Layers

Its been awhile since I last posted an image. Creativity and inspiration has been hard to muster these days. Once I get in a funk I look for anything that might break me out of it. These things just take time for them get sorted out. People these days just want this type of stuff just to happen over night. Creativity inspiration just take time sorry to break the news to you. You just can't have things now! I've done a few road trips of late because of work and I have been trying to take advantage of picture making opps in hopes of being able to break out of it. Nashville is on my radar screen in the not to distant future so stay tuned for hopefully a bunch of new images...This image came from a trip to the Iowa State Fair in which I made a few stops along the way. These types of things appeal to me where you can see layers revealing some history of this location and what once was and is not there anymore....

Gornji Milanovac, Serbia 2012

Its been a while since I've posted an image. Since I got back from a 2.5 week trip to Serbia to visit family, relax, and photograph its taken sometime to go though 10 rolls of film scan and edit down to the images I liked. This is an outtake image that didn't make the cut, but certainly could have had it been maybe a different or I might take one out of the edit and put this one in instead I don't know....This is from my mom's hometown where I spent most of my time and on this day we went into town because of a street fair that was going on. I specifically stood where I did to make this image because I wanted the church cross to intersect the light pole somewhat in the middle  I just didn't want the light pole to cover up the cross. This composition helps draw your eyes from the foreground to all the way in the background....If you would like to see the full set of Serbia images go to my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/35photo/sets/72157630290340736/

Maid-Rite Guys

One Sunday a few months back I went on a small little day road trip with a friend of mine to some towns about an hour south of Chicago along the Kankakee River. Its an area I've never been to so that was really appealing to me. This image was made in a random town that we ran into I believe it was called Momence, IL. I would say it was your typical small town business area, one real main area with a few storefronts. I seem gravitate toward photographing storefronts maybe because of all the stories that came be found in them. This storefront was no different, a few things drew me to make this image one was the light that was later afternoon type going though that store window..The light brought out that dusty rustic feel and the warm color just created a nice atmosphere. History was another thing that drew me to making the image. It seems like this town values history and it shows my creating this memorial like scene of a previous business that used to be there for all to see...

People

People, a set on Flickr.

Some recent portraits I've done...

Joan

So its winter time granted a really mild one in Chicago this year, but I tend to like to photograph more in the spring-fall months. Usually in the winter I try to do more indoors work which is hard because I don't do much indoor stuff its a challenge. Doing portraits is the perfect thing to do inside and can always use the practice since I don't do them too often...Its ironic that Joan who used to photograph myself and my family years back and here I am photographing her years later. She has always encouraged me to keep shooting when she knew I was a serious photographer...Enough though our styles were different her doing portraits mostly and I shied away from portraits early on. Over the years I've gotten more comfortable with the idea of doing portraits and have figured out ways of working them in. The thing I want out of portraits is that I want people that I photograph to be "real" or natural if you will which is harder than you might think to get. I think people are really afraid because the camera doesn't lie and your baring it all... Its still a work in progress no doubt....This was totally an impromptu shoot I was over at her place to show her some of my recent work. Of course I had a camera with me so I made a few images of her. This is one of few made I have another one posted on my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35photo/6932289119/in/photostream         

I hope she likes the progress I've made with doing portraits...

Bonfire

I've been working on this "Of The NIght" series slowly but steadily for over a year or so now. B&W night images are really interesting to me because of that glow from maybe one light source and multiple sources that creates a dramatic atmospheric feel. Hand holding exposures  @ 1/4 sec at f1.4 not an easy task, I do my best. I don't mind the sometimes soft feel in this series which adds to the whole image. In the case of this image here I don't mind the softness at all. Last summer I was at a backyard party with some friends of mine and we were just hanging out conversing having a few drinks.  It was a bit of an awkward night for me I didn't know many people. So later on in the night when the conversations died down I was just sitting back and observing. I'm always observing looking for that one moment that speaks to me. This image was one of those moments that I resonated with me. The guy sitting in from of the bonfire by himself just starring into that fire his face a glow sitting really awkwardly while you have this girl in the lower right hand side in engaged in conversation and the empty chair in the mid ground on the light side. All there elements work together to create this awkward dynamic tension....

The Beach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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..