Peter V. Bella is a retired Chicago Police Officer. Mr. Bella’s interest in photography…

began while he was at university in the early 1970s. He is mostly self-taught and learned techniques from other photographers.

While training for the Forensic Services Division, there was an extensive class on photography, where he learned technical skills. Mr. Bella became a freelance photojournalist, event photographer, and street photographer after his retirement in 2007. He photographs the people, places, things, and happenings in his hometown, Chicago Illinois.

Influences: DianeArbus, Art Shay, Cartier Bresson, Weegee, John H. White, and Tony Berardi.

Mr. Bella wanders the streets of Chicago photographing whatever interests him. He aims to document people, places, and things that appeal to him. The city of Chicago is his
inspiration. He prefers black-and-white photography and his editing is minimal.
He loves his hometown and is fascinated by its visual appeal.

Mr. Bella had his first exhibition at TF/The Dime in June 2023.

News Media

Chicago Tribune/Rick Kogan

Chicago Sun-Times/Robert Chiarito

WGN Morning News