Fast Eddies

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

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

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

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 without knowing where we are going. Running though life trying to catch that one idea, thing, person, feeling, moment, spirit,.. etc

Habits

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

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

The Dorks

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. It 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

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' you will be remembered in peoples hearts and photographs...

Light Fall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swap O Rama

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

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

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....