. I will keep posting to Looper until I leave, and keep you posted on the progress of the new site. I am still in Chicago, and I have a list of things and places I want to capture before I leave.
Comment by Devyn — 15 May, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
your posts have kept me from being (too) homesick and have helped me feel connected to my hometown of Chicago. Hopefully my tenure in horrid Phoenix will come to a close soon and I’ll be home. Ah well - THANK YOU! and best of luck in NY.
Comment by phoenix — 15 May, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
I’ve really enjoyed your posts and will certainly miss your great pictures of Chicago. Having harbored that same feeling about New York though, I certainly understand why you’re moving. Good luck.
Thanks again.
Comment by Scott — 16 May, 2007 @ 12:06 am
you’ll be missed here in Chicago, but your unique photographic eye will be appreciated when you cover NYC. I’m excited about how you’ll approach my favorite city and am really glad you have the unique chance to live out your dream. I look forward to 24gotham. Hopefully, I can provide your peerless view into Chicago, at least for another year before I make a similar moving decision. Let’s be sure to meet up one last time.
Comment by wvallen — 16 May, 2007 @ 1:04 am
Thanks for such a great site. Best of luck to you in NYC…I’ll truly miss your photos of this city…
Comment by John — 16 May, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Devyn, It is sad to see you leave Chicago! I am glad you are following your heart and wish you all the happiness and success you deserve! blessings!
Comment by Fern — 16 May, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
Like everyone else, I’ll miss the Chicago photos, but I do look forward to seeing more of New York, from a source I already enjoy.
Can you recommend a similar (although surely not as good) Chicago photoblog that those of us who need a few-times-a-week Chicago fix could use in your absence?
Comment by QuadCityImages — 16 May, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
A lurker here who just wanted to chime in and say that you’ll be missed. It is great you get to live in NYC, but your insight into Chicago was fantastic and I look forward to seeing what you do in NY. Also, I’m am thrilled you made up to Noble Square (along Milwaukee Ave) before you left–it fun to see my neighborhood in a new way.
Comment by Daria — 16 May, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Devyn, thank you for your many beautiful gifts of Chicago through your eyes. I’m looking forward to how you will help me to see NY with more kindness than I traditionally offer that city.
No regrets.
Comment by Jule — 17 May, 2007 @ 9:26 am
hey, devyn. .. congrats! I think everyone who wants to should live in New York, at least for a while. You’ll have a great time. I did during my 2 1/2 year stint. Funny, my photos have been of the Loop and West Loop much more recently… maybe I’ll pick up some slack for you. hah! Like I could…
Comment by rachelle — 17 May, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
OH, Devyn! What very sad news! I am so sorry. You will be very much missed.
Following your heart I can understand. Going to such a filthy, inhospitable, inefficient city I can’t. We go there several times a year because my husband grew up there and has family still there, but each time I thank God I do not have to live in such a place. It is truly an unworkable city. Something is always not working or on strike. People are indifferent and arrogant, and the quality of medical treatment is appalling. I hope your experience will be different, but I’m skeptical and sad.
I’ll hope for the best for you and thank you for leaving Looper up for a year, anyway. That is some consolation. Good luck
Comment by JBL — 17 May, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Dang, looks like we won’t be Burnham Pointe neighbors after all. Good luck!
Comment by Ben — 18 May, 2007 @ 8:33 am
azz resto basito! Coplimenti un sito incredibbbbbile!
Comment by paolo — 22 May, 2007 @ 11:23 am
I’ll miss the different angles on Chicago city life.
Comment by tom sherman — 24 May, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
As an expat, you have helped me keep in touch with my hometown. Your leaving has mad me profoundly sad but I wish you the best on your adventures in New York. I just got back from NYC and in spite of my Chicagoan tendencies to not like it, I found it quite visually appealing and I suspect you’ll find many wonderful views to capture and share. Thanks for all the great images of Chicago.
Comment by ana — 24 May, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Not having checked in on your site in a few weeks I was sursprised to learn that you are leaving. I will keep my thoughts about NYC to myself, but I wish you the best of luck.
PS - I can’t wait to see the new site once it’s up and running!
Comment by Justin — 6 June, 2007 @ 2:27 pm