PTR: These photos depict people at work or on their way to work, and you took them when you were a Chicago Riverwalk security guard. Around which time period did you take these photos?

MG: I took these between August 2018 to about November 2020.

PTR: How did you first start taking photographs of Chicago and its inhabitants? Did it coincide with your work as a security guard, and taking pictures was something creative you could do while working?

MG: I mean, technically I probably shouldn't have been taking pictures while on duty, but sometimes you encounter something beautiful, and you can't help but capture that moment. If you are out in public, there is a zero percent chance expectation of privacy, so you’re fair game. I've seen fights, riots, and proposals, and they needed to be shared. How do you not share human experiences?

PTR: What are your favorite photography subjects now that you no longer work outdoors?

MG: There are rules on photography on site at my current job, so I have to rely on my commute for inspiration. I like finding beauty in urban settings. Everything feels so automated or cookie-cutter-like. I like to see something different from the ordinary. The last picture I took that I really liked was of a Metra train employee looking out of the train window. He was an older gentleman that had been doing it for decades. I caught a glimpse of him still looking at the Chicago skyline as we pulled into Ogilvie. It was beautiful to witness someone enjoy what they do.