Teresa Xie's Photo Blog

In addition to doing artistic photography and photo essays on social justice, I'm also an Editor for the Photojournalism staff at U-High. As a photojournalist, my job is to take photos of the U-High Midway and Yearbook. Here are a few of my featured pieces.  

Since an explosion in 1977, the 15-story grain silos located on 2860 S. Damen Ave. have been rendered useless. However, exploring inside the abandoned property reveals a different story. Artists around the city have used the Silos as a hub for graffiti, painting, and sculptures made out of everyday items. Although exploring the Silos is technically illegal, it doesn't stop curious city explorers from walking on the side of a highway to this hotspot.                                                        

In light of International Women's Day, I decided to do a photo essay on women, specifically asking the question: why do you feel proud to be a woman? On a day-to-day basis, women are subject to low wages, demeaning phrases, and unequal rights. However, these things don't define women, and how they view themselves. Here are 10 women, and why they're proud to be one.  Iris Xie "I'm proud to be a woman because of all my friends who I admire and are women. They are so intelligent and kind and I've never met anyone as unique or strong like them." Katie Stolze " I'm proud of being a women because women are breaking boundaries everyday in society. It makes me proud to be able to say I have a connection to that women. I am proud that I can show guys that I can play sports and hopefully will change their perspective on girls playing sports. I am mostly proud of the change I can make and the people I will be able to affect in the future...

In Chicago, the holidays are often viewed with a bright perspective. There are carolers on the streets, festive store windows, and jazz music is heard everywhere. However, for many, the holidays are spent in the freezing cold, with nothing but a cup full of change and a scrappy blanket. This collection of photos aims to show the two different sides of the holidays in Chicago. Macy's storefront window Carolers downtown Street musicians playing "All I Want for Christmas is You" Asado Coffee decorated for the holidays "For me, the holidays are about Christ. The word Christmas is 'Christ' and 'mas.' I used to be a preacher, so Christmas is very important to me. It's a story of family, friends, and the celebration of Jesus. Christmas is about celebrating Jesus most importantly! Jesus!"  *Mom did not want to be pictured* "The holidays have always been very important to me. I remember as a kid opening presen...