I fail at blogging

I remember last year I was going to attempt to use this blog to post information about photography, but somehow that failed. Royally. So, essentially this is my attempt at trying that again!

Though I am not sure what I will use this blog for yet. I fear it becoming to self promotional as my interest in communicating are symbiotic, not to speak out loud like a dictator. Not to mention there are stock piles of other Blogs out there that are very beneficial for photographers, like the Strobist blog by David Hobby.

Though that already conflicts with my opinions on photography, or art in general. Often I find clients contact me about rates to contrast and compare with others, like I am a product you price match at a retail store. I believe that vision is unique and that no two are alike. As an artist I believe if one allows themselves to progress they begin to sculpt their personal vision through time and practice. So this blog is my personal take on photography, my unique dialogue on that which I practice out of passion.

So hopefully anyone who stumbles upon this blog can benefit from it, even if for just a small detail. I imagine that by using dialogue to analyze my journey through photography that this blog will essentially change the way I go about creating. So in the end, I am writing to myself.

So, lets try this again.

The American Riot

In December I shot some photos of a friend of mines band, all a bunch of cool guys really. Anyway their myspace music page is finally up and decorated with some of the photos! We shot in a real high school class room which was tricky when it came to lighting, but it was a very fun challenge to experience. My friend and photographer Matt Gibson came to assist me, and I doubt I could have done it without him. Check them out.

Link Here

Chicago Magazine - September 2009

Following the Best of Chicago issue of Chicago Magazine I had another opportunity to work with them on their September issue, specifically the section about teens in Chicago. I met up with writer Cassie Walker at North Beach in Chicago and we walked around the Chicago shoreline interviewing teens (well she interviewed, I as always just took pictures). Before night fall we ran into a big group of teenagers, and I ended up waist deep in water (the photos were cool though, not to worry). Long story short, the last group we ran into were our saving grace, and I learned the virtue of bringing a second pair of pants to work (which I did not have, but learned the virtue of).

After I got my copy of the September issue of Chicago as I browsed its articles I couldn't help but be intrigued in the photo work that lived on the page to the left of mine, so after some research (Google) I ran into the work of Ryan Robinson and as well as his Blog. His work is great, huge, colorful, energetic, and inspiring. If your a photographer like I am you will probably want to follow his blog, lots of great behind the scenes photos in there. It is also nice to have a local artist that you can really appreciate, up until now most of them weren't in this country :D .

My birthday is in September as well, so nothing cooler than having a magazine with your photos in it to go along with some cake.

Chicago Magazine - August 2009

This last June I was invited to shoot for Chicago magazine and their August issue of the Best of Chicago, specifically the band Bubbly Creek. Bubbly Creek is a bluegrass band in Chicago. Their Website Not personally use to the genre I wasn't sure how it would go over but it worked out great, the band was amazingly talented, funny, and their show performance was very intimate (I almost felt guilt every time my camera made its shutter noise). So if your from Chicago it wouldn't hurt to maybe sometime go check them out.

The Fold - Every band in the USA

I shot some promo work for the band the Fold recently, and they are currently using it as their main splash on their site and myspace (I personally think they never looked better, and it has nothing to do with me having shot the picture :D ). I have been a big fan of the band since around 2003-2004, so if you haven't heard of them you should check them out, they just released a new album. Their all really cool guys. Official Fold Site