Gary Stochl

I ran across Gary Stochl’s work at an exhibition of the LaSalle Bank’s collection at the Chicago Cultural Center back in February.  I wrote down his name because I liked the few images I saw, but hadn’t looked him up until recently. 

He’s been a street photographer in Chicago for over 40 years.  In 2005 he published a book called On City Streets: Chicago, 1964-2005.  He has photographs in the permanent collection at the Art Institute as well as LaSalle Bank. 

Stochl’s work stayed under the radar for many years, until he met with Columbia’s Photography Chair Bob Thall.  Thall helped Stochl publish his work and even wrote the introduction to On City Streets. 

Stochl was first inspired by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank.  He bought a Leica M3 in 1968 and has used it since. 

I'm really inspired by this work because the subject matter interests me.  Before moving to the city, I had never encountered so many people rushing place to place, trying to stay in their own safe bubble.  Just watching people on the street, putting in so much effort to ignore everyone else, is really intriguing. 

Article from 2005