Toy

Oil

I would say this a photograph that makes a statement about our current oil situation. I have to say I hate polities, but we are in a crisis and something needs to be changed now! A revolution is needed and is wanted by many people in the US. Everyone has to embrace change, its not going to be easy that's for sure. I hope little things like this photograph will opens you eyes a bit more and makes you think about the world we live in and how we all can make it better.

Judson Castle

My apartment window overlooks this beautiful doorway. I love the architectural details such as well the name of the building Judson Castle, I'm not sure if that's what its called, but its pretty neat. All the ivy that runs up the building offers many interesting patterns and shapes. Every morning I look out at it, I've seen in all different lighting conditions, different seasons. I love studying how different light effects the look and feel of the doorway. Its really interesting because the doorway area has the full range of tones from hightlights to midtones, to shadows so it really makes it an ideal subject to study lighting patterns. Sometimes its really alive looking other times its really dead looking that usually happens when its grey and overcast. I've found my favorite light for this doorway seems to be the morning light say 7-8am, its really warm and inviting and really makes the doorway come alive. I've taken a few images of this doorway none that I've really liked until this one. I thinking of maybe doing a small series on this doorway and see what comes of it.....stay tuned

Purington Paver

I borrowed my friends 4X5 camera, I'm feeling the need to challenge myself photographically. Stepping out of my photographic comfort zone. I am eventually going to do a series of portraits of my co-workers. I created this image just wanting to test out and play with the camera some. I haven't used a 4X5 camera in years, I'm probably doing to do some more test images to get more comfortable working with the bigger camera. These are 2 street paver bricks that I found at the Old Maxwell Street area. I was driving around with a friend at the time, when we ran into a whole brunch of bricks in the back alley right behind Jim's Hot Dog Stand. So we decided to take a few and I'm so glad I did. Since the city of Chicago really doesn't care too much about its own history and just loves to tear down and erase history..... These bricks I would guess might be around a 100 years old represents a part of the City of Chicago's history that's not there anymore a shame.....but at aleast I have the bricks to show for it and that means a lot.

Naked

This image just seemed to make sense to me. Naked tree, Naked bricks, Naked posters. It all works together and relate to each other. This image to part of a new series on Lawrence Ave and other Chicago streets. I am finding many types of interesting juxtapositions and relationships, and I will continue to seek them out.

Yellow + Green

Last post of 2007......enjoy

Thin Ice

Ran into this image while out testing out the Mamiya 645 AFD. I'm really impressed by the tones that the lens is able to capture. There is just so much depth from dark to light tones. There is almost a 3D quality enough though the subject matter is flat its seems to want to jump out at you. The light is nice and diffused which adds to the overall image giving it a some mystery. Can't wait to shoot some more with the camera!

iPod Found

While going on a walk this Saturday afternoon, had my polaroid spectra camera in hand. I came across this image, and I just though wow, I've never seen anything like it. Someone actually finding something that was not theirs and posting a sign on a tree in probably the area it was ound with a phone number hoping someone would call to claim it. This restores my faith in people just a bit, people actually care! I mean 99% of the time its finders keepers losers weepers. Which is totally valid and one point of view, but the other point of view in the photograph is rarely seen these days. Its one of the more random images I've come across. It just makes you stop and think, the next time you find something, maybe you will remember tis photograph.

The King

Ahh...The King. What a great memorial to one of the greatest Rock n Roll musicians/ cultural American icons ever! The flowers whoever arranged them works perfectly. It almost feels like the photograph could have been a headstone and it would have been really fitting. I love the checkerboard tiles as well, it really gives you a sense of movement and excitement just like when Elvis was performing on stage. In sure Elvis would have loved to perform on the checkerboard stage, he probably did at one time or another.

American Indian

I was out photographing this past Tues in the late morning. When I stumbed upon this image as I was walking in a part of Chicago called Edgebrook. Right away the saw the relationship with the American Indian and the American flag and the words "In the memory of 911" and the Statue of Liberty graphic. It is one those images that is almost automatic when I see it because is was so clear to me on why it an important image. I'm not going to go into the whole meaning etc.....I think everyone can draw there own conclusions.

Alien Car

A very odd image, it really seems like the car is embedded in the vines. I just feel aliens are invading, looking at the shapes in the the pavement look like something is going to land. Also the highlighted area in the upper lefthand corner, just looks like some is going to sweep right in and take over the car.

Keep off the Grass

I was messing around with this image, a settled on a cross-processed look. Which seems to work giving the image kind of an old '70s greenish blueish look. I think the cross-processed look makes the image feel classic and makes more of statement about man's invading nature and that we know have to put up a sign on a tree to 'Keep off the Grass" to preserve it? I just love the irony.

Quad Water Series

I took these images separately in the same shooting session. They were not intented to be grouped together like this at the time I was photographing. Its one of those things that happens after the fact when you have the images in front of you in this case scanned in. It just made sense to put them all together. This is a really hard subject matter to digest in one sitting because there is just so much going on in just one of the images. They can be looked at all together or one at a time and can be interrupted in many different ways which is the beauty of it. Love that each image can stand on its own as well as in a group form as they are here.

Seattle Music Lady

This lady was sitting in front of the first Starbucks in Seattle, WA. Can't say I've ever seen a harpsichord played by a street musician. I'm sure there is an interesting story as why this lady started play harpsichord? Another thing that's really cool about the photograph is that their is a large red music note on the concrete to the right of her. I wonder if that note was put there so that street musicians would know that this is a designated area for them to play? It looks like she is singing in the photograph even though I don't remember hearing anything when I was taking the photograph.

Expert Dry Cleaning

What grabbed my attention was the woman graphic. Which I later find out after scanning the photo the woman was on a side of a pinball machine in a dry cleaners? That is a new one on me that's for sure. I like how the gray metal beams in the window break up the frame which add more interest to the image and reflection on the fence on the right ride of the window adds more dimension and depth.

MailBox

Walking down in the GoldCoast neighborhood in Chicago I saw this mailbox with flowerboxs drapped over it. Just seemed weird that someone would think to decorate a mailbox since we have this love hate relationship with the US mail at times. I guess it was someone just show some love that they cared about the US mail. Or someone's idea to beautify a street corner that otherwise was dull. Either way its pretty interesting thing. I also dig that that early evening light really adds an extra touch of elegance.

Red Light

Came acorss this image while wakling around Chicago on Sunday morning. The red light has a real soft diffused light that makes it glow and draws you right into the the image. The image has a smoky/ murky type of a feel as if I was in some old bar or restaurant. The depth of the shadows also draws you to look more into the image.

Moving Sale

A very surreal and mysterious image. A totally random image used to promote a moving sale, works for me. The one other thing that really strickes me about the image, is the gray piece I guess its wood thats hanging from the bottom of the sign, makes it seem like the bottom of the black pole is split in half and that the sidewalk continues right though the pole. It very odd and triguing image

New Maxwell Street 1

This image is part of the on going New Maxwell Street series of images. Taken early on Sunday morning oh probably 5:30 am or so. Just a wonderful light that early in the morning really helps this image. I love how the whole car is just stuffed to the brim with boxes, and box on top says it all "Precious Moments". The yellow steemers hanging from the roof of the car add a nice touch drawing your eyes to all those boxes in the car.

Arcade Fire

Shot in Vancover this past May. What drew me to this image was the that someone took the time and thought to prop up a flyer from the band Arcade Fire. The placement was interesting as well, as if they wanted to band to be guarded or preserved. I also think and deep blue tone and the little red tone on the flyer are really a nice touch.