My name is Brad Zgonena. I am a Chicago-based film photographer. I’ve always been shooting around with cameras, however not as much as I’d like through 5 years of an engineering degree. 9-5 secured, I’m now seeing what a camera has for me in my 5-9. With that, photography isn’t life-or-death for me; it is a catalyst to work towards something more. I have found the camera to be an excuse to get up close and personal with others. It’s a tool to get through a crowd, to present you new handshakes, to teach you how to hold fleeting moments a little longer. It shows you where other cameras are pointing, and sends you searching for where they aren’t.
More important to me, a camera gets me up close and personal with myself. This pertaining mostly to shooting live events — it sends me into situations where I don’t know what to expect. I look to capture people and moments that express their authenticity as it is. Opportunities present themselves as they come and I think on my feet to get what I want. I don’t set out to fabricate the 'perfect' photo, but rather to immerse myself in the room while I happen to be holding a camera — my photos are merely a byproduct. In doing all of this, I’m striving to see more of what there is to see in life. I’m not only looking for where I will take photography, but where it will take me.
Walk in faith.
Chicago-based — open for work
