Chicago Street Photography – Sabo – Almighty Ambrose, 63 St

When you spend years shooting street photography in the same area, you get to know people on a personal level. That’s why I prefer long-form street photography projects over a drive-by snapshot approach. Sabo was a guy I got to know over time. He had a hard upbringing, to say the least. I’m happy I was able to spend time photographing Sabo. 

“Hey, cameraman Chuck! Take a photo of this!”

I turned around to find Sabo, a guy who would come through Little Cheyenne from time to time.

Chicago Street Photography – Sabo – Almighty Ambrose 63 St

“My mother was a prostitute, so I learned the game real quick – how to hustle a mother fucker out of his money.” – Sabo

[Show slideshow]

Almighty Ambrose began operating sometime in the 1950s around the intersection of Taylor and Halsted Streets. Back in the day, Ambrose members were a mix of Mexicans and Italians. At the time these photos were taken, the main blocks of Ambrose were 63rd/Sacramento, 63rd/Francisco, 63rd/Mozart, 63rd/California, 64th/Whipple, 64th/Spaulding, and 64th/Richmond.