If there’s one thing that stands out about Marlo Anderson’s work, it’s that he has a proclivity for shooting the back of people’s heads.

“I’ve got a thing for hats,” said Anderson, gesturing at a photo of two people gazing out over Lake Michigan on what looked to be a chilly day. Another photo shows a man intently focused on reading his newspaper while riding the bus — also seemingly unaware that he is the subject of a work of art.

The only image on the wall which strays from this theme is one that Anderson shot of his son in Indiana. In the photo, the boy is holding a saxophone in his hands and has a black-rimmed hat tilted down over his face.

“I saw him standing there while I was working at a site, and I asked him to pose for me,” he said. “He was really good about it.”

The collection of photos could tell you a lot about Anderson: what he likes, where he goes and what he sees when he looks through the viewfinder of a camera.

But one aspect of Anderson’s world that might not come through in his work is the fact that he is homeless.

Anderson is a guest at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter, 600 W. Fullerton Parkway, and one of a handful of photographers whose work is currently on display at the Chicago Photography Center’s “Illuminations” exhibition.

The Photography Center, located at 3301 N. Lincoln Ave., is a nonprofit organization which offers a range of photography classes for students of all skill levels. The group also provides darkroom and digital lab space for members and holds lectures and workshops at its Lake View facility.

As part of the center’s Outreach Program, “Illumination,” now in its third year, exhibits work from current guests and graduates of the shelter who participate in a free photography course offered by CPC.

The center gives weekly lessons at the shelter, provides photography equipment and develops film at no cost to LPCS students.

Stephanie Riley, a past guest at LPCS and another photographer in the show, said that the CPC program gave her a unique chance to enjoy a typically expensive hobby.

“When you’re low income, this kind of opportunity is a great adventure,” said Riley.

Artists in this year’s show juried each other’s work, and 60 percent of the proceeds from any sales in the exhibition will be given to the photographers.

The partnership began four years ago when Betsy Lent, a CPC board member, first talked to the guests at LPCS after being approached by shelter staff about possible outreach opportunities in the area.

“I said ‘I’ve got cameras, and I’ll bring them over,’ and that’s what I did,” she said.

With a yearly budget of about $1,500, Lent is able to provide equipment for the guests, develop film and stage the exhibition.

“I certainly see an increase in self-awareness and artistic expression,” said Lent. “Many of them have had a taste of that, but it’s been cut short by circumstances. I hand them a camera … and it all comes back.”

Armed with a digital Canon EX-Z120, Anderson attended his first photo class just a few weeks after arriving at the shelter last February.

“We just walked around the Lincoln Park area, did a lot of street photography and got a feel for the camera,” he said.

But while some of his peers were snapping the shutter for the first time, Anderson was right at home, having been a photography enthusiast for nearly 30 years. In Indiana, where he had lived before coming to the shelter, Anderson made some money on the side as a sports photographer.

“This was something I had been doing for a while, so this was a good fit for me,” Anderson said.

Erin Ryan, executive director of LPCS, said that the program has catered to photographers of all skill levels and walks of life.

“We’ve had people who have never in their life taken a photograph, and we’ve seen them get really excited about the medium,” she said. “For homeless people in particular, who often feel invisible, I think it’s a way for them to show the world their perspectives when they may not be able to articulate their experience but can show it in pictures.”

Ryan said that program has also seen participants who had were photo hobbyist at one point in their lives, but found themselves in a place where they could no longer afford to shoot.

“To have that artistic outlet again, it’s huge,” she said.

---

By STEPHANIE RILEY from LINCLON PARK
Posted: 01/19/2012 2:09 PM

I am so grateful for the opportunity that CPC and Betsy Lent made possible for all of us that participated I will continue to work on my photography and , and hope to go into more narrative forms of work such as Documentary film making,and Writing. Thank you to everyone in our group, what a cool group of people to work withand succeees the show was, my friend and family were very impressed , Thank you sincerely, Stephanie Riley

---

By Marlo Anderson from Lincoln Park
Posted: 01/12/2012 12:43 PM

It's a wonderful program that presented a great opportunity. Great moments come from great opportunity. Thanks to everyone at LPCS and the CPC.