An interview with Chicago based fine art & commercial photographer Angie McMonigal

“I appreciate dramatic, bold, minimalistic and moody perspectives on spaces. Since so much of my focus is on those details to sometimes abstract interpretations of a space, my hope is to make the viewer reconsider the spaces they're in and appreciate those elements that can so easily get overlooked in wider perspectives.”

Angie McMonigal is a fine art and commercial architecture photographer based in Chicago. She brings a detailed, thoughtful perspective to her work, whether for clients or through the workshops she leads. Having grown up surrounded by nature yet fascinated by the big city she’s called home for nearly two decades, she brings the meditative calm of her upbringing to a terrain that’s always transforming.

Focusing more frequently on bold architectural details rather than sweeping cityscapes, her photographs celebrate those unexpectedly iconic elements hiding in plain sight.

From landmark buildings she distills the essential lines and textures that frame the city. McMonigal sees these structures as actively shaping, and shaped by, human activity; they are never mere backdrop. Steel and brick towers are presented as quilts rich with history, solid structures soar with soul, and concrete edifices echo the lofty ambition of planners and dreamers.

An award-winning fine art photographer, Angie’s work has been internationally exhibited and published. Her photos have been showcased by galleries in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Barcelona and other destinations.

Her Urban Quilt series is now part of the Catherine Edelman Gallery’s Chicago Project. Publication credits include National Geographic, SHOTS Magazine, Forbes and Architectural Digest. She has received awards from the International Photography Awards (IPA) and Prix de la Photographie Paris (Px3), among others.

Hi Angie, I hope all is safe and well with you.

I know I keep asking everyone but it’s been a crazy year…. How are you? Can you tell us what been up to recently and what your plans for 2021 are?

Thanks, Pete! Things are obviously a bit odd with the pandemic and while I was in a bit of a rut earlier on with all this, I've gotten back into the practice of shooting more regularly for myself again. I’m back to creating new work to pitch to potential new clients and current clients, both in the more fine art realm and trying to broaden the scope with commercial architecture clients as this is a newer endeavor for me. 

That being said, things have been slower with my art consulting clients as well as the commercial shoots. I've been reading a lot more, spending more time with my kids, attempting to learn French (it's pretty abysmal at this point, lol), and I finally got a drone so I've been studying for the certification and learning how to fly that.

Ah entering drone territory…. I’m doing my training this month, I think it adds such a new dimension and depth to our portfolios that was so difficult to reach in the past.

I've loved your work for a while now, could you tell us what got you started and what your background is?

Thank you! Well...it's been a long journey I suppose. My college degree is in medical technology so I worked in that field for about 7 years until I had my kids, my daughter was born in 2007, my son 2011.

Throughout that time I was photographing as a hobby, basically everything and then ended up doing portrait work for about 6 years. I taught myself the technical aspects other than taking some classes early on to learn how to develop and print the film I was shooting back then. It wasn't until 2012 that I really honed in on architecture photography.

Since then most of my time has been spent creating detailed and abstracted interpretations of architectural subjects. Only in the last year or two have I started to focus my attention on shooting in a more commercial or documentary way. I enjoy both aspects of the genre but they require a very different headspace while shooting, so it's been a bit of an adjustment for me. 

I agree that a more documentary style of photography is more engaging these days. With so much talent on display a fresh way of approaching a new project to stand out can’t be a bad thing, that’s why I admire your fine art imagery so much.

Some love it, some loathe it but as a photography community we have to have a bit of gear talk.

Could you tell us what equipment you have in your bag and enlighten us a little bit more about your process.

I recently switched to Sony so I have the a7R IV, 24-70mm, 70-300mm, 24mm TS, 17mm TS, tripod, and recently got a drone which I'm still getting comfortable with. Gear is probably my least favorite thing to talk about related to photography but it's obviously necessary.

With the more abstracted work, I tend to shoot tripod-free and most often with my 70-300mm. For the commercial work, I'm definitely using a tripod and most often shooting with the 24mm TS. There's just a lot more precision needed when shooting commercially, getting things lined up and organized, positioned perfectly that the whole slowing down and using a tripod is necessary or, at least, makes it easier.

With the abstracted perspectives, I feel like I need the freedom of less gear and technical precision to get lost in the creative process. It's all about micro-adjustments which I find cumbersome when using a tripod for this type of shooting. The set up tends to take me out of that creative flow.

I also love the freedom of just myself and the camera, it feels much more organic, fluid and an emotive way to work. Don’t get me wrong though, I love a technical tethered shoot and detailed post session where attention to detail is key.

We love your moody imagery, has this always been your style or has this been something that you’ve worked on or has it come naturally?

Thank you! I appreciate dramatic, bold, minimalistic and moody perspectives on spaces. Since so much of my focus is on those details to sometimes abstract interpretations of a space, my hope is to make the viewer reconsider the spaces they're in and appreciate those elements that can so easily get overlooked in wider perspectives.

Both perspectives are obviously important in telling the whole story of a space, I just have a natural tendency to be drawn to those details. Likely just a personality thing, which comes through in most aspects of my life and I have connected that to my photography as well.

Well it is definitely attention grabbing!

What is like to live in Chicago and what is the interior and architectural scene like out there?

Chicago is a great city...fantastic architecture, good people, a great combination of big city energy and down to earth Midwestern sensibility. We have so many great architecture firms and the city and its architecture is constantly evolving. Never a shortage of things to explore and photograph.

It’s definitely on my bucket list!

What would say the highlight of your career would be to this point?

Definitely a commission for Starwood Hotels to create artwork for their flagship hotel renovation at the Le Méridien Etoile in Paris. Initially, I was commissioned to create artwork for the corridors which was then expanded to include the guestrooms.

I spent two weeks photographing the city with complete creative freedom. I was sent back to Paris two more times for this particular project for an Instagram campaign and for them to create a promotional video. Once the hotel relaunched, they had me pair Chicago photos with Paris photos which were displayed at their Le Méridien Oakbrook location (in the Chicago burbs) for a launch party. Fun all around!

That’s awesome to be given such trust and freedom from a client. We all love the clients that trust us to produce their vision without hovering over our shoulders every minute. Congratulations!

Before I let you go, I’m always interested in new and up and coming photographer. Are there any favourite photographers that inspire you and anyone you think we should be keeping an eye out for?

Here are a few but I could go on and on...Hélène Binet, Clarissa Bonet, Jeanette Hägglund (@etna_11), Minh T. (@thismintymoment), Jose Morales (@tomorrowsclassic), Amanda & Younes of doublespace, Swee Oh, Natalie Christensen, Darren Bradley, Lara Swimmer.

Many thanks Angie, good luck in 2021. We wish you all the continued success.

To see more of Angie’s work visit - www.angiemcmonigal.com