Josh Hawkins Photography Blog

Time for Something New, Last Post Here

2009-02-05T11:12:00.005-06:00

I've moved my blog. I've redesigned my website. I've done this all in one foul swoop.

It's an effort to re-brand, a bit at least, and improve my branding. Really, did I need to have a separate blog and website? That's just a hold over from when I had no clue what to do with this blog.

Plus it's me, I just change things. Shockingly enough redesigning my whole website took only a few days. There are still tweaks to be made for sure and I'm still working on populating it with content, but it's coming along.

Anyhow there will be no more posts here. They will all be at my new blog. Go there. I hope to see ya soon.

Because I Can, LXIV

2009-02-03T20:28:00.003-06:00

Because I Can, LXIII

2009-02-03T10:48:00.001-06:00

Valley of Fire Panoramic

2009-01-29T14:11:00.004-06:00

Another panoramic, this time from the Valley of Fire in Nevada (btw, really cool place. I'd go if I were you and hopefully in the future I'll get to spend more time here. Gorgeous.) Again this image, this is just a rough start, go here for the real thing.

Also I've started making prints of these available. You can purchase them here through my ImageKind store. (A guy has to make a buck or two somewhere.)

Another Panoramic

2009-01-29T00:11:00.003-06:00

Here's another panoramic from my recent trip to Nevada. Click on the image or here to see it as it should be seen. The photo below is just a taste. Trust me here. And give it a minute to load, it's big, I'm working on figuring out what I need to change to make it smaller.

Because I Can, LXII

2009-01-08T01:00:00.004-06:00

By Red Rock Nevada

2009-01-05T02:20:00.010-06:00

These are two panoramas I've done by Red Rock Canyon. This is what I do on vacation.

You can click, hold, and move the mouse to look around. It might take a minute for them to load, especially the first one, I didn't spend much time optimizing them because I'm a bum like that.

Click on each image to go to the VR Pano.

Because I Can, LXI

2008-12-31T19:50:00.003-06:00

Because I Can, LX

2008-12-28T22:55:00.003-06:00

Because I Can, LIX

2008-12-27T01:50:00.002-06:00

Because I Can, LVIII

2008-12-17T13:41:00.000-06:00

I Hate Shooting Santa

2008-12-16T00:58:00.006-06:00

Because I Can, LVII

2008-12-15T11:11:00.001-06:00

Because I Can, LVI

2008-12-14T12:02:00.001-06:00

Because I Can, LV

2008-12-02T00:25:00.004-06:00

You Know You Want a Calender

2008-11-29T22:17:00.004-06:00

It's almost a new year and that, of course, means you need a calender. Right? Yeah, you know I'm right. Well, as luck should have it. I was told a few weeks ago I apparently had a calender coming out. Okay, not totally accurate that last sentence but close enough.

Chicago Tap Theatre has for the second consecutive year given me the honor of producing the imagery for their yearly calender. It's a chance to get the calender you need, need, help support the arts, help support some really great dance, and hopefully get some imagery you'll enjoy all year long.

You can get the calender through their Lulu store, or at their upcoming Tidings of Tap performances (at UIC Dec 12th, 13th and 14th) and while you're their you can go see some excellent tap dancing. It's family friendly and you may even show up the night Dr. Taps and I go on stage and do the shim sham at the end (she promised she would if I would, I don't think she thought I would, enthusatically. That reminds me, I've got to learn how to do the shim sham).

So go get yourself a calender, and see a show, and say "Hi" while you're at it.

Because I Can, LIV

2008-11-29T16:53:00.001-06:00

Because I Can, LIII

2008-11-29T12:52:00.004-06:00

Because I Can, LII

2008-11-27T11:58:00.002-06:00

Because I Can, LI

2008-11-26T02:53:00.001-06:00

Because I Can, L

2008-11-22T00:59:00.004-06:00

Because I Can, XLIX

2008-11-16T22:55:00.003-06:00

Because I Can, XLVIII

2008-11-12T23:43:00.001-06:00

Veteran's Day

2008-11-12T14:51:00.003-06:00

I'm a proud American. I respect and honor the veterans of this nations armed forces for all their hard work and scarfices, now having said that....

I showed up to this Veteran's Day Ceremony at a local high school, I'm a few minutes late, nothing big though. First problem. One of the honored vets is on the floor having an obvious medical issue. He was there for a while, till the paramedics arrived. Everyone seemed pretty concerned about this, except the other vets his age, who seemed pretty unconcerned. I'm guessing they're used to seeing a man go down and get taken out by the paramedics, at some age this just becomes normal I'm guessing.

This vet really got my respect though when he was being wheeled out and waved goodbye to the cheering crowd. That's the way to take center stage.

I stayed, photographed the event, then realized something. The vets looked as horribly bored and uninterested in the event as the teens did. Sneaking in comments to their friends, paying no never mind to whatever it was that was happening.

Now I wonder, did the vet who got taken out by the paramedics just fake it to avoid the ceremony? If so, I bow to the maestro.

Because I Can, XLVII

2008-11-10T00:13:00.001-06:00

Because I Can, XLVII

2008-11-05T10:59:00.001-06:00

Because I Can, XLVI

2008-11-05T10:48:00.003-06:00

This town does love Obama.

No Plan Survives

2008-10-28T21:07:00.014-05:00

No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy.

- Field Marshall Helmuth Carl Bernard von Moltke

Every few months I have to shoot a couple of months worth of magazine covers for our various parenting magazines. These shoots almost universally involve taking photos of kids, from newborns to about 10-year-olds. Kids...they bring a unique set of challenges.

Magazine covers need to pop more, need a extra over the inside images, and are worth, because they're the first thing anyone is going to see who might decide to pick-up our magazines. So we put in the extra work to make the photos work better. We rent studios, we scout locations.

So on Monday of last week I was supposed to shoot a cover, it fell apart due to rain. The idea was to have a very fall (the season) photo. We were thinking fall colors. Since the shoot fell apart and I was already at the location I figured I'd spend the time location scouting. (I had already planned two hours in before the original shoot to scout, but as the reschedule was for 8am, I figured I'd do it at that point in the rain because I wouldn't have time before the reschedule.)

So I go out, hunt locations with my assistant, look for good trees, take test shoots and notes. On Sunday the group of us get there, go to our location and start shooting. The trees have changed a bit, so there's some on the fly adapting, but that's normal. We shoot for about 3 minutes, make some changes, basically just get some test shots done, get ready to start again, and the subject, a 2-year-old girl, just falls apart. She's done. This is shockingly normal.

At this point the other person from the office and I decided we needed a change of venue, namely some place where we would have something for the subject to play with. With kids, when in doubt, distract them from whatever is making them unhappy, usually by giving them something to play with. Actually, this works with adults also, but we won't talk about that.

We went over to the Children's Play Area. We found a spot, we went with it, we made it work. At the end of the day the hours of prep work amounted to 3 minutes and about 30 frames of return. I find that this actually about normal.

Which raises a question, why still do it?

It still surprises me how little the planning helps directly, and how much of a difference it makes. There is something about the planning process, it sorts the thoughts, it creates a structure, a framework to hang the rest of the shoot off of. It's like the steel framework of a building. It doesn't tell you what the final building will look like, but a good framework will is vital to building a strong building no matter what the final structure is.

The part of the process where we have meetings, it gets everybody on the same page, it gets ideas out there, and it gets communication started. Again, it creates a framework so when we start improvising we're improvising towards the same goal, improvising starting from the same page. And in the end, we get a better product the better prepared we are. I'm sure that the planning would be even more valuable if we had subjects that didn't bring a high level of unpredictability.

As it is, it makes all the difference in the world.

P.S. Oh, and if you wonder what I do when the child is crying. I check my exposure, look for new compositions, and laugh, sometimes to myself, sometimes out loud, and fidget some too.

P.P.S. And yeah, I like the later ones much better also.

P.P.P.S. And if anyone knows why blogger isn't pulling up the full resolution image and seems to be pulling a lower res version than what I'm giving it, I'd appreciate the help. I love Goggle, but sometimes they do some wacky things I don't get. These are tack sharp, or should be. Ugh.

Because I Can, XLV

2008-10-28T12:04:00.003-05:00

Because I Can, XLIV

2008-10-26T22:33:00.005-05:00

Doing It For Myself

2008-10-11T23:39:00.005-05:00

I wish I could remember the number of times a photojournalist has told me to not focus on shooting for the office, for the paper and instead shoot what I want to shoot. I'm okay at this, not great, but okay.

So recently I acquired a phone with a camera and text messaging (my previous phone I bought around 99' and at that point was fancy because it was digital. This new phone will hereafter be referred to as the "iWife".) This has resulted in me texting all day long. It's like swapping notes in class.

Somehow in the mix of all this I got to talking to a friend who lives in the desert these days about fall colors, and started sending photos taken with my iWife of fall colors, and now other random things, mostly with greenery. Reminders of leaves.

The funny thing is about this, I tend to like more of the photos I take with my iWife than with my other cameras. There is something about doing it for someone, doing it for fun, doing it for myself which makes it more rewarding.

At first when I made those images I didn't put much work into them, point the iWife and push the button. As I've done it more I've started putting more effort into the images, why make a crappy image when I don't have to? Why isn't this photo for a friend as important as any other photo? Why isn't it more important?

It's fun. It's really out of my norm. It's not the kind of camera I like. It doesn't give me the control I like. No shutter speed, no ISO, no white balance, no place for me to decide, for me to decide anything and while that encourages laziness, there is no reason I need to be lazy about the images. No room to crop later. Just shoot it, and send it right from the phone. Imperfect everytime and the better for it.

Now, mind you, the photos don't have to fit a story or purpose like my stuff for the paper so they tend to be more "pretty pictures". They tend to be images that will mean something to me and my friend, nothing more, but in that, I think they mean more than a lot of the other images I make.

Kind of sad that all my work can't mean as much, but I'm proud that some of it does.

Because I Can, XLIII

2008-10-11T02:27:00.001-05:00

Because I Can, XLII

2008-10-04T01:27:00.003-05:00

Because I Can, XLI

2008-10-02T02:12:00.001-05:00

Ongoing Flooding

2008-09-30T21:44:00.006-05:00

Locally we have had to deal with some flooding and now the aftermath of it for the last week or two. It's been long and involved work. Ranging from being thigh deep in a river while standing in the middle of the street to having mold covered drywall rain down on me. Yummy mold.

I do have to say, it's amazing, it's why I love people, the good spirits these people who have lost so much can have.

Because I Can, XL

2008-09-30T13:46:00.002-05:00

Because I Can, XXXIX

2008-09-26T15:11:00.002-05:00

Because I Can, XXXVIII

2008-09-26T12:26:00.001-05:00

Laughing Yoga

2008-09-17T17:04:00.005-05:00

This is Jeremy Chapman, laughing yoga instructor, and head of the Chicago Laughmore Club (I think that's the name, but as with all organizations like this, it's a little loose and hard to get a handle on some basics.) They meet every once and a while, and laugh. No purpose, no point, except the physical, mental and emotional health benefits of laughter. Yes, I'm going to go back and just do this instead of covering hopefully in the future.

Special thanks to my cuz Jackie who spotted this one while she was visiting Chicago. I, alas, totally walked by it without even noting it. I've become too hardened to seeing the strange of this universe.

Goodbye Weekend Plans

2008-09-15T00:27:00.008-05:00

So I had plans for this weekend, mostly work plans, but plans. Basically Saturday morning survived and Saturday night, which was indoors, the rest of the weekend was thrown away. Such is the life of flooding and constant rain.

Instead I spent all day Sunday, half of which was supposed to be shooting a magazine cover on the Chicago River (ahh...the irony), standing in the Des Plaines River watching people sandbag and surveying damage. I don't if I've ever treasured dry socks as much as when I got home. 6 hours of wading through a river is really plenty. But I do have to say in the world of problems, at least I have a dry home to go home to, and for that, I am thankful tonight.

Because I Can, XXXVII

2008-09-11T23:39:00.004-05:00

This is one of my favorite little hideouts in the city, the Thorn Garden on the south side of the Art Institute.

Because I Can, XXXVI

2008-09-09T15:59:00.003-05:00

Because I Can, XXXV

2008-09-01T02:33:00.001-05:00

Because I Can, XXXIV

2008-09-01T01:57:00.002-05:00

Because I Can, XXXIII

2008-09-01T01:56:00.002-05:00

Dancing in the Park

2008-08-19T01:25:00.003-05:00

The city had going on today, and again on Wednesday, some dancing in Millennium Park. I didn't get to stick around as long as I would've liked, but hey, whatever. Got an okay image or two, and I always love good break dancing.

If you want to see it it will be happening again on Wednesday from 4-6pm, starts at Crown Fountain (the spitting fountains on Michigan Ave.) and works around the park from there.

Because I Can, XXXII

2008-08-11T16:19:00.002-05:00

Because I Can, XXXI

2008-08-09T23:32:00.001-05:00

Because I Can, XXX

2008-08-07T09:39:00.002-05:00

Wilderness in the City

2008-08-04T11:52:00.009-05:00

As much as I'm a city boy, and I am a city boy, damn, I just want to go hide in the woods most days. It always amazes how much of an option that really is in this city though.

Over the last umpteen years I've gotten to know a lot of little wilderness, or wilderness-y hideouts in the Chicago-land area. From the likes of some of the Forest preserves, to Northerly Island, and little odd spots here and there this city has some often surprising little hideaways.

Now, I'm not calling any of these a real replacement for the real Great Outdoors, but they are an escape from the city, a brief respite. I look for a lot of these places.

This is why I have to say I was a bit suprised to find a bird sanctuary right by downtown that I didn't know about. This is by an area that I have biked past about 5 times so far this summer, and probably over 50 times in my life. It's just south of McCormick Place and is called, shockingly enough, the McCormick Place Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary.

It's actually a green roof for a parking garage, though you'd never know that unless you were told or were looking for the scattered air vents and emergency exits. From the surrounding areas it doesn't look like much, just a grassy slope. Because it's a plains/grassland environment this is enough to obscure it from sight. It's not till you get into it that you lose most of the city, and get lost in high grasses.

Unfortunately or fortunately it's closed off to people to protect the habitat, or at least much of it is. Regardless, it's a nice little escapist gem in this city.

Now...back to work and driving. Ugh.

This Wednesday

2008-07-28T01:01:00.004-05:00

So, what you got planned for Wednesday night? Watching reruns of American Idol? (I know you TiVoed it, don't deny it.) A rock-paper-scissors contest against your cat? (fyi - I actually have decent rock-paper-scissors stories, how sad.) Well, let me suggest to you....

------------

Come celebrate the end of CTT's best season ever and help send us to NY for the New York Music Theatre Festival. We are the ONLY tap dance company invted to participate in the festival and the ONLY dance company from Chicago...help us represent!!

Wednesday, July 30th
The Spot at 4437 N. Broadway
$15
8:30-10:00 open bar
9:00 Karaoke starts
Fabulous Raffle Prizes!

Guests are welcome/encouraged to stay after the open bar. $1 on every drink will go back to the company if they do! We also get $1 back on ever shot purchased during the event.

If you can't make it to the event but would still like to help us get to NY, you can make a tax deductible donation here by entering in an amount under "Support CTT" and clicking "Make a Donation":

http://chicagotaptheatre.com/news

---------

Did you see the part where it said, "open bar"? I'll see ya there.

Ah, the Repetition of It All

2008-07-28T00:20:00.004-05:00

I've been to this event, I think, 9 out of the last 10 years. Regardless of the exact number, it's a lot.

On one hand there is the sheer repetition of shooting the same things, year after year after year after year. In all likelihood you just end up with small variations on the same images year after year.

On the other hand there is a kind of lazy comfort, you can get your job done easily and quickly, and there is an opportunity from that to try some new things because once you're covered, why not ?

Things to Remember

2008-07-26T00:29:00.003-05:00

I got to set-up the strobes more often. It just helps out so much sometimes. (I'm not saying it's a good photo, it is a business portrait after all, just that it would be so much worse without the additional lighting.)

I don't know

2008-07-25T00:55:00.004-05:00

Some things in this world defy descripition, especially easy descripition. There are more things I want to say here than I know how to say, or even put into words. Hell, I don't think I can take a picture that can even start to describe my thoughts and feelings, much less encompass them.

At the end of the day, "I don't know" is a great statement, especially when you know it's all good. And you know what? I know it's all good, at least in this part of life, it's all good, so good. And it makes me happy, peaceful.

Because I Can, XXIX

2008-07-24T13:15:00.001-05:00

Because I Can, XXVIII

2008-07-22T21:32:00.002-05:00

Because I Can, XXVII

2008-07-17T01:33:00.002-05:00

Another Day on the Job, III

2008-07-14T14:04:00.003-05:00

Because I Can, XXVI

2008-07-14T14:02:00.001-05:00

The Nature of Time

2008-07-11T01:30:00.003-05:00

Editing photos is an interesting exploration. Sometimes it's very easy, often it is. Softball, get the ball in the damn frame, get some action, whatever, move on. Not very tough. This is true with most of my "work" imagery. It's easy, it's easy because I largely don't care in all likelihood.

Tonight was a bit different though. Tonight I was, did, deal with, only start to edit, the first review really, some images I had been emotionally, mentally, preparing for for months. Tonight I dealt with images I feared.

Over the past six months I've been working on a project, a wonderful project, a project I love, but a project which has created some great images through some moments I would never give up having witnessed and hope to never experience again.

A few months back a pretty major event occurred, and I was privileged enough to be able to document it. During the process I reviewed a few of the images on the back of the camera, some portraits, and they stopped me in my tracks, in my head at least. I kept shooting, kept working, kept doing what I needed to do. But in my memory were those portraits. I couldn't not have them in my head, rolling around. I wanted them gone.

What she choose to share, the images haunted me, her generosity, kindness and openness amazed, still amaze, me. I couldn't deal with the images, and I knew it. This has never happened to me before. Through the months of hard images, this had never happened. So tonight, over three months later, I knew I needed to deal with them. I knew the images were images that needed to be dealt with, edited, but I've just been afraid to look at them. I've been afraid of what they mean, what they mean to me, and afraid to "re-live", afraid of being reminded of that time, and most of all, those images, I knew they would just hit me, hit me hard.

I opened them, and scanned them for maybe 10 seconds, then I had to walk away. Luckily, happily, while that was happening, a friend called (thanks Ya Looblue, you have SuperStar timing) and I was able to talk through some of it, and be distracted, get happy again, before getting back to editing.

Editing through them wasn't a long process in the end, but I still want to block those images from my memory. Hopefully they'll help and effect some other people some day, today, no matter how happy I am that those image exist, how honored I am to have been allowed to make them, today I want to forget those images exist.

Where's Josh?

2008-07-09T23:58:00.005-05:00

Yeah, I've disappeared, I may stay disappeared for a while. Life is just busy. Good busy. Lots of biking, I'm hoping to add lots of kayaking, lots of living, which means less time to talk about living. I'm good with this, quite frankly.

You want to know much more? Drop me a line, drop me an email, or better yet, let's go hang out, get out, and enjoy life. I'm around, I'll just be around this particular locale less for a while. Later.

(having said that, watch, I'll update every day for next month. Isn't that just how it works?)

Because I Can, XXV

2008-07-04T12:12:00.002-05:00

More from the Chicago Tap Theatre show. (Go see it.)

Celebratory Moment

2008-07-02T23:17:00.006-05:00

I want to take a moment to celebrate my many amazing friends.

There is the Strange Tree Group, which comprises many wonderful friends. They have put together a show that is getting rave reviews left and right. Go see it, it's worth it. (I would also like to note a member of that social crowd, or two actually, who have agreed to legally become one. Rock on! She wouldn't answer me when I asked if she was pregnant. Hmmm...) (And for those who expressed an interested in going with me, I believe I'm going to go on the 10th, next Thursday.)

There is Chicago Tap Theatre who also has an awesome show up at the moment, also receiving high marks and reviews, as always for them. You should see their show also. Not to mention they are just incredibly kind and wonderful people. Really, just unnaturally nice. It disturbs me. (For those who asked, I'm going to try to be going this Saturday, but I'm not sure yet, of course.)

A friend who is about to leave for Texas to slack, I mean write poetry for three years. If I knew I could do that and call it grad school earlier I would've applied.

Another friend fighting back from surgery that stopped her work. She thinks she's more alone than she is, which sucks, but she fights hard all the same. She will win, at least I know she will. I also know someday she'll look at me and say, "Josh, you were right." But I know that is true with most of you.

A friend who is taking a chance and starting a band. Lawyer by day, tap dancer by night. My kind of person, good human being, and pushing the bounds of what can in any reality be considered reasonable. Good stuff.

Another who is going to get the results of an important test tomorrow afternoon. Cross your fingers.

A friend I mentioned a while back, Peter "George" Ksander, who recently won an Obie for scenic design. Apparently in the theater world this is really big, as I'm not in that world, umm...okay, rock on George.

A friend who is building/re-building her life after a really hard year. One of those times when it's not about winning awards, but just about being happy. It's truly amazing, and wonderful to watch. Love is beautiful, I've known that for a long time, but she has shown me that on a level that is difficult to appreciate, express, and fills me day after day.

A friend who is (I guess it should be a "they" but really, are his hormones going nuts? Nope, it's all about her) pregnant with her third. Cool stuff, though I'd never, ever, ever want to be pregnant, but I'm happy for her.

The list just keeps going and going and going. I can't even remember off the top of my head all the awesome things all my friends are pulling off these days. In the world of problems, what a great problem to have.

I really do have the best friends in this world. And I keep finding more. I guess I'm just greedy.

Philosophical Honesty

2008-06-30T20:50:00.006-05:00

The photo is from the Belmont Arts and Music Festival (BAM), and is totally unrelated to the pointless point that follows. Thanks. Hell, it's not even related to BAM really either, it was just there.

I've been debating the difference, on a philosophical level of 4 colors, white, black, chrome (oh, shiny) and clear. See, none of them are colors, in fact, most every color you think of as a color isn't a color. Sorry, accept this, accept that your brain is making all these things up, you only see red, green and blue (RGB), as colors, you also see brightness with rods. Hope I didn't burst your bubble, but teal, it doesn't exist, neither does purple, orange, yellow, or any color beyond RGB.

So, if your favorite color is white, you aren't actually choosing a favorite color as it's an equal mix of RGB. You are being indecisive. (though further thought must be put into what a "color" is and the contrubution of rods to this whole thought and not just cones.)

Black is just a lack of light, so hence, it's not a color, it's actually a lack of color. You like black? You like nothing. Kind of explains some of my friends teen years actually.

Chrome, while shiny, and hence wonderful, is a reflection, it shows you nothing except what's reflecting off of it. That's actually where this all starts, The Bean (or Cloud Gate). It's impossible to take a photo of the Bean, all you can do is take a photo of the reflection which infers the existence of the Bean, but the Bean itself does not absorb and re-emit light, it just directly reflects light. When you look at the Bean you are not seeing the Bean, you never see the Bean, you are seeing the reflections the Bean creates. (I kind of wonder if the reflection an object makes is enough to prove the existence of an object, I think so, but...)

Clear, clear is the most honest of these four "colors". It doesn't pretend to be a color like white or black, or a color in a Crayon box like chrome. It acknowledges it's lack of color and embraces it.

Product Placement Time, II

2008-06-26T15:10:00.010-05:00

You know em', you love em', or at least you know I love em', and isn't that a wonderful thing that everyone wants? It's time for another performance by Chicago Tap Theatre (howdy lovely ladies, and Mark and Phil).

It's there annual summer story show, a superhero comic tap opera, or a continuation/re-introduction of last year's story of Hourglass (the comic book superhero hottie and hottie crew) once again battling evil hotties (and Mark and Phil). This year the show is "The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen". I don't know the plot yet, so I can't spill the details, sorry. Suffice it to say, great tapping, I'm willing to bet a great storyline (plot written by comic book artist Andrew Pepoy, who will be at the show this Saturday), lots of fun, many laughs, and from what I'm told, bright colors. I don't know if there is anything shiny though. Oohhh, shiny.

As with all Chicago Tap Theatre performances, I recommend taking the time to see this one. The story shows are always among my favorites, innovative, different, definitely not what I would expect of tap (well, until I got to know CTT, now I'm spoiled forever. I like being spoiled.), and just all around awesome. Plus you'll be supporting one of the kindest, nicest, creative, innovative and hottest (I like calling them hot, because they are, and then they tell me how nice and sweet I am. I'm so easy.) performing groups in town. (And if you doubt me, I took a friend to their Mixology show back in March or so, and she's now hyping the company and trying to figure out when she's going to go as well. See em' once, fall in love with them forever. Trust me.)

On a quick side note, you can cheer, clap, hoot and holler during the performance for things you like or enjoy. I always enjoy cheering for the "evil" characters. It's more fun when "evil" wins. (This might explain some things about my life.)

Also, be aware, if you want to talk to the cast about the production, Friday nights they'll be having special question and answer sessions.

While the show runs through the 20th of July, I'd suggest earlier rather than later (later performances of all shows tend to sell out, earlier it's easier to get tickets), in fact I'd suggest you go this very weekend. Really, don't you want something cool to do this weekend? And as I've pointed out in the past, guys, you can really impress the ladies with how culturally cool you are, and all you have to do is watch a live comic book, though you'll love the performance on all levels I'm sure.

Hopefully I'll see ya there this weekend.

Tickets here.

June 27-29, July 5,6, 11-13, 18-20
All Friday and Saturday shows at 8pm
All Sunday shows at 3pm
Athenaeum Theatre, Studio 3, 2936 N. Southport
For tickets, call 312-902-1500 or here.

Because I Can, XXIV

2008-06-25T06:37:00.002-05:00

Product Placement Time

2008-06-24T01:12:00.005-05:00

I don't do much advertising, but time to do some.

You got some free time an upcoming weekend, this weekend, some weekend nearby? Good, I knew you did. Go see some theater. And if you ask me what you should see, and you're still reading so I'll assume you are asking, there are two productions I would see currently, and I will see both of them.

In this case, go see the Strange Tree Group's current production, "The Mysterious Elephant, And the Terrible Tragedy of the Unlikely Addington Twins* (*Who Kill Him)."

It's getting good reviews, it's a fun show, a fun night, and more importantly, I like it. (FYI - I have good taste in theater, maybe not clothes, nope, not clothes, but definitely in theater.) Should you want a "professional" review, go here (I'm still cooler though). And if you doubt that it is worth it, realize I give them my time, happily, to photograph their shows to encourage their work. It's time well spent. I think they're worth watching.

Tickets here.

Because I Can, XXIII

2008-06-16T13:40:00.002-05:00

It's in the Eyes

2008-06-16T00:24:00.003-05:00

I'll trust the look in someone's eyes before the words out of their mouth. This is the pitcher checking first base during the Oak Park South Side Little League Championship Game. (I'm still debating between vertical or horizontal.)

Another Day on the Job, II

2008-06-16T00:15:00.004-05:00

This is what I wore to work Saturday night. Note the always sexy fanny pack. It's hot, oh yeah baby, hot. Also, the farmer's tan, it's hard work to get that strong of a farmer's tan.

More images from this event will follow...when I have time.

Just Checking Another Item Off the List

2008-06-11T21:23:00.006-05:00

This quote is from the coordinator of an event I'm trying to cover this weekend. He is giving me advice on how to successfully cover the event and do so in a way respectful to those participating.

"wear few if any clothes (seriously)"

Now...I don't know what to say here. Someday I'm going to have seen it all, done it all. Being asked to strip for work, that's a new one for me. And not all that nice to those around me (time to take on those body image issues). Do what you got to do I guess.

Anyone know where to get some Marvin the Martian boxer briefs in Chicago? And a fedora? Seriously.

Because I Can, XXII

2008-05-31T01:46:00.003-05:00

Because I Can, XXI

2008-05-29T21:40:00.003-05:00

Urban Golf

2008-05-29T15:43:00.010-05:00

So, as I've already established, Monday was just incredible, on so many levels. Well, not to rub it in, but this was Sunday.

Sunday started at the loving time of 5:30am, for leaving the house at least. I spent from about 6am till 10am covering Bike the Drive, the annual closing of Lake Shore Drive so that bicyclists can takeover and enjoy it. It was harder to photograph than I expected, but I got a couple of okay images out of it. Suffice it to say, it got covered.

Later in the day was urban golf, through Cudgel. Basically the idea behind urban golf is you get a golf club, a tennis ball, a series of alleys, dress like a 70s golf rock-star hero, and drink your way through the course. It's a good time, it's utterly, and totally ridiculous, hence good time. So I got to spend a few hours hanging out with some awesome people, who were fabulously dressed ("I want to look very meticulously terrible.")

I also decided, that besides wanting to cover this again in the future, when I do so, I'm playing next time. It's not so rushed that I can't, and hell, my journalism has to get more gonzo. (If you don't know what Gonzo-journalism is, first and foremost I hope you aren't a journalist, if you are a journalist and don't know that term I'm kicking your ass. The wikipedia entry is pretty good. I tend towards being a bit more factually accurate, but the whole getting into the middle of events thing I'm all into. While I may be an observer of life more than a participator, I'm at least going to observe from pointblank range. I believe that I can only truly portray a situation if I feel a situation which means being absorbed by the situation which done by being totally and wholly in a situation. Got it?) I need to be more gonzo. I'm doing better, but I must get more involved, almost every image I'm happy-ish with comes from a situation I'm totally absorbed by and in.

Live and learn.

(and the dork in the yellow, is the reporter I was working with. For a reporter (which sets the bar pretty low) he's pretty good all around.)

Wonderful, Strange

2008-05-27T09:29:00.016-05:00

I had the strangest experience on Monday. I had a common holiday off. For the first time in 8-10 years, maybe more, I had Memorial Day off.

See, Memorial Day has a lot of parades and similar, and normally, I'm at those parades making photos. This year, my boss decided to give me the day off and give all that work to freelancers. This was a surprising gift.

I spent the day with two amazing, beautiful women. We picnicked, in spite of the risk of rain, we goofed off, and goofed off some more, and talked enough to write a book or two. Our blankets were covered in food, drink, piles of cameras, clubs and balls and other things for juggling, and wonderful friends.

It's a strange experience for me to have a day off that other people have off. To be able to enjoy the company of friends so thoroughly. I want to repeat it. I want to repeat having the day off, but more than that, I want to repeat Memorial Day 2008. I want that happiness, that inner warmth, every day. It was amazing. (If I keep talking, all I'm going to do is ramble on about how good it was in a very repetitive manner.)

The photos, some of them are weird, we're three odd people, but I just like these images. We were just having fun, being us, through and through. There are, quite literally, a hundred more I like also, but I can't post them all.

I just want you to know, right now, I'm smiling.

Update: Sarah's blog post, and if you don't know Sarah, you really should, trust me. Also, her post is so much better than mine. Read it, you'll get a feel for the day better than from me and discover you want to hang with Sarah also, but I have dibs. Just sayin'.

Because I Can, XX

2008-05-25T19:41:00.002-05:00

Because I Can, XIX

2008-05-25T19:25:00.002-05:00

Because I Can, XVIII

2008-05-25T18:45:00.003-05:00

Because I Can, XVII

2008-05-22T01:05:00.001-05:00

Because I Can, XVI

2008-05-20T01:07:00.003-05:00

This Post is About Nothing

2008-05-19T23:46:00.009-05:00

Maybe I've given up on meaning in life. There isn't any. Sorry. Get over it.

Maybe life is just too tough some days. Maybe I'm tired of bad shit happening to good people.

Maybe I want goodness for my friends. Though I should say, there are people out there willing to offer it. To them, you are amazing, please don't ever stop. You have no idea what you, what you few mean to me.

Maybe I just have given up on trying to be decent, not even good, but decent meaning anything to anyone but myself.

At some point, it all means nothing. At some point, maybe, just maybe, you have to do it for yourself. I'm not talking about being selfish, that's just not my style, most of the time.

Maybe I, and really, this is all about me, it's my blog, what else were you expecting it to be about? Maybe I need remember to give without expectation of a return. Give with only the joy of giving as it's only reward. Maybe, just maybe, this is the most cynical of attitudes.

You know what? I'm a weak man. I'm sorry. I am. Think less of me if you wish. It's probably fair. There are a lot of things I can't do, I can't do as a man, I can't do as a human, I just can't do. I'm not strong enough. I wish I was. At some point, I don't know where, we are all just...not strong enough, we are broken.

Maybe this makes me less of a man. I'm sure some think so. Frankly, I pity them. Don't get me wrong, I want to be more than I am. I'm capable of being so much more. It hurts me, it hurts me, that I'm not more, I have the potential, I know I do, but I don't, I can't, and I don't know why. But somewhere, somehow, I am what I am, and that, that right there, is enough, maybe, just maybe, it's even downright good.

What I do today, what I will do tomorrow, everything I've ever done, I know, amounts to nothing, but maybe, just maybe, that means I'm nothing more, nothing less, than everyone else.

Maybe, just maybe, that means I'm good enough.

Because I Can, XV

2008-05-18T01:21:00.002-05:00

Because I Can, XIV

2008-05-17T18:24:00.003-05:00

Had a couple of hours to kill between a children's exercises shoot and state water polo championships. I'll probably have a better variant of this tomorrow, but this was the best on that card, and I don't have that much time to kill. ;)

Because I Can, XIII

2008-05-14T02:18:00.001-05:00

Not the best image from the evening, but it's what's up for now.

I Live a Hard Life

2008-05-11T15:21:00.001-05:00

Because I Can, XII

2008-05-08T14:05:00.004-05:00

Yeah, it's the shot every high school photo student has taken and thought was interesting, and it wasn't, but it's part of the process, so it's good they do it. I suppose I could say something intelligent about exploring with a fresh eye, or a child's eye, or seeing the world with the newness only found in babies. Those are all true and wonderful, but really, I just want too.

It was just a photo I wanted to take while out on a stroll in a park on a night not so many days ago.

Is there any better reason in this world than, "because I wanted too" or "because it made me happy"?

It's all about the food

2008-05-07T12:11:00.004-05:00

I just get to have lunch/dinner with the coolest people. This is, yep, I'm calling you out on stage for a minute, Peter "George" Ksander, according to Time Out New York, "the most ingenious set designer working downtown." And the whole serious look thing makes me laugh hysterically.

I'm becoming a stronger and stronger believer in the value of surrounding yourself with the most creative, kindest people you can. I think it will only encourage those things, help you grow those things, in yourself. I'm not sure if that's how it works, but it's a happy experiment to try.

Isaah

2008-05-01T23:23:00.005-05:00

The world is different than I would've thought.

Many a year ago I saw a study. It pretty soundly linked perception and media consumption. By this I mean, how dangerous people saw the world was pretty strongly related to how much news and media they consumed. People who saw the world as less threatening, tended to be out and about more.

Now, mind you, I spend a lot of time consuming media. I may not read many books these days, or any books at all, but I read hours upon hours a day. I read newspapers, magazines, website upon website, blog after blog. Many of them relevant to my job and career. I want to do what I do better, every day, every year. But I'm also out and about, a lot, I mean, a lot.

So in the last few weeks, and these photos are already over a week old, I've just been busy, I've met at least two former drug dealers and ex-cons. You know what? They were two of the nicest, smartest, and in some ways, wise people I've met in a long time. The older one I met knew it, he just knew it. It didn't matter what "it" was, he knew the score, he knew what was important in this world and he knew he had made mistakes and that he had moved on. He knew he was a good guy. And I only got to know him for maybe twenty minutes. From that time, he was right.

Isaah, was much younger, maybe 19. He made some mistakes, some big mistakes, but you know what, it's not the mistakes that matter, it's what we learn from them that matters. Isaah, he learned. He learned big time. Isaah is one of those rare people who makes me regret leaving the world (the horrible world) of management. I wanted nothing more after talking to Isaah than to offer him a job. No, his skill set might not have been great, but he has the important qualities. He is smart, he learns from his mistakes, kind, caring, interested and interesting, genuine and also scarred, hard-working, looking to make his life better, and willing to do the work to get there.

He's currently doing work with a program, Clean Slate, to help him get placed in a steady job and get the training he needs. Much of this involves doing work picking up trash on the street. I was a janitor for a few months, but nothing as hard as what he's doing, and he's doing it for far less, for now. He's trying, he's working. Isaah came across as what we want from the citizens of this country, a desire to improve, both their standing in the world, and themselves.

Isaah was an inspiration to me.

I tried to relay that to him, I'm sure I failed, but that morning I spent hanging with him, learning his story, his past, and how he was trying to make a better now, and better tomorrow, you know what, he's one of the reasons I love my job. People like Isaah.

Mapplethorpe

2008-04-30T16:33:00.002-05:00

You can say many things about Mapplethorpe, and personally there is much of his work I don't think is artistically all that impressive. On the other hand, there is much of his work that I that I think is spectacular. The man could make a print that would make your mouth water just on the pure technical qualities. Don't believe me? See some of them, then see if you disagree with me.

And if you think Mapplethorpe was only pictures of gay men, well, there are plenty of those, but his body of work is much more diverse and impressive than just the images that pissed off conservative Senators.

At the same event I got to view many Mapplethorpes, Artopolis, a gathering of hundreds of the worlds high end galleries, I also got to see some Salgados, Warhols, Greenburgs, some of the best and worst of modern art, "Ohhh....look....another painting in a single solid color, how innovative!!!" There seems to be something of an interesting movement to get 2d art to reflect and incorporate 3d art. Interesting trend.

An inspiring day.

Brains

2008-04-30T16:02:00.005-05:00

My Unbiased Opinion

2008-04-28T00:30:00.009-05:00

As a journalist, I am fair and unbiased. (Actually, I pretty much am, weird huh?)

I ain't saying I don't have a point of view on things though. This might not see publication, haven't decided yet. It's funny for me. Don't like it? I don't bother to moderate the comments, so have fun. And he full well knew what I was doing.

Plus, you got to admit, this is just so wonderfully, ridiculously over the top, how could I possibly pass this up? (Got to admire his make-up.)

Because I Can, XI

2008-04-27T20:38:00.004-05:00

I'm going to see about working on a new series of images. As with all new series', it will probably fall by the wayside, but for right now, I want to see where it goes.

I want to explore the relationship between the solo and pair (maybe even group). As in the solo person, and the pair dynamic. Or put simply, and bluntly, between being single, and being in a relationship. Not all the images will be that simple, but that's the genesis idea.

This is from a Zombie Pub Crawl I covered this weekend (more images to follow). The first bar was packed, way packed. Evelyn was sitting on her friend Kathy. There was a large group in a circle, talking, chatting it up, the usual. Evelyn would flirt with her boy, on the left in the frame, kiss him, whatever.

Kathy seemed to be enjoying herself, though not nearly as engaged in the conversation as the others. I enjoyed watching her reactions. In this case, the group was toasting something, probably Brains. They were Zombies, everything was about Brains. Kathy did her own thing.

Because I Can, X

2008-04-27T17:50:00.002-05:00

A Moment of Silence

2008-04-23T22:24:00.010-05:00

I knew coming into April that April was going to suck. It has. Royally.

On Monday I lost one of my closest friends, a friend who I'd spent literally 4 or 5 hours with a day at least a few times a week. Rarely would I not spend at least an hour a day with this wonderful friend. My beloved white 97' Ford Escort is no more.

I didn't treat it right. I wasn't as kind to it as I should've been. It had a rough existence, just like everything that is close to me, it was used, abused, thoroughly beaten, but loved. I should've cleaned it more, lots more. I should've taken it in for maintenance quicker, for the last two months it had a tire that had to be filled up every week because of a "slow" leak. It had a dent that was never dealt with. It was in serious need of a car wash, serious need. The windshield had been cracked for the better part of a decade, it had leaks in multiple places (I'd laugh and swear as it rained on me while I drove), it liked to pull to the right, just a little, the windows were manual, and the number of times I had to tell people to lock their door as they got out I can't count. Who besides me has...had...manual locks? And manual windows? The drivers side door would freeze shut on and off all winter, usually just the lock, but at least a few times every winter I'd be cursing as I climbed over the passenger's seat to get in, and sometimes out.

It always got me where I was going, reliably, until Monday. I was pissed when it busted. I was supposed to be having a picnic with a friend of mine. An event that would probably have been the highlight of my week. Instead I was sitting on the trunk of my car in a community college parking lot, which I had mistakenly gone to because I screwed up where my shoot was at. Sitting on the trunk, waiting for a tow truck, thinking the fuel pump was busted. I was annoyed. I was supposed to be having a picnic. It was over 70 and sunny. It was going to be such a good day.

I had, by some weird quirk of chance left my bike in the trunk of my car. At least getting home from the mechanic's was going to be easy. A little before 4pm I got the call. I don't cry. I just don't. It's not good, it's not bad, it's just me. But I couldn't handle that one. I only had a few minutes before I had to get running to my next shoot, but I shed a few for my Ford. The engine needed to be rebuilt, and, well, it's a 97' Ford Escort. The work was more than buying a new one. Nothing but dumb bad luck. Something involving the 4th piston and a lot of words I don't quite get. Nothing I could've done. I can't even feel guilty that it was somehow "my fault", it wasn't. It was just gone. It had seen it's last trip.

137,000 miles, 90,000 of those with me.

It was my first car, my only car to date. I need to get a new one, this week or next. But I'm going to miss my white 97' Ford Escort, affectionately known in my own head as the "411".

You'll always have a place in my heart.

Because I Can, IX

2008-04-21T09:06:00.005-05:00

Just some quick grabs from a foggy Saturday afternoon. Someday I need to analyze why my scenics look like they do. Ah well, not for today, bigger and better fish to fry.

Enjoy another nice spring day, I plan to.

Another Night Out II

2008-04-21T02:26:00.004-05:00

From my buddy JB's B-day party. His lady friend was having a good time.

Infra-Red (IR) Afternoon

2008-04-20T20:27:00.020-05:00

As the weather was nothing short of gorgeous today, I figured I'd go for a bike ride. Ride the IPP (Illinois Praire Path) from Wheaton to Aurora and back. Would've helped if I had thrown my bike shoes in the car. Yes, along with all my other snobberies, I have clip-in shoes for my bike. I like them.

So, after a few minutes of pouting, yes, I pouted, I decided to go for a walk instead. The plan had been to bike, exercise and take some photos with the IR camera I got back in December but haven't had much chance to use yet. Slowing down gives you more time to look, walking is the best way to see your surroundings. Since I was walking, I shot a lot.

It was fun, relaxing. They're pointless pretty images, but they make me smile, and some of them are very Rorschach inkblot test. I know what I see, what do you see?

Because I Can, VIII

2008-04-13T17:49:00.004-05:00

I was having a fine discussion this weekend with a Tribune shooter about shooting for yourself. Sometimes, sometimes, you need to create a joke just for yourself, even if it's a wee bit misleading. This will never see publication...probably.

Mentor and Friends

2008-04-12T22:01:00.007-05:00

It would seem every year my alma mater is hosting an event, "The PJ Love Seminar". It's a celebration of and eductional discussions about photojournalism, plus a celebration of one of my former teachers and mentors, John H. White. John's the bomb. It was a good event, recharging and much needed.

It also ended at the Billy Goat, where we discussed how the sky was falling in journalism, and Vince took a picture of the crotch of his pants with everybody else's cameras. Don't ever leave a PJ alone and unsupervised.

Something Else

2008-04-12T00:22:00.005-05:00

It's been a long, tough, but very good couple of days. I can't say much beyond that, except that the view was nice.