Yesterday I drove down to the Bay Area, and after a brief stop in Oakland headed across the Bay to catch an early evening flight to Chicago. Uneventful, as these things go. I've been remarkably lucky with flights these past several years, considering that I fly a fair amount the delays have been minor and few. Other things I'll take some credit for... Flying with carry on bags only means no opportunity for misplaced luggage.
Weather is complicating my Chicago projects, with frequent thunderstorms keeping my team hotel bound too often. If we can get four good days of the next 10, we should be OK. Until we do, it messes with scheduling. One of my key people goes home tomorrow after more than a month on the ground here, which means more work for me to wrap things up.
I haven't planned any shoots yet, and probably won't till the work schedule is a little more set. There are opportunities, if I choose to make them happen, but after three last trip, and hardly any time at home since early June, I'm already behind so not pushing too hard for more. There are also multiple Bay Area opportunities, and I'll have a few days there on the way home.
After this, the travel schedule becomes less certain. I'll be back here for meetings this fall, but may have as little as a week advance notice. Hard to plan like that. It is what it is, all one can do is make the best of it.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Mediocrity
One of the frustrations of this extended Chicago trip is the feeling of being surrounded by sleepwalkers. The drivers are the most obvious, and the most dangerous manifestation. Thoughtless me-first behavior abounds, and almost every day I witness things on the roads that would make me laugh if they weren't potentially deadly.
Then there's the traffic itself. Some of the highways... I-94 is a prime example... Are gridlock more often than not. There's talk of finding ways to get people out of cars, but no real action. The sheep just return to the traffic jam day after day. Now, even travel in off hours doesn't seem to help any longer.
Then there's the construction, with alternates blocked at the same time as main routes, and the mindlessness of things like street fairs shutting down major arterials on Friday evening rush hour with no attempt at early warning signage to allow detours and avoid traffic jams. Basically, one learns the reason for the jam up at the verge of the event.
There are other things, but the commonality is a tolerance of mediocrity that seem to me to begin at the level of state and city government.
What a waste of what could have been a world class city.
Then there's the traffic itself. Some of the highways... I-94 is a prime example... Are gridlock more often than not. There's talk of finding ways to get people out of cars, but no real action. The sheep just return to the traffic jam day after day. Now, even travel in off hours doesn't seem to help any longer.
Then there's the construction, with alternates blocked at the same time as main routes, and the mindlessness of things like street fairs shutting down major arterials on Friday evening rush hour with no attempt at early warning signage to allow detours and avoid traffic jams. Basically, one learns the reason for the jam up at the verge of the event.
There are other things, but the commonality is a tolerance of mediocrity that seem to me to begin at the level of state and city government.
What a waste of what could have been a world class city.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Visuals
I've just finished the third photo shoot of the past week.
The first was at one of my standard post industrial sites, some nearly nude shots done mostly for fun. We ended a bit sooner than anticipated when the out of the way place we had chosen suddenly became a favored destination for several people. I haven't looked very closely at those images yet.
The second was an indoor shoot with Crimson, who i've known for a long time but hadn't seen in years. We encountered each other accidentally on my last visit, and quickly agreed to shoot. So I hauled rented lights up to her apartment, and we did some high key nudes against a white wall. It turned into four hours, about half of that just talking. Her face fascinated me, expressions racing by as we talked. There should be some good things to choose from.
The third, today, with Ginger Stone.... Colleen introduced us on Thursday night, and within minutes she asked to shoot. We worked an industrial area on Goose Island, a basic brick factory wall and loading dock in the shade. She wore a thong and a large scarf, usually open except when the occasional truck went by and it served as a convenient coverup. I think it may be tough to choose the keepers from this series, looks like lots of good stuff.
After the shoot we went for Vietnamese food on Argyle Street, and had a pleasant conversation.
These last two shoots may fit in well with a tentative exhibit offer extended last night, and which I should learn more about tomorrow. Some new ideas are already floating around, ways to extend these and some older work into a more coherent and balanced series.
The first was at one of my standard post industrial sites, some nearly nude shots done mostly for fun. We ended a bit sooner than anticipated when the out of the way place we had chosen suddenly became a favored destination for several people. I haven't looked very closely at those images yet.
The second was an indoor shoot with Crimson, who i've known for a long time but hadn't seen in years. We encountered each other accidentally on my last visit, and quickly agreed to shoot. So I hauled rented lights up to her apartment, and we did some high key nudes against a white wall. It turned into four hours, about half of that just talking. Her face fascinated me, expressions racing by as we talked. There should be some good things to choose from.
The third, today, with Ginger Stone.... Colleen introduced us on Thursday night, and within minutes she asked to shoot. We worked an industrial area on Goose Island, a basic brick factory wall and loading dock in the shade. She wore a thong and a large scarf, usually open except when the occasional truck went by and it served as a convenient coverup. I think it may be tough to choose the keepers from this series, looks like lots of good stuff.
After the shoot we went for Vietnamese food on Argyle Street, and had a pleasant conversation.
These last two shoots may fit in well with a tentative exhibit offer extended last night, and which I should learn more about tomorrow. Some new ideas are already floating around, ways to extend these and some older work into a more coherent and balanced series.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Pause
Chicago - I've been here more than ive been home this summer, and that's going to continue for about another three weeks. Through the early part of the trip work demands were primary, and there was essentially no time for anything else. Now at last things have settled into a routine and some deadlines have been met.
Beginning earlier this week, I've finally had some time to fit in a couple of evening shoots. The first was on location, at one of my standard outdoor spots, the second indoors, in the models living space. Both were a reversion to an earlier time for me, in the sense that they were more about portraiture, if with models who were wearing little or nothing.
Last night i stopped to see an old friend, and walked out an hour later with two more offers to model. There's another in negotiation from earlier. Already it's approaching the maximum I'll be able to fit into the remaining time, and I'm not even really seeking these opportunities, they're just happening.
There are some other things id like to photograph as well, landscapes and other things. Perhaps the first step is to find time to break and think through the goals, the intent. Its going to be difficult to find time to do that for a little while.
Beginning earlier this week, I've finally had some time to fit in a couple of evening shoots. The first was on location, at one of my standard outdoor spots, the second indoors, in the models living space. Both were a reversion to an earlier time for me, in the sense that they were more about portraiture, if with models who were wearing little or nothing.
Last night i stopped to see an old friend, and walked out an hour later with two more offers to model. There's another in negotiation from earlier. Already it's approaching the maximum I'll be able to fit into the remaining time, and I'm not even really seeking these opportunities, they're just happening.
There are some other things id like to photograph as well, landscapes and other things. Perhaps the first step is to find time to break and think through the goals, the intent. Its going to be difficult to find time to do that for a little while.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
summer
I'm still in Chicago, focused on work this past week. After a cool and dry spring it's turned hot and rainy, sending grass pollen... and allergies... off the charts. Finally it's a little better today.
After two busy weekends, I'm doing not much this weekend. Dinner with friends tonight, and headed over to Evanston in a moment to browse bookstores and have a cup of coffee. Tomorrow I'll need to spend a little time editing a work document, but otherwise it's going to be a nice relaxed weekend. No major social things, nothing even remotely photography related.
After two busy weekends, I'm doing not much this weekend. Dinner with friends tonight, and headed over to Evanston in a moment to browse bookstores and have a cup of coffee. Tomorrow I'll need to spend a little time editing a work document, but otherwise it's going to be a nice relaxed weekend. No major social things, nothing even remotely photography related.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
geezerpunks
Sunday night's O'Banion's reunion was at LateBar, a new venue on Belmont Avenue in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood. It's a typical shiny-clean brand new neighborhood bar, with silver-framed square format photos on the walls, 10x10-inch very tightly cropped head shots of fashionable women, and a big screen on the back wall behind the dance floor.
The crowd peaked early and had largely dispersed by a little after midnight, pretty much the reverse of the old days when many of us would grab an early evening nap, and then go out from midnight til dawn.
The punk documentaries on the screen were fascinating even without sound, as the DJs filled the aural spectrum with old tunes. The energy on the dance floor was as intense as ever, and I worked up a pretty good sweat in the crowded and warm room. A thunderstorm passing just to the south, lighting illuminating the front windows, added a bit of menace to the air.
Mariah joined me for the event, and Chrystyne was present for a couple of hours mid-evening. I stayed til closing, then went to breakfast at Hollywood Grill in time to witness some low-level drama; four 20-somethings who refused to wait their turn in the very crowded restaurant, piling into a table still being cleaned up ahead of others who had been waiting. The waitstaff simply ignored them, refused to serve them, and when the protests rose to the level of yelling armed security arrived to suggest a quiet departure. Well, it wasn't exactly quiet, but the troublemakers did depart as additional security and a few cops began to arrive outside.
It was almost light by the end of breakfast, and I took a nearly empty Lake Shore Drive north, Lake Michigan calm as glass in the grey dawn.
Monday was mostly a rest day, and today it was back to work... with e-mails flying all morning, as paperwork related to two large projects came in from clients and was forwarded to admin, and as I arranged to fly out additional folks to help get it all done. There's also a document in quality control, due to go to the client tomorrow, and several other things happening. It's going to be a busy week, leading up to another gallery reception and more photos next weekend.
The crowd peaked early and had largely dispersed by a little after midnight, pretty much the reverse of the old days when many of us would grab an early evening nap, and then go out from midnight til dawn.
The punk documentaries on the screen were fascinating even without sound, as the DJs filled the aural spectrum with old tunes. The energy on the dance floor was as intense as ever, and I worked up a pretty good sweat in the crowded and warm room. A thunderstorm passing just to the south, lighting illuminating the front windows, added a bit of menace to the air.
Mariah joined me for the event, and Chrystyne was present for a couple of hours mid-evening. I stayed til closing, then went to breakfast at Hollywood Grill in time to witness some low-level drama; four 20-somethings who refused to wait their turn in the very crowded restaurant, piling into a table still being cleaned up ahead of others who had been waiting. The waitstaff simply ignored them, refused to serve them, and when the protests rose to the level of yelling armed security arrived to suggest a quiet departure. Well, it wasn't exactly quiet, but the troublemakers did depart as additional security and a few cops began to arrive outside.
It was almost light by the end of breakfast, and I took a nearly empty Lake Shore Drive north, Lake Michigan calm as glass in the grey dawn.
Monday was mostly a rest day, and today it was back to work... with e-mails flying all morning, as paperwork related to two large projects came in from clients and was forwarded to admin, and as I arranged to fly out additional folks to help get it all done. There's also a document in quality control, due to go to the client tomorrow, and several other things happening. It's going to be a busy week, leading up to another gallery reception and more photos next weekend.
Seattle exhibit
Some of the work from the f-eleven books is being shown Thursday in Seattle; I've contributed three pieces, two of them photos of post-punk era bands, and the other a more recent night shot of Chrystyne. The images were sent electronically, and the exhibit is being printed and mounted by Leo Lam. Here's the press release:
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The f-eleven books vol. 2 photographers will be showing their work at Eterea Studio in Pioneer Square for the Seattle First Thursday Artwalk on June 3rd, beginning at 6pm.
The show will include prints from 10 of the 19 photographers involved in the book project. The coffee table quality photography book, edited by internationally published photographer and art director Wolf189, features work of multiple genres. The result is a trend-challenging, and visually stimulating collection presented in a luxurious format. Printed on 100lb coffee table book standard paper with a silky finish, the book will handle many years of viewing. The entire book’s sale proceeds goes toward Autism research.
f-eleven vol.2 has been on sale since early April.
“We hope that this book would help raise awareness and provide some financial assistance for this worthy cause," said Leo Lam, a fashion photographer in Seattle, owner of Eterea Studio, and one of the contributors of f-eleven vol. 2.
Eterea Studio is at 619 Western Ave., 2nd Floor North, Seattle, WA 98104
The show will be an interactive, Microsoft tags-enabled event.
For detailed information on f-eleven books, please visit: www.f-elevenbooks.com
For information on Microsoft tags for your Smartphones, please visit: tag.microsoft.com
f-eleven is an exclusive private photography group. The book project was started by its members in late 2009, and since then have produced two book releases. The books are diverse and progressive, with the fundamental aim to affect small positive changes in worthy causes; one shutter click at a time.
website: http://f-elevenbooks.com/
blog: http://www.blog.f-elevenbooks.com/
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/f11books
twitter - http://twitter.com/felevenbooks
tumblr - http://f-eleven.tumblr.com
-----
The f-eleven books vol. 2 photographers will be showing their work at Eterea Studio in Pioneer Square for the Seattle First Thursday Artwalk on June 3rd, beginning at 6pm.
The show will include prints from 10 of the 19 photographers involved in the book project. The coffee table quality photography book, edited by internationally published photographer and art director Wolf189, features work of multiple genres. The result is a trend-challenging, and visually stimulating collection presented in a luxurious format. Printed on 100lb coffee table book standard paper with a silky finish, the book will handle many years of viewing. The entire book’s sale proceeds goes toward Autism research.
f-eleven vol.2 has been on sale since early April.
“We hope that this book would help raise awareness and provide some financial assistance for this worthy cause," said Leo Lam, a fashion photographer in Seattle, owner of Eterea Studio, and one of the contributors of f-eleven vol. 2.
Eterea Studio is at 619 Western Ave., 2nd Floor North, Seattle, WA 98104
The show will be an interactive, Microsoft tags-enabled event.
For detailed information on f-eleven books, please visit: www.f-elevenbooks.com
For information on Microsoft tags for your Smartphones, please visit: tag.microsoft.com
f-eleven is an exclusive private photography group. The book project was started by its members in late 2009, and since then have produced two book releases. The books are diverse and progressive, with the fundamental aim to affect small positive changes in worthy causes; one shutter click at a time.
website: http://f-elevenbooks.com/
blog: http://www.blog.f-elevenbooks.com/
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/f11books
twitter - http://twitter.com/felevenbooks
tumblr - http://f-eleven.tumblr.com
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