The other night I saw this kid inexplicably traveling with Pylon on the El. What was he doing with that thing? What were his intentions? Teenage boys paired with construction equipment is almost never a good combination. It reminded me of a time in High School when my brother and I, inexplicably, had a road block sign in our bedroom. We thought it was hilarious. What was so cool about this kid though was that he was traveling on Public Transportation with this thing! Jealous of his sense of adventure I pulled my camera out and took some shots and attempted to capture this youthful scene. The kids, man, always will be cooler than an old square like me.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Attitude is Everything
I'm not sure I have the vocabulary to properly describe what the Chicago based band BomBBone sound like, but I can safely say that if you have the opportunity to see them in the future you should probably go. They're a stew of psychedelic-gypsy-waltz-punk who manage to combine Eastern European musical traditions with late 70s American rigor. The band played in Chicago on Saturday night at a place called The Cave, which is in the basement of a Serbian* cultural center. Before the show I asked the Bosnian born front man, Ron Terman, if he'd mind if I took some shots while they played. He told me to 'go nuts.' They did just that on stage, and I attempted to capture the delirium. See the entire set from the night right over here.
*The joint isn't run by Serbian Nationalists, so the Bosninans were safe. Whew!
*The joint isn't run by Serbian Nationalists, so the Bosninans were safe. Whew!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Boys in the Band
Generally speaking I don't usually enjoy photographing bands' live shows. Main reason is I think I sort of stink at it. Standing in a photo pit with a gaggle of other photographers all vying for a killer shot, bro and having nerd talk about gear is not how I like to spend a Friday night. But, when it's a friend's band playing at a small club where you don't have some burly brick house asking to see a photo pass, that's a different story. And when the band is as energetic as Noise by Numbers, well Hell, sign me up! Thus was the case on Friday night when the dudes played with Small Brown Bike at the Beat Kitchen here in Chicago. The fella below, Jeff By Numbers, he likes to move around on stage. A lot. A shit ton, even.
There's more Noise on Flickr.
There's more Noise on Flickr.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Dark in the Daytime
Temperatures slipping like drunks, the Fourth Season is on its way.
Trees losing their Summer clothes, flashing winter their naked bones.
It's Only the River, it's Only the River...
Trees losing their Summer clothes, flashing winter their naked bones.
It's Only the River, it's Only the River...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Opposite Side of the Hand
This past weekend I was fortunate enough to Attend a wedding rather than Photograph one, so HK and I traveled up to the Northwestern Coast of Michigan for the festivities (which were lovely by the way, like Martha-Stewart-Wedding lovely) In between nuptial related events we explored the area of Glen Arbor, climbed on some Sleeping Bears, and drove around Lake Michigan. Growing up in Detroit my family spent our vacations in the Thumb area of the state, so this was my first opportunity to spend any time in these parts. I didn't bring my camera to the wedding but I brought it everywhere else...
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Parimutuel Pictures
I had a preconceived notion of how images of race horses in motion would turn out, thinking I could capture their strength and speed through extended exposure and camera shake, envisioning the effect, impressing myself with the results. I was wrong. Recently I went to Arlington Park for an annual summer outing and took a bunch of shots of said horses. The outcome paralleled my wagers-a bust. Here are a few that are close to what I was going for, and that have an interesting look and feel to them, albeit still not quite right.
Although I like the idea of planning out shots in advance for a change (this is not one of my strong suits) I realize that just thinking about a shoot for a few minutes doesn't mean that I'm magically going to get the results I'm going for. I should have learned this 1628495 years ago. Better late than never...
Although I like the idea of planning out shots in advance for a change (this is not one of my strong suits) I realize that just thinking about a shoot for a few minutes doesn't mean that I'm magically going to get the results I'm going for. I should have learned this 1628495 years ago. Better late than never...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
View from a Megabus
View from a Megabus, originally uploaded by Christopher Hiltz.
Being from Detroit but having lived in Chicago for years, I've had the pleasure of spending many an hour on the Megabus traveling back and fourth between the two cities. This shot was taken during one such trip over this past fourth of July. I believe this was taken near the Michigan/Indiana border, but my my memory is as foggy as the Detroit sky after an illegal fireworks display.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wetzel's Nestle
More where that came from.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Lens is Proximity
Last weekend Travis Wiggins recruited me to shoot some promotional photos for his band, Essex Chanel, in preparation for the media blitz he is preparing to unleash on the world in conjunction with the release of the new album Love is Proximity. After the official photo session wrapped, a party erupted in The Wigg's Edgewater studio space. Travis and Allison took the opportunity to play a few songs from the new album, and I took the opportunity to take some more photos in a more spontaneous, intoxicated fashion.
The posed (sober) shots from the evening will be out there very soon, and knowing The Wiggs, and his penchant for promotion, you'll be seeing them all over the place.
The posed (sober) shots from the evening will be out there very soon, and knowing The Wiggs, and his penchant for promotion, you'll be seeing them all over the place.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Something to Believe Inn
This Saturday is the first show of the summer season at the illustrious Believe Inn, and it's going to be a doozy. If you're not familiar with the work of Pourous Walker this would be a grand opportunity to correct that error. This year the Inn will have a gift shop, and since I was fortunate enough to show some work there last summer, H Mathis (Chicago's premier curator) asked if I'd contribute some stuff to have for sale. The below image, an out-take from the MCA installation, amongst a few others will be available for purchase.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Portractions?
Here's a couple more shots taken in the Art Institute of Chicago's Modern Wing. The only real reason I'm posting is to view them full-size and on the black background. I'm not sure where to go with these abstracted portraits (portractions?), but I think they have potential. For what? Beats the Hell out of me...
It was funny, when I was walking around the museum taking photos it felt very natural and comfortable, like something I should be doing. Then it dawned on me that I'd spent most of the damn winter doing just that.
It was funny, when I was walking around the museum taking photos it felt very natural and comfortable, like something I should be doing. Then it dawned on me that I'd spent most of the damn winter doing just that.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Modern Post
This weekend the Art Institute of Chicago celebrated the opening of the new, 200-Brazillion-Dollar Modern Wing by throwing a free-opening-day party, complete with gospel singers (totally bad ass), tours of the galleries and bags of potato chips. Oh, and there was a bunch of art to look at as well. The new structure is really impressive, and the way it is incorporated with Millennium Park via the sky walk is worth the trip down there by itself.
Target is paying everybody's admission up until May 21, so get on down there before the prices get steep.
There's an entire gallery for Richter. Aces.
See more shots by clicking this Modern Hyperlink!
Target is paying everybody's admission up until May 21, so get on down there before the prices get steep.
There's an entire gallery for Richter. Aces.
See more shots by clicking this Modern Hyperlink!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Spending 30 Hours Driving Along the Same Street
Last week I drove with Tim out to San Francisco. If you look at a map you'll notice that you get on Interstate 80 in Chicago and stay on the same road, sans turns, for 2000-plus miles, straight into the Bay Area. It's difficult to get lost. Here's some shots taken along the way.
Did you know that the second you enter Iowa from Illinois you can see Nebraska off in the distance? The state is that flat. No joke.
Once you lose your Soul in Reno you can find redemption in a gas station parking lot.
Did you know that the second you enter Iowa from Illinois you can see Nebraska off in the distance? The state is that flat. No joke.
Once you lose your Soul in Reno you can find redemption in a gas station parking lot.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Heavy Metal B Sides
Nestled in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood there's an Industrial Oasis that's seemingly easy to miss amongst the chain- retail stores, upscale housing, and intoxicated caucasians. Early Sunday morning I decided to trust the weather man (who claimed the rain had moved out of the area) and get on my bike to explore the crunched up cars and metal scrap piles that form Landscapes of Discards within the Clybourn Corridor. The weather man lied--I got soaked, but I first got these shots.
I will be making many a trip back to this spot throughout this summer, I reckon.
I will be making many a trip back to this spot throughout this summer, I reckon.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Put Me In, Coach
Temperatures in the thirties, gusting winds and chance of snow- it must be Opening Day. Here's a few shots taken during various stages of the demolition of Tiger Stadium last Summer.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Tonight We Ride
Lala may be the greatest thing on the World Wide Interhighway, ever. The below photo was taken at a horse race, which has nothing to do with it.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Pleasant Enough All the Same--The Finale
Good People of Chicago, if you are in and around the area of the Museum of Contemporary Art tomorrow, March 17, please stop in to have a final look at the Wild Duck portrait installation. I'll be at the museum from 2 until 8PM giving away the photos to whomever would like one, so please come on by! Also, if you happen to be featured in one of the portraits and would like a print but can't make it down, please contact me and I'll be sure to get you a copy.
Walking and Thawing
This past weekend in Chicago was the first one in Some Time in which you could be outside for an extended period and not feel like you had to mainline coffee just to stay warm. The sunny conditions and warm-ish temperatures provided the perfect conditions for walking around and snapping shots of a city that is just about ready to wake up and look alive again. These photos were taken around and near one of my favorite spots, Montrose Harbor.
It won't be long before foliage fills the trees, boats inhabit the harbor, and the heat and humidity will be so terrible that one feels that they must mainline High Lifes just to stay cool.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Pleasant Enough All the Same, February 15, 2009
Last night was the closing performance of the Court Theatre's production of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck. As was with every performance during the play's month-long run, the crowd was fantastic, and many of the patrons were gracious enough to allow me make a portrait of them for the installation.
Below is a shot of Art Shay, whom I had the opportunity to meet and talk with for a few minutes. I can't express enough how much I admire his work, and will follow his advice to 'just keep shooting' as if it were scripture.
And this is how the completed installation looks, 270 images strong. It'll be on display until March 17th, at which point the images will be available for free for whomever would like to claim one.
As ever, the completed set can viewed here. Yes, I know the numbering is off. Don't judge me.
And finally, thanks to Gapers Block, for featuring the project on their web site and not editing out the line referring to Dick Van Dyke.
Below is a shot of Art Shay, whom I had the opportunity to meet and talk with for a few minutes. I can't express enough how much I admire his work, and will follow his advice to 'just keep shooting' as if it were scripture.
And this is how the completed installation looks, 270 images strong. It'll be on display until March 17th, at which point the images will be available for free for whomever would like to claim one.
As ever, the completed set can viewed here. Yes, I know the numbering is off. Don't judge me.
And finally, thanks to Gapers Block, for featuring the project on their web site and not editing out the line referring to Dick Van Dyke.
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