Photographer Explores Chicago's Forgotten Structures

WDCB’s Gary Zidek catches up with photographer Alison Doshen to talk about her book, ABANDONED CHICAGO: DECAY IN THE WINDY CITY.

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WDCB 90.9 FM · The Arts Section: Photographer Captures Decaying Structures of Chicago

“There’s so many things left inside these buildings that could be potentially reused, but for the most part, they’re just sitting there, decaying away with the building. That’s why, I like doing this, to try and show people that these buildings are still beautiful, even if they are decaying.” - Photographer Alison Doshen talking about her interest in shining a light on abandoned structures.

Abandoned church featured in Alison Doshen’s book ABANDONED CHICAGO

There are a number of photo books that highlight Chicago’s breathtaking architecture and iconic landmarks. A new book, titled ABANDONED CHICAGO: DECAY IN THE WINDY CITY, offers a vastly different, but still fascinating, view of the Windy City. Instead of photos of the Hancock Building, Marina Towers and CloudGate, the book offers candid images of some of the city’s most rarely seen abandoned properties. Photographer Alison Doshen is an urban explorer who began to documenting her Chicago-area adventures with her camera. After developing a following on social media, she pitched an idea for a book, and ABANDONED CHICAGO was born. You can find more information about the book here.