We’re approaching the 8-year anniversary of Building Up Chicago, so let’s talk about a few things you may not have already known about us:

We keep using “we” and “us” but it’s really just “me.” I am the sole contributor, writer, photographer, editor, and coffee brewer. This is just a hobby. not a job. No one is paying me to do this, no one is expecting x-number of posts per week, no one is telling me what to post and what not to post. You’ll see me taking a sabbatical now and then. When it’s not fun (especially when it’s cold) I take a break. ***It’s a LOT more fun to keep up with Chicago construction when there are 30-something tower cranes in the air.***

I focus mainly on projects utilizing tower cranes. Yes, there are dozens of mobile cranes on construction sites all over Chicago at any given time. I’ll cover a small project like that every now and then, especially if it’s close to home or along my commute. But for the most part, they’re too many of them and too spread out to try to keep up with.

You can contribute to Building Up Chicago. Yes, my blog is about my photos. But there are photos I can’t take, particularly those from within a construction site, and *especially* from up in a tower crane. Feel free to send those shots to me if you’d like to see them on the blog. I’ll credit you however you like, or you can remain anonymous. (Obviously, if I post your photos from a construction site, someone might figure out who you are, so don’t send me anything that’ll get you into trouble.) I can say “Joe Smith sent me these” or I can say “a little birdie” dropped them into my inbox. Your call. But I would LOVE to see what you see, and share your scenery with others.

I don’t just post photos of Chicago construction. I’ve taken construction photos in Australia, England, Hawaii, New York City (I am OBSESSED with New York City), Milwaukee, and a few Chicago suburbs, and more. I don’t travel much, and I don’t own a car, so even getting to the ‘burbs now is a challenge, but tell me where there are tower cranes, and I’ll get out there if I can.

There is a Building Up Chicago Manual of Style. You don’t get to see it, but imagine all my personal pet peeves about grammar and writing all rolled into an elaborate Code of Conduct. Here’s a glimpse: Stop Using “Chicagoland Area”

I was on television. You can still see the CBS2 Chicago piece here.