CHICAGO — After recording three seconds of his daily life for an entire year, a local filmmaker said looking back on those seconds makes them feel both longer and shorter than they actually were.
Justin Harenchar, 24, wanted to chronicle the process of making his way in a new city, having moved from near Pittsburgh to Chicago a year earlier. The project, titled "How We Got Here," included all 365 days of 2014, and the final monthly retrospective went online a few weeks ago.
"In some ways, when I watch them altogether, I think, 'Wow, that year went fast,' but shots from January or February, it feels like it was five or six years ago," Harenchar said.
The videos feature brief glimpses of architecture, city streets, friends and strangers.
Kyla Gardner talked with Justin Harenchar:
In an interview in September, the Wrigleyville resident said his favorite shot was a laugh shared between a couple on the "L" on Valentine's Day. Now, he says it's a silly, strange moment with coworkers of production house Optimus, a shot that kicks off the October installment.
Harenchar said the videos told more cohesive stories the later in the year it got, as he honed his skills and knew what to look for to shoot.
But the videos also show another progression: Of Harenchar finding routine in his adopted city, discovering favorite restaurants and growing friendships.
"A lot of the early shots are landscapes and places. ... I was relatively new in the city," he said. "When you get into March and April, you'll see people keep repeating, friends that I've made. [It's the] thread of the people and places that united the whole thing."
It is, at the end of it all, a true portrait of how he got here.
See the last four monthly installments below, and head here to watch the entire series.
Part IX: September
Part X: October
Part XI: November
Part XII: December
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