This Wednesday

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....

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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

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

Ah, the Repetition of It All

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

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

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

Because I Can, XXVIII

Because I Can, XXVII

Another Day on the Job, III

Because I Can, XXVI

The Nature of Time

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?

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

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

Celebratory Moment

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

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

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

Product Placement Time

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

It's in the Eyes

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

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

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

Because I Can, XXI

Urban Golf

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

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'.