Photography & Thoughts of Marko Mihailovich

The Beach

2012-01-03T20:15:00.000-06:00

I know this blog is about my personal photography, but I have been dabbling with video over the last couple of years. Over the years the beach has become a subject that I have come back to to photograph...I've been playing around with video for a while now trying to figure out how to use it in a creative way. Once I shoot all this video how was I going to edit it. I wanted to keep it simple just use the existing sound and just go from one clip to the next trying to find a flow and dynamics Shooting video is a different animal than still photography in that with still photograph your looking for that one frame to say something with and with video your using thousands of moving frames put together that says something plus you have audio which adds another dimension still photography doesn't have.. So shooting video is still a work in progress and I'm sure I'll be shooting some more in the coming year...I shot pretty much all the footage on the beaches of Evanston, IL during the summer of 2011 originally for a exhibition which didn't happen. So I''m posting it for all to watch....Best if watched in full screen at 1080 resolution.

Looking for Santa

2011-12-24T21:06:00.002-06:00

I wanted to post an image related to Christmas. I wanted to find something a bit different and wasn't really interested to going out and making an image specifically for this theme. So I began looking though my achieves in search for that one special image. The image I found was made a few years back in 2008 on a totally random trip to Beloit, WI of all places. Its a bit strange, mysterious, and uneasy maybe. I really didn't know how to feel about this image for the longest time. I think this image leaves the viewer to ask a lot of questions...in my deep in my subconscious I wanted to leave the viewer pondering, what is this? What does it all mean? Is it right? Why? etc...With that said I will leave you to ponder your own thoughts...
Merry Christmas!

Dempster

2011-12-05T11:25:00.001-06:00

I'd driven passed this location thousands of times in the past. There was always something about that Dempster sign that was really appealing to me. Maybe it was the shape of it, Maybe I hadn't seen other signs like it before, Maybe it was its color, Maybe it just seemed out of place in the current landscape. Maybe it was a blast of the past kinda like a history lesson of the what area once was and that means a lot in my book. Its all those things that I mentioned and much more. I saw this sign in every type of light possible over the years it could probably be seen in and it looked different in each situation. I don't think I photographed it but one or two other times....This one time I was driving by and saw it and the light, I had to stop this was it. I knew it wasn't going to be around much longer as there was one business left in this little strip mall....Its history now at least I have the photograph as a memory and thats what photography is all about.....

God Bless

2011-11-22T00:34:00.001-06:00

Walking out of the club Subterranean in Chicago one night this summer after seeing a friends band, there was just chaos right out side the club. There was I guess a Reagge party in the downstairs club with people poured out onto the sidewalk. The first thing that caught my eye was this truck parked right outside of the club with these crazy graphics painted on the hood. I knew I had to make the image, but was a bit scared of the guy who was sitting inside coming out and asking why are you talking a picture of my car...Well that didn't happen, I think he could have been asleep which was strange. I love all the crazy colors and reflections going on. I find it really great that people are so passionate about things they believe in and how they express themselves to the world in this case the hood of there car....

Golden Road

2011-11-13T11:41:00.001-06:00

Taken on my recent road trip to Nashville, TN. I had just left Louisville in the late afternoon and the light was really good that golden hour that everyone that a photographer talks about. As I was driving I see this road with these cool looking rocks so I had to stop. Shooting right into the light just tilting the camera down a bit...That golden light taking you off the beaten path making you want to follow it to the end and wonder where it might take you.....

Flat Rock

2011-10-24T22:17:00.001-05:00

I've been investigating the beach and what it has to offer for 15 plus years. All the beaches I have been photographing in the near north Chicago burbs. I always seem to be drawn to the more abstract things that I find. This image is not as abstract as some of my others, it has more zen and subtly going on. There many subtle and delicate things going on in this image like what is going on with those ghost like long shadows, tones, the shimmer of light on the wet rock, the blur/ shallow depth of field. You can really feel the movement of the water from the wave that had rolled and is frozen in time rolling back. Its an image that just needs to sit with you for awhile to absorb everything it has to offer....

If you would like to support my image making I made a print of this image on a very nice heavy weight warm paper that I would like to offer if anyone is interested. $20 7X7" image size printed on an 8.5X11 sheet signed..You will not be disappointed. Support the arts and artists!

A

2011-10-12T22:41:00.000-05:00

Driving to my folks weekend home in southern Michigan over the summer I decided to take some back roads to get there. When I ran across this what I believe was a red farm building. The strong light and color and this the letter A on the front middle of the building. I had to turn around to make this photograph. Trying not to trespass too much on this property I made a few images from different perspectives looking to strike that balance in the frame. I ended up choosing the one here just because it felt right and it was a simple composition that suited the subject matter. I do really like vibrancy of that red it just radiates and the looming shadows in the foreground adds some extra intrigue. I also like how the shape of the of the building mimics the A...

Fascist

2011-09-20T09:40:00.000-05:00

I just got 6 rolls of 35mm film developed which equates to 200+ images to go though edit and scan...Not an easy task, but a fun one actually. I think I edited it down to about 40 images which will probably go down a bit more after living with the images for awhile. This is one of the images which felt really good to me when I made it and I was hoping it would come out nicely and I feel it did...As written in the book 1984 by George Orwell "Big Brother is watching" and year after year day by day this is becoming more of an axiom. You see cameras every where you go these days city streets, train stops, grocery store, clubs, museums, banks....you name it, a camera is there most of the time recording every little movement. Since I've been taking the EL train in Chicago for the last 10 years or so to work I've seen many changes though the years.. 9/11 changed everything and since that day this heightened security has been pushed on people by the government to the point where it has just become a part of our everyday lives and sometimes it is probably invading into our personal lives...People are fighting for our personal freedoms everyday to how much success I'm not sure, but as long as someone is saying something is a good thing...Hopefully this photograph will help in the fight in some small little way...

Recycle

2011-08-24T22:35:00.003-05:00

Passing though my old stomping grounds of Oregon, IL. When I was in college I took this documentary photography class which changed at the time and still has a huge influence on me and how I photograph today. As a class we choose to photograph Route 64 which is North Ave in Chicago and it goes all the way out to Iowa. Jumping in a car with a friend usually Dan or a bunch of friends and just exploring and documenting the road...Its how I got hooked on road tripping and going to small towns really and plus I love to drive. From time to time since I've graduated college I'll get on RT 64 and drive though some of the towns I did back in college like I did on this one Sunday afternoon a month ago or so on my way back home from the Stephenson County Fair. Oregon is right on the Rock River on RT 64 and has always been one of the more interesting towns on 64. Its hard for me to come back to places I've been to before many times and try to make images. I always find it easier and more exciting to make images at places I've never been to before and getting my first responses to the place is always a thrill when the place a good. On this day it was a challenge since I had been to Oregon a few times, I had been out all afternoon in 100 degree heat feeling pretty tired I set out to try to make images. The great thing was the light was really great which always helps a lot. I came across one of the more interesting store fronts in town with this computer screen and a plant in this red pot really drew my attention. I love the shadow of the plant and how its kinda dancing around the recycling symbol on the screen was just perfect. The light on that plant is special in the way it's diagonally illuminating the plant...

Pretzel Power

2011-08-14T22:05:00.004-05:00

Found on a recent trip out to Freeport, IL, In what might the strangest choice for a school mascot ever, a Pretzel! When I saw the sign I had to stop, but I didn't know how I was going to make the photograph because it was just a sign. After parking to car walking up to the front of this sign, and seeing those football tackling sleds in the background, which I didn't see when I first saw the sign from the car made the photograph complete. The fact they were the same color as the Illinios state outline on the sign was icing on the cake The light could not have been more than perfect...At least this school won't have to worry about offending any race, people etc...poor pretzel

Stone Free

2011-08-09T21:00:00.003-05:00

I made a recent little day trip out to Freeport, IL one weekend with my friend Brendan and his sister Karen. We spent an interesting Sunday afternoon in 100 degree heat checking out the Stephenson County Fair. I knew that going to a place like this was going to be a challenge photographically because there is too much obvious stuff in this one place. While country fairs offer the usual rides, carnival food, animals, shows, games, and interesting people etc...Those are the obvious things that you see, well I'm looking for the not so obvious. Its not easy to find the obscure random things let alone at the County Fair. On our way out of the fair I see this warm earthy stone with the numbers 2002 and carved into it. I was immediately drawn to it. I tried looking at it from a few different angles I really wanted the 2002 to be visible. So I choose a slightly higher and angled down view which I felt worked the best. This is one of those things that leaves you to your imagination on what was this thing going to be. I felt that this was something started by someone and just stopped. Or it might be a work in progress? What does 2002 mean? You can go on and on... Lots of questions can be asked of an image and that's exciting to me. When something comes off at first mundane and mysterious and turns into something that has depth and feel makes for an interesting image that with each viewing something else is seen or felt....

Black Hole

2011-07-29T23:26:00.003-05:00

I think this is an image which kinda shows off my surrealistic influence. Specifically Rene Magritte who is one of my favorite painters surrealist or otherwise. I was over at my folks place on Sunday afternoon my brother was over as well and little did know that I would make an image of him while he was napping. What drew me to make this image was that hole in that black sock it was just so strange and I still feel that looking at the image now. I really like how the focus goes from sharp in the foreground and transitions into blur in the background. I knew this is what I wanted because I really wanted the hole to stand out from the rest. The rendition of the out of focus areas really adds kinda that painterly soft feel and the warm earthy tones help add to the atmosphere of the image....

Giant

2011-07-08T23:39:00.002-05:00

This is probably one of my more random bizarre images. On my back home from a recent road trip and just being in Atlanta, GA a week or so before. So when I saw this town by the name of Atlanta, IL I had to stop and see what this place was all about. As I was pulling into town seeing if there was anything to photograph I see this huge statue of this guy holding a hot dog. I was like I have to stop here and make a photograph. This was going be a difficult image to make. Being able to find the right angle and where in the frame to place the subject. Usually not a fan of placing subjects in the middle of the frame, but in this case it was the right thing to do, it felt right to my eye. The light wasn't the greatest, but some clouds overhead helped diffuse the harsh afternoon light. Reading the plaque by the statue apparently this is one of many RT 66 roadside attractions. These attractions were designed back in the day to make people stop in town. Well, it worked alright....

Deer

2011-07-05T22:42:00.003-05:00

On a recent trip down to Southern IL which started in the town of Alton. My friend Dan and I continued to drive though many other towns looking for photographs. When we ran across Kane, IL a town of about 459 people these are the types of places where its totally hit or miss some towns like Kane might have one or two shops, city hall, and a post office....Kane was no different really except it had a Taxidermist which we had never seen before....Dan spotted someone coming out of the place he broke the ice and started talking to this guy. The next thing you know we are in this place photographing. Its really unlike a place I've ever seen before... Deer heads all over the place, Deer huffs bundled together in a shopping cart, other deer parts, some skulls...When I looked at my film and scanned this image I was just as amazed ever more so then when I made it. I mean you just can't make this type of stuff up really! It was so surreal like something you might see in the movies. Apparently they do a lot of business and make good money at it as well. Someone has to do it I guess..

Fast Eddies

2011-06-19T00:56:00.002-05:00

On a recent visit in Alton, IL which happens to be the birthplace of Miles Davis and the reason why I met up with my friend Dan there to photograph. Alton is this smallish town 20,000 that's really got a charming vibe to it. While we did not find any mention of Miles, at the end of the first day of shooting looking for a place to eat and not having much luck. Fast Eddies was one of the few places that was open so we decided to check it out. Well, this place was what you might except from a classic midwestern town. Low ceilings, regular interesting people, Lots of old things on the walls, TVs with baseball on, bad cover band music, cheap food, Lots of beer(and according to a co worker of mine who is from the area the MOST amount of budwesier Beer consumed in America is here at Fast Eddies)

Pony Rides

2011-05-15T10:55:00.003-05:00

The flea market is one of my favorite place to photograph because you just never know what you going to run into or find. After photographing one morning for 2+ hours I was walking back to my car and on my way out I ran into this scene. What seemed at the time kinda of a innocent scene a guy giving pony rides to kids. At the time I was thinking I'm not sure if there was anything here that was of interest, but I still made the photograph away. I didn't think too much about what I had just photographed, but maybe in the back of my mind I knew something was there, but just could get a full understanding of the situation. That's one of the powers of photography is that you can freeze a moment in time where everything comes to together and it all makes sense. Its tough when your out making a photograph like this is you have to go on feel, instinct, and be decisive because things change in a 1/500 of a sec which in this case probably was the shutter speed. The interaction between the horse and his handler is priceless. The way that horse is looking with those eyes at his handler as if to say, "You have got to be kidding me, I have to give another ride to a kid". On queue from the edge of the frame here comes this kid all excited for a ride. The handler looking back at the horse with those dark sunglasses, thinking "Yeah, you will do what I say and as long as I want you to do it". The dynamic between animals and humans is one that's been going on for a long time...I could keep going on and on about this, the photograph is doing a great job of describing a small part of that dynamic...

Sunshine

2011-05-12T11:53:00.000-05:00

If I remember correctly I made this image while walking around my neighborhood. I like it for its simplicity, primitive nature, and rawness....

The Chase

2011-05-05T23:31:00.003-05:00

One Saturday afternoon on my way home this crazy fog rolling in right off that lake. I knew I had to find something to photograph. Driving by Northwestern U in Evanston, IL I ran into a who bunch of people playing some intermural sports. So I parked my car and got out and walked around. This fog was pretty thick and dense and making and added another obstacle for the players to deal with. I stopped and hung out watching this softball game and walked around the game trying to find a good angle to make a photograph. There goes this line drive into the the outfield with these 2 guys running after the ball I'm not sure if they could even see the ball.... The sun came out and the fog turned into a huge diffuser of light which was really nice. I was trying out this new film that was a bit more grainy which help add to the atmosphere of the photograph. I really enjoy making photographs that let people make there own interpretations and meanings. This photograph is no different I'm sure there are many different things one could pull away from this image. For me this image symbolizes how in life we might be chasing something would out knowing where we are going. Running though life trying to catch that one idea, thing, person, feeling, moment, spirit,.. etc

Habits

2011-04-30T23:07:00.002-05:00

Well I haven't posted in awhile and just got my internet back up and running. I rarely do triptychs If I ever have I can't remember, anyway here is one where I found 3 images that seemed to find together nicely. Old habits always can creeping back from the depths of one inner soul. I really like the subtle edges of the middle frame the glow of the first frame and the tension of the way the line in the concrete divides up the frame in the last image...

Ladies of the Night

2011-03-29T00:02:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted in awhile. This is an image I made a few months ago that has be sitting around. I tend to do that a lot just sit on images making sure I really like them or if there are any changes I may what to make in terms of the tonal balance. This image was a bit tricky since it was shot though a window the contrast was flat. So pushing and pulling the contrast via dodging and burning to make it pop a bit more which I'm pretty happy with right now. Its an image that's probably going to be a part of a group of images that I've been working out the idea for. I really like the contrast and juxtaposition of the glowing ball and woman eye. There seems to be a psychological thing going on here as well.... X=X= such an interesting light on the far left woman's forehead. Lots of different layers and I like how the composition leads you all over the frame...

The Dorks Part 2

2011-02-28T23:21:00.001-06:00

The Dorks

2011-02-28T22:19:00.003-06:00

As I mentioned in my previous post I went though my achieves of images I made about 10 yrs ago when I was asked to photograph this little band from Park Ridge called, "The Dorks" Chris the drummer and I were talking at work one day and he mentioned he was in this punk band and they were recording this new record. I remember thinking to myself, oh man Punk huh? It was a pretty predictable sounding type of music from my previous experiences. Its a sound I really wasn't that fond of at the time at all really. Chris was a cool guy and we got along pretty well. So when he asked me if I wanted to do some photos of the band I jumped at the chance. I remember going into the shoot thinking really not knowing what to expect. Chris was like just show up my folks place and we'll go from there. I still hadn't heard the music at all, I had my idea of punk music in my head. I was still a bit shy only to find that I was not alone in that department. Andy and Brendan the two guitarists were just as shy as me maybe even more so which was hard to believe. Luckily Chris and I had been working together for about 4 months or so and having him kinda lead the shoot helped out a lot. I had never been the type of photographer when photographing people to tell people what to do, where to stand etc....I just wanted them to be themselves be as natural as possible....I think these photographs reflect just that. The first time these guys plugged in and played a tune in the shed I really was blown away! This was not punk music I had in my head, it was rockin' raw and nasty the way anyone would want Rock music to be. I was hooked right then and there as I was photographing. Out of all the shows I ever saw these guys play they sounded the best when I was photographing them in that Shed. I was really looking forward to hearing the whole record. When Chris told me that I had gotten the cover I was even more excited! It was certainly the first time I had ever gotten a cover of an album. I was never the goal to get an album cover shot, but it just worked out that way. We shared lots of good laughs good times over the years for sure. I would also go on to photograph a bunch of live shows as well, what is represented here is the iconically the last Dorks show at the legendary Fireside Bowl. It really was a pleasure to do these images and would like to thank the guys for the opportunity again for letting me into their little world...Not only did I get an album cover and lots of photographs, I made some of my best friends from this experience I shall never forget....

In Memory of Pete

2011-02-13T08:53:00.005-06:00

I first met Pete when he was a member this small band from Park Ridge, IL called The Dorks back in 2001. I was asked by a co-worker/friend Chris if I wanted to come and photograph the band. I jumped at the opportunity since I loved music and had never really photographed many bands...I showed up at their practice spot which happened to be in his folks backyard in the "Shed". to photograph. I was kinda shy at the time when I first met the rest of the band, it was a bit awkward since Andy and Brendan seemed to be shy as well. Pete on the other hand was just this care free guy I think he probably showed up late of someone had to go pick him up. I made lots photographs that day one of which ended up on the cover of the album which I thought was really cool I had never had a album cover image before. I have more photos which I will post once I got though them all.....

I would continue to photograph and hangout with the band though out years at shows. This image was from the Last Dorks show at the legendary Fireside Bowl in Chicago 2002 which hosted numerous underground local shows though the years. I was really looking forward to photographing this show, Brendan the other guitar player who had quit If I remember correctly earlier in 2002 or late 2001, who had become a really good friend of mine was going to play one last time. Before the show if I'm remembering correctly I was talking to Pete for a bit and he mentioned that he had just gotten this brand new Epiphone hollowbody bass guitar. He went over to grab the case to show it to me. Even though I wasn't a musician and couldn't play a lick I loved instruments and was kinda of a gear head so I was happy for him to show it to me. I was like "WOW" that thing is going to sound great though the Traynor amp that he had. He was really excited about playing the guitar for the first time out live. Sure enough that hollowbody bass sounded amazing during the show, warm and big sounding! I find out that bass guitar ends up being stolen a weeks later at another show so this image along with a few other images from the show, are probably the only ones that show him playing it...

This one here is one of my favorites. It embodies what Pete was on stage, a Rocker, Cool, he had that Punk rock attitude on stage. Off stage he was a warm care free person, who lived that Rock n Roll lifestyle, lived life on the edge, a goof ball, a good person who had many friends. Pete would be a parties over at Brendan's place and would always chat with him usually about music and whatever else was going on. One time a few years back I had just gotten the Beatles in MONO box set for Christmas. I posted a message on facebook about just getting the Beatles in MONO that I was lovin' and needed to listen more. Pete sends me a e-mail about MONO recordings and how the mixes were butchered when they remixed them for stereo. He recommended me another MONO recording, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society as another MONO album to check out since the MONO got butchered when remixed for stereo.

Even though I didn't know him as well as Brendan, Chris, and others I heard many crazy stories about Pete. Whether it was getting arrested for spray painting the Real World house or being on the road with the Dorks being all drunk fighting with Chris and putting him though a wall... There was one time it was the first show after Brendan quit the band, the Dorks were playing at this place called the Prodigal Sun in Chicago, and I came to shoot some video and pictures. At the time I was trying to do more portraits and ran into this drunk Punk Rocker girl after the show. I asked to make her photograph which I did. A few minutes later there is Pete making out with the same girl I just photographed! After they were done, I go to Pete I just made her photograph, and he goes something like I just met this girl tonight...I was like damn! The photograph of her is probably one of my fav portraits. I remember he always had probably one the warmest handshakes which suited the type of person he was. I believe the last time I saw Pete was sometime last year 2010 he was playing bass for another band and Brendan and I were going to check them out. He had broken his leg after being hit by a car while riding his bike. Talking to him before the show I hadn't seem him a in long time and we were talking about old times and catching up. When talking about how he broke his leg he just let it roll of his back really like it wasn't a big deal. His leg in a brace underneath his pants he got up on stage and rocked it! Pete tragically lost his life a week ago today. Rest in Peace my friend keep on rockin' will be remember in peoples hearts and photographs...

Light Fall

2011-02-02T00:00:00.002-06:00

If you look at the my previous image I posted, right after I made it, I then turned to my right and I saw this image. Light cascading though the trees, that crazy steep angle of the hill, all those leaves, that light hitting that tree on the left hand side of the frame. I just love all the tones in the leaves in the foreground. You can really get the sense of falling with the angle of the hill which flows nicely with the light....

The St. Joesph River

2011-01-30T11:17:00.005-06:00

This is a classic case of a roll of film that was in the camera that I started in mid to late summer and was finished at the end of Dec 2010. I have been shooting more color these days...I go though phases of going between color and B&W it really is an interesting dynamic. There are times are times when I'm seeing the colors more clearer I guess and it just speaks to me more. That said this image is probably one of my fav B&W images I've made in awhile. I made it early fall (2010) while visiting my folks weekend home in Buchanan, MI. I've been there many times over the years and have photographed the river a bunch of times. The light on this day was really nice afternoon light falling though the trees. Its the contrast and that dancing light and all the dark gray tones that just sing. The water kinda rolling in just adds a nice little touch that pulls the image together....This is what B&W photography is all about...

Jailed

2011-01-05T20:31:00.004-06:00

While driving the back roads of Southern Illinois I ran into this small town by the name of Grand Chain. I don't remember even seeing a population at all....This jail was the first thing that I saw. It just seemed not to be real at all, like they put it up for an old western movie remake.... This image is a part of photographer Rachel Wolfe's "Grand" project http://agrandproject.blogspot.com/ If you have images made in a "Grand" town please submit them to keep the project a float....

Southern IL

2011-01-04T00:18:00.003-06:00

During the last week of December 2010 feeling inspired I decided to drive down to Southern IL to discover more about the state I live in....Starting at the home of Superman in Metropolis, IL, to the most Southern tip of Illinois Cairo and driving some back roads and visiting a few small towns...crappy weather cut the trip a bit short, but I still felt it was a very productive trip. Hopefully I will go down south sometime soon...So 903 miles later here is a few of my discoveries....the rest you can see on my flickr page....http://www.flickr.com/photos/35photo/

Electric Plant

2010-12-31T14:59:00.003-06:00

Its been a fun 2010 had a great time photographing and looking forward to doing way more in 2011.....I'll leave you with last image I made on Christmas night after I got home for my folks. I decided to talk a walk about the block with a camera I had been borrowing from a friend of mine. I had walked by this window gosh I don't know how many times and never made an image. Maybe I couldn't figure out how to best make it? Well on this night I saw it and knew exactly how I wanted to do it. Those neon lights really create a sort of electric light as if that plant was plugged into the wall, it just really radiates and pulsates with life....

Joe

2010-11-16T23:59:00.003-06:00

One day over the summer I drove down to Lawrence Ave and went on a walk to look to make some photographs. Kinda inspired by photographer Alec Soth in making a photograph of a stranger. I really wasn't looking to make a portrait, as I was walking this guy in the back of this truck had seen me with my camera and was like, "Take a picture of this". So I was more than happy to and we got into a conversation on what I was doing and Joe was explaining to me about this fruit or vegetable that he is holding in the image and how you could only get it in Mexico. I forgot what this fruit or vegetables name was, I will have to do some research and figure out what its called. I always seem to usually make the best portraits of strangers when they come up to me and ask for me to make their photograph. They usually see the big camera, the hasselblad in this case and probably think this guy is probably pretty serious or something. I have gotten more and more comfortable in making portraits of strangers and have even gone up to people and asked them if I could make their portrait. Trust and confidence are keys in photographing people whether you know them or not. This is still a work in progress for me, but I have have watched some of the best photographers whether watching a youtube video with Alec Soth, being in a lecture with Dave Jordano, or out photographing with one of my best friends Dan Videtich. I feel all 3 of these photographers have helped me on how to approach photographing strangers and just being more comfortable and confident in situations....

Empty

2010-11-04T22:48:00.002-05:00

Your seeing a lot of this these days empty stores. The economy is not so hot, people are losing their jobs, lots of businesses are closing down....What stuck me about making this image was the space both inside and outside and how the two merged . It has an almost dreamlike feel, like I just woke up and can see quite straight seeing things in multiples....

Swap O Rama Continued

2010-10-17T14:55:00.002-05:00

Swap O Rama

2010-10-17T14:40:00.005-05:00

Its been awhile since I've posted so I've got a whole bunch of images from over the summer to my travels to the various Swap O Rama Flea Markets around the city. Since Maxwell Street has kinda lost its luster and unfortunately people really haven't been going much to for various reasons. So I've found a nice place to make photographs and its not the same as Maxwell Street, but the Swap O Rama Flea markets around the city and burbs have something a bit different to offer. Not as diverse as Maxwell Street, but there is still lots to photograph.....I will certainly be revisiting in the future....

Unwound

2010-09-06T22:23:00.002-05:00

Took a walk in a sculpture park today as I've done a few times in the past and have usually walked away with a few good images. The light was great today for B&W nice soft and really diffused. I really like the relationship between the foreground to the background, there is a really nice energy going on between the two. This is a series that hopefully I can keep on developing more in time......

Love

2010-08-15T13:10:00.003-05:00

All we need is love right? This one morning I was down at the "New New Maxwell Street" flea market in Chicago a few weeks back. Seeing that white teddy bear wrapped in cellophane with the word "love" stitched on the bottom of its paw just jumped out at me. Its one of those things that when you see and you go, "how can I make an interesting photograph of that?" I made a few different versions, but this one works that best. It gives perspective, those people hanging out talking to each other, the guy with his hand on the woman's shoulder....Yet the bear is just sitting there waiting to be picked up and shown the love that we all need....

Chicago EL

2010-08-14T10:45:00.005-05:00

I for some reason like to create chaos in my images and this one is no exception. What drew to me making this image were those crazy abstract magenta shadows that are happening on the train tracks. Everything else seemed to fall into place from all the lines in the building in the background to all the lines and colors going on in the train entrance. It almost feels like some sort of a action movie, the calm chaos before the real action starts happening.....

Imagine

2010-07-12T19:53:00.003-05:00

One Sunday about a month or so ago my friend Brendan and I decided to check out a new flea market that we had never been to. This is the Swap-O-Rama flea market in Alsip, IL. I've always been interested in flea markets, Maxwell Street being the one that I've photographed the most. The thing with these markets is you just never know what you are going to discover these places are full of people and stuff and its always a good time no matter if I buy anything or not.....the possibilities are endless photographically......

Red Alert

2010-06-27T12:19:00.005-05:00

This image is one of the reasons why color photography is so exciting to me. The combination of light, shadow, and color makes for a very dynamic image. When I saw this image scanned it made me smile, its one of those times that an image came out better than I originally thought it would...

Beer

2010-06-12T17:32:00.004-05:00

Fundamentally photography is about light and if you don't have it, you don't have a photograph. One morning a few weeks ago, I had just stepped out of my apartment and this was the first thing that caught my eye. Not so much the mundane subject matter, but that light and how it was dancing though the trees and landing on the subject. The light makes everything just comes to life. Without out this interesting light the image would be rather boring and uninteresting....

Dog World

2010-05-25T00:02:00.003-05:00

This is one of those times when I was interested in one thing in the frame and that was that dog on the dashboard. When I made the image I was looking at any of the crazy reflections going on, and now when I look at the image it like wow, there was just so much more going on in the frame than I thought about at the time. That's exciting to me, seeing something after the fact and how it fits into what I was originally looking at...Funny how things just seem to some together that way. All those reflections create this 3D world around this dog almost like a dream in a way....

Driveway

2010-05-12T23:53:00.004-05:00

I was going though a bunch of images that I had made within the last few months. I kinda forgot about this image I made while I was in NYC this past February. I remember when I first came I across it thinking how surreal. It certainly does have a surrealist feel to it with a graphic edge which is an interesting dynamic.

Picks

2010-05-03T22:57:00.002-05:00

I got these guitar picks from a co worker of mine, her ex-boyfriend was a roadie for the Foo Fighters. I always love collecting little odds and ends of music memorabilia. I thought is was really cool that these picks were personalized with their nicknames on the back, adds a nice little touch. I really like the shallow depth of field when you get to the last pick it almost feels like its vibrating off a string on a guitar....

Flower Girl

2010-04-25T09:37:00.003-05:00

This is another image from Serbia that I made last year which I liked, but I didn't like that actual scan of the transparency. It just didn't work for whatever reason. So yesterday I was doing some more Polaroid transfers and decided to try this image, and guess what, it was magic! It works on so many levels, the paper has a slightly warmer tone, and I love the color its as a bit more subdue and the texture of the paper just adds a nice feel...One of my new few Polaroid transfers!

The Stapler

2010-04-21T10:10:00.004-05:00

Going back to a bunch of photographs I made earlier this year when I was doing some still life images. I was looking for things around my apartment that would be interesting to photograph. This was my Dad's old stapler that just kinda got past down to me over the years. I'm not sure where he got it, but its certainly very unique. They just don't make things like they used to, this stapler is probably 40 yrs old and still works great! I've always felt its form and design were really interesting, and by photographing its profile really shows it off. Its very elegant, practical, and abstract at the same time which is why its so charming.

Yellow

2010-04-13T00:10:00.003-05:00

I've been looking at this space ever since they tore down the building that used to be there, for what reason I have no idea! At one time they were going to develop it to put in another ugly new condo building, didn't happened probably because the developer ran out of money and couldn't get enough idiots to by something that's not even built! On my way home on day after work a few days ago, everything fell into place, light was nice, right angle....that yellow box I have always wondered what was there at one point in time. It must have been covered up by something...The warmth of the light on the buidling with the windows and that plain yellow box they just seem to work off each other.....

Hands and Socks

2010-04-06T21:28:00.004-05:00

So I was playing around with my iPhone camera since I let my other cameras at home since it was pouring out this morning. I;ve seen some things on the internet using the iPhone camera....I always forget I have a camera on my phone since I usually have one of my regular cameras with me. So I thought I would experiment a bit, made some observations on my EL ride home. I view this camera kinda like a holga, a sketching tool....Brought the images into photoshop and tweaked them a bit nothing too major...Maybe I'll do some more or at least remember if I don't have one of my other cameras that I have the camera on the iPhone I can use to create....

Woman's Best Friend

2010-04-05T18:56:00.002-05:00

I was out on lunch break at work last week, I had just gotten a new lens for my camera and it was a nice day out. Normally I don't like to photograph in the middle of the day since the light a usually kinda hash. One this day it was harsh and defused so it can work. I sat around a little park by Marina City for awhile nothing much happening photographically. So on the way back to the office I walked down State Street when I ran across this lady sitting in the back of her mini van with her dog. It just seemed so random! I got as close as I could to make the image which was about 15 ft from her. She never saw me I don't think. I love how her and her dog are both looking in the same direction which really makes the photograph for me.....

Mother Betty

2010-04-02T22:11:00.002-05:00

I made this image a few weeks ago when I was at NIU in Dekalb seeing the photographer Dave Jordano speak. After spending the whole day seeing Dave's work and him talking to the students. Myself, my Professor Larry Gregory, Paul Clark(another professor), and Dave had dinner. Feeling inspired I hit the road on my way back home, I decided to take RT 38 which I really hadn't done when I was in school at NIU. I was losing light pretty fast when I ran across this small roadside Cemetary I had to stop. The sun was sitting kinda low and when I came across this image it was that reddish hue that attracted me. It had a really warm and comforting feeling to me. Its as if the tree and grave were just meant to be together. The fact that grave belongs to a Mother made the image complete. There certainly seems to have holy feeling going on. Things just fell into place rather nicely. I knew that it was a keeper as soon as I saw it.....

William Gary, IN

2010-03-30T00:27:00.002-05:00

A few minutes after I photographed Mr. Jackson walking down a sidewalk to ran into William, I think that's what his name was. Anyway he was this huge guy that seemed to take up the whole sidewalk, there was no way around him. He seemed kinda suspicious to what I was doing, but after chatting with him for awhile and a few fist bumps later he let me make his photograph. A really nice guy and this photograph is how I remember him he was looking down at me because he was so tall.....

On an Island

2010-03-24T22:18:00.002-05:00

This is the photograph and lead me to photographing Mr. Jackson. I will never forget him saying to me that, "Artists don't photograph garbage cans" It always really interesting to me what I see compared to what someone else sees in a scene. Everyone just has different sensibilities based on there surroundings and experiences.....

J. Jackson Part 2

2010-03-15T20:26:00.002-05:00

Here is the second photograph I took of mister Jackson. It certainly has a more intimate feel since I was able to get closer with the Hasselblad which had a lens that was more for portraits. I like both as each has there own qualities that makes them interesting...I will be sending Mr. Jackson prints of these 2 images and hopefully when I go back to Gary I might stop by....

J. Jackson

2010-03-10T20:46:00.002-06:00

I rarely do many portraits, even more rare that I do a portrait of a stranger. I was on my way back home from a work assignment in Valparaiso, IN, I decided to stop in Gary, IN because I'd always heard cool things about the place, I mean it is the home of the King of Pop....So I got out and walked around one of the main streets making some images. Long story short, I was out by a side of a building making some images when a guy started yelling at me, I turned around and no one was there. Then I looked up and there was this guy on a phone, asking me why I was making a photograph of a dumpster? Well, the photograph that I made wasn't about the dumpster it had more to do with the color....So I get into a conversation with this guy which eventually leeds me to making a few portraits of him.....It might not be my best portrait, but it one that I really had to talk my way into and I'm most proud of being able just to be able to make the image.

Landscapes

2010-03-04T00:00:00.002-06:00

One my way home from a friends house one night as I drove past this truck and I knew I had to turn around and make an image. The whole idea of and landscape truck in a cityscape was appealing to me. It was pretty dark out. So I pull my car in back of this truck, and I knew I needed more light so I turned my headlights back on to illuminate the back of the truck, which worked out perfectly. Landscape + Cityscape = a cool image I think....

Root Beer

2010-02-28T18:33:00.002-06:00

I love history, and when I see something like this it makes me feel good to have found it. They could have easily just covered the sign with that siding. Its great that they took the time to cut the siding preserving that sign means something, its one of the rare things you see these days....

Tractor

2010-02-21T00:53:00.002-06:00

This one is from on of the last rolls from when I was down south last year. I believe this was in some town which I can't remember the name of that I stopped on my way back to St Louis. I remember there was a small fire behind that fence which was probably pretty typical in that neck of the woods. I love all the green with the red accents is what attracted me to making this image and that smoke in the background adds to it...

Rock Abstract

2010-02-13T09:10:00.004-06:00

I dug a little bit deeper in the archive to find this image. Its from a few years ago I think I was on a beach that had a whole bunch of rocks. It really feels like a cave relief sculpture. Love all the subtle colors, textures, and forms that come in and out the the rocks from light to dark. Its probably one of my fav abstracts I've done in awhile...

Christmas Trees

2010-02-07T09:53:00.002-06:00

I was walking around a freezing my ass off trying to make some images on a beach in Rogers Park. I found this image to be kinda odd can't say I've ever seen people do something like this before....why?

Tailor Shop

2010-02-04T23:47:00.003-06:00

I can't remember when I took this image exactly probably around 2004 in the summer. This was one of the last remaining buildings on the Old Maxwell Street flea market. I won't go into the history of the place lets just say it was around for a very long time. A historic place that UIC decided to buy up all the land and to expand their campus. Whenever I've seen color photos from Maxwell Street back in the day the colors were always just gaudy and taken in bad light. I've alway known Maxwell Street in B&W it just always felt right. On this day I drove by later in the afternoon around 3 or 4pm and I happened to have color film in the camera so I was like hell, why not light was great nice and warm, so I made a few images this one of the the ones I liked. I remember going inside the tailor shop one time and met by these 2 older men that were just so paranoid like the Nazi's were going in to get them and would not let me photograph at all. The guy sitting in front of the building was there if I remember correctly was to take care and feed some cats there were living there. I don't think he was living there at the time maybe he was, but all those 2 buidlings were really close to being demolished. These homeless guys would back into these places just for a place to sleep. This area if you go there now does not look anything close to what it used to be and its a shame really. History down the tubes at least we have the photographs......

Reds, Clarksdale, MS

2010-02-01T22:16:00.003-06:00

I remember the first time I drove past this place, it was in the evening when I first pulled into town. I was you have got to be kidding me! This was an almost, wait is was surreal scene! They sure love their BBQ and smokers, I saw a lot of these types of things in front of restaurants, clubs, by houses....

Wabash Ave.

2010-01-28T00:56:00.005-06:00

After work one day over the summer I was walking Wabash ave toward Wacker Dr.. I'm not sure what stuck me about this image when I saw it. I think it was just a different perspective on the street maybe in life. There is a sense of rythm to the street that just moves you in the frame. I like how the building and the curved edges meet to make the image cohesive and solid I've walked in this area a bunch of times the great thing is everyday everytime your eye is going to find something new whether or not you make of photograph of it doesn't matter. What matters is that your always looking at the world around you and you never know where that next image will come from. In this case case the image came from up above.

Delphin

2010-01-25T00:25:00.003-06:00

I drive by this grade school all the time usually on my way to my folks place. The school has these cool bubble like windows. This one window where has always interested me every time I pass by. I've photographed it once before, it was an ok image and since I've always every time I pass by am thinking on how to make a better image. Well, I figured it out, one: get even closer, two: use a slightly wider angle lens, three use a square format camera holga worked out perfectly in this case. I love the natural fisheye kind of lens effect that is created by coming in closer. This image has an interesting layered depth I really like. It kinda has this worldly feeling going on....

Plaid

2010-01-21T23:48:00.002-06:00

I made this image one my way to the train over the summer. Everything just seemed to line up, love the colors and that warm morning light really does it for me......I guess plaid is back again well at least for this image,

Window

2010-01-19T22:55:00.002-06:00

This image is from a roll of film that has been sitting around since the early summer last year just waiting to be developed. Its one of those images when I saw it I really liked it, but wasn't sure why....I love those silvery mid tones they are just so rich! There is kinda of ghostly feeling I kinda get when looking at this image. That white swirl or I'm not sure what to call it, but it just floats there in a soft seductive way...

Deadwood

2010-01-17T00:19:00.002-06:00

This was one of the first images I took while in Clarksdale, MS in October. I remember it was a cloudy kinda and a misty rain with really diffused lighting. The blue just jumped out at me with all the different lines and textures....The more I looked at image the more I saw a transparent quality between the lighter areas contrasting with the darker areas forming an interesting dynamic.....

Pond

2010-01-15T22:29:00.003-06:00

While on a bike ride in a forest preserve over the summer this scene really caught my eye. I love how the light is hovering over the image, which adds an a very atmospheric warmth. It has a semi abstractness going from reality to abstract in different parts of the image helps create even more interest. The variety of green hues really adds a certain depth that makes you keep looking. It feels very much like a Monet painting....

Upstairs

2010-01-14T00:05:00.005-06:00

Walking around downtown St. Louis in the early afternoon, it had been raining all morning on my drive there from Chicago. When I saw this image it jumped right out at me, the light, the abstractness, the form, and the tone it was all there. It kinda reminds me of a Cubist painting in a way.... This was one of those moments when I could almost see the final image in my head before I took the photograph, and that's what is on the negative.....

Robinson's Chapel

2010-01-12T23:39:00.002-06:00

This image is from my road trip down to Mississippi last Oct. It came off out of the last rolls of film I just recently processed from the Holga camera. Its a double exposure I did in the camera can't remember where the trees were probably not too far from the chapel. This chapel was at the end of a dirt road couldn't tell you want town it was in. I really glad the double exposure worked the few times I've tried them they never came out the way I would like, but this out came out perfectly. I also found it interesting that there were these head stones around the front of the chapel probably the first time I've ever seen that before that's for sure. Anyway this image is a keeper.....

American Family

2010-01-12T07:49:00.002-06:00

Over 4th of July weekend this past year I was at my folks weekend home in Buchanan Michigan. I came across this image while walking around downtown Buchanan. I just found it interesting that someone would have this old family photo in a store front. I love history and this really speaks it to me....

Candles

2010-01-10T08:34:00.002-06:00

I've had these candles sitting around in my apartment and have for along time wanted to photograph them. The reason probably way I hadn't photographed them before was I didn't know really how to approach doing it. Well, I figured it out ....I really dig the tone, color, and daylight is the best light!

Curtain

2010-01-09T08:04:00.002-06:00

I ran across this image up at my parent's place in the living room. I like how the light moulds on part of the curtain making it standout, it also has a mysterious 3D quality as well. The tone and gradations make it a real pleasing image to me.

Fence Art

2010-01-06T22:08:00.003-06:00

As I was driving past my old grade school in Wilmette, IL I saw that the students hoad done this what I would call "Fence Art" with different colors of fabric that had little drawings on them. It really stuck out to me as I hadn't seen it before and it has been awhile since I last drove by. I was really trying to figure out how to make a photograph, it was pretty cold out so I didn't have much time as my hands were freezing. I chose to do more of a close up of a section of the piece since there was all these little drawings that were in the fabric. The peace sign is really what drew my eye to this part of the work, and everything else just fell into place. It really great to see the young people that see peace as something that's important. I really dig the color, its really deep and pretty intense. I'm not sure how much of that comes across in the small jpg file, but in the high res file it really jumps.....

Roses

2010-01-05T23:11:00.002-06:00

So while I was over at my folks place over the weekend I wondered around the apartment looking for cool things to photograph. I ran across this when I was in there bedroom. Its the light and the color that attracted me to make the photograph.

Tie

2010-01-04T22:32:00.003-06:00

This image is from the other day in my brothers room. I think what caught my eye was the to different patterns on the guitar and tie that clash with each other, works for me. I also like the negative space that works with holding the composition togetherIts Rock N Roll, what a better tie holder than a guitar....

Light

2010-01-03T09:20:00.003-06:00

I took this one yesterday while hanging out with my brother in his room helping out with an ebay auction. I like the dramatic tones from goes from extreme highlight to extreme shadow. The tilted light holder just adds an extra touch of awkwardness and mystery.

Bottles

2010-01-02T11:04:00.002-06:00

Here is the very first shot with my make shift studio space in my apartment. I've been collecting these twist ties for awhile now, I'm not sure why, probably because why throw them away when you can reuse them.....

The Shadows

2010-01-01T21:09:00.003-06:00

With the New Year brings a new challenges. My friend Brendan who went fishing out of town for a week has let me borrow/take care of his Hasselblad CFV39 digital back and 2 Speedotron strobes. I normally don't do much table top photography, but I thought what a perfect time to play around with the idea. Plus its freezing outside, so I've been just finding things around my apartment that would be fun and interesting to photograph. I made a few images the last 2 days, but here is the first one of 2010. An old 45 that my Dad got from a friend of his in Serbia of his favorite childhood group Hank Marvin and the Shadows. If you haven't heard of them or heard their music do youself a favor search on itunes, amazon, or better yet go to grooveshark.com and stream of their music. If you love guitar instrumental music your in for a treat!

Happy 2010
Marko

One Last One From Down South

2009-12-12T17:08:00.001-06:00

More More More More from Down South

2009-12-12T17:06:00.002-06:00

More More More from Down South

2009-12-12T17:04:00.002-06:00

More More from Down South

2009-12-12T17:01:00.002-06:00

Even More from Down South

2009-12-12T16:59:00.001-06:00

More from Down South

2009-12-12T16:57:00.001-06:00

Down South

2009-12-12T16:32:00.002-06:00

This past October my friend Dan and I took a road trip for a week down to Memphis and Mississippi. Driving the back roads, though small towns, on Route 61 (The Blues Highway)..... Here is a selection of images from the trip. Hopefully we can do this again there was just sooo much to photograph, I feel like we just hit the tip of the iceberg....

Uptown

2009-09-07T01:20:00.001-05:00

New Colors Continued.....

2009-08-09T08:21:00.002-05:00

New Colors

2009-08-09T07:49:00.002-05:00

These next set of images are from the last 4 rolls of film. Chicago and a few small towns in Michigan are the source of where these were made......

More Serbia Photographs Continued.........

2009-06-21T15:19:00.002-05:00

More Serbia Photographs Continued....

2009-06-21T15:17:00.001-05:00

More Serbia Photographs

2009-06-21T15:11:00.003-05:00

Many people have been asking "Where are your photos from Serbia" WelI just finally got though all my 15 rolls of film I shot in Serbia this past May. I scanned 100 images and edited that down to about 40 some. I couldn't fit everything on my site so here are the rest of the images. If you got on my site www.35photo.com you will see more/ Hope you dig. There will probably be a few more down the line here as well. If you have any comments or questions feel free to ask.....

The Differents At the Abbey Pub

2009-06-08T19:31:00.004-05:00

This past Friday night I when out to see my friend Lou's band the Differents at the Abbey Pub. They hadn't played a show in 5 years. I hadn't really photographed at a show in awhile, I'm glad a did this time because I made probably one of my new favorite concert photographs(The first photograph of the set). I certainly hope the Differents do more shows, if you ever have a chance do yourself a favor and go and check them out. They play Rock n Roll that way its meant to be played! The next 4 photographs are from the show with my Leica M2 50mm lens, and Ilford Delta 3200 @ 1600

Classic Chicago Store Fronts

2009-04-14T22:22:00.005-05:00

Jesus

2009-04-14T22:22:00.003-05:00

For Rent

2009-04-14T22:21:00.000-05:00

Yeah

2009-04-14T22:20:00.002-05:00

Park & Beach

2009-04-05T23:50:00.003-05:00

Park & Beach

2009-04-05T23:49:00.003-05:00

Park & Beach

2009-04-05T23:48:00.003-05:00

Park & Beach

2009-04-05T23:46:00.002-05:00

American Car

2009-03-20T00:49:00.000-05:00

Home

2009-03-20T00:48:00.004-05:00

Women

2009-03-20T00:48:00.003-05:00