New Blog

I've got a new blog at http://www.hotsoftlight.com. Hopefully the re-direct will work.

Obama Day

I spent election day in Bellwood, Northbrook, and Oak Park documenting life. I can't remember an inauguration that seemed like an event or something to remember.

Take My Picture

Grandma and Grandpa Hart.

I have a love/hate relationship with lists. I love "Best of" or "Top 10" lists. I don't like all the lists my wife makes. Although her lists are more constructive and better for the long term of life and possibly our relationship, there's just something about looking at all of the good music that came into your life in the last 12 months.

1. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Rhymefest - Man in the Mirror
4. Hayes Carll - Trouble in Mind
5. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
6. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
7. Santogold - Santogold
8. Kathleen Edwards - Asking for Flowers
9. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
10. Scarlet Oaks - Innocence Isn't Easy
11. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
12. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
13. Hot Chip - Made In the Dark
14. Chicha Libre - Sonido Amazonico
15. The Cool Kids - Bake Sale EP
16. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
17. Destroyer - Trouble in Dreams
18. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
19. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie
20. Amadou & Mariam - Welcome To Mali
21. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
22. The Old 97's - Blame it on Gravity
23. Beck - Modern Guilt
24. Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak
25. The Roots - Rising Down

Therapy Dog

I was at a school in Lake Villa for another assignment and ran into a woman who brings in Therapy Dogs twice a week for kids to read to. I stuck around and made a few flicks as the sun warmed my hands.

Keep in Flight shootout

So Tamara Bell, Brian Valentin and myself had an old-school style shootout (that mostly involved walking then drinking then walking then drinking, ect...) that ended at John H. White's PJ2 class at Columbia College. To our surprise/horror Mr. Scott Strazzante was speaking to the class, bonus! Here we thought we'd be the cool old pros lurking in the corners. Having two of your favorite shooters in one room is cool (bonus points if you guess which two) and getting to just shoot for me and absorb some PJ love is worth the hangover. We ended the night on Pat Pyzska's balcony on the 47th floor of Marina City, quite stunning.

Waterworld

I feel like I shouldn't ever be without my camera. So when Christine and I decided to spend a week at the beach the gears started turnging. Would I just enjoy myself without making photos? So I bought a Nikonos V and this was from the first roll of 24 exposures. The rest is real B&W so I have to wait until I get back to Chicago to process it. I feel there's no mystery in digital. This I love.

Day in the Life of Libertyville

It's always refreshing going to a new place and just letting go. Make the kinds of photos you wish you could make everyday. No assignments, no barriers that you don't put up yourself. It's everything I love about documentary photography, just being. Just seeing.

Sometimes what's floating by my head is more interesting that the rest of the world. And for a few seconds the bubble that was reflecting the Chicago skyline took it's time to be beautiful. In those magical moments the bubble taught me something. It popped without much fanfare.

Car vs. iPod

He always said I was a good listener. Oh iPod you will be missed.

"Take my picture, I wanna be famous"

Sometimes the best photos are made when you let yourself go completely. Sometimes the best photos are made when you let your camera go completely.

Cat Nap

I spent a lot of time home alone this week with my cats.

"Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain

Dance Dance Revolution

"We started dancing together about a year ago," William Wyzgala yelled into my ear, either trying to be heard over the Grand Avenue Big Band or because of hearing loss.

Wyzgala doesn't carry business cards. He will proudly dig out a return address sticker with his name printed over an American flag, after a few uncomfortable moments, from his brown leather wallet.

Wyzgala takes his dancing partner, Dottie Bigelman out stepping "Two or three times a week, sometimes more."

There's more to this story, I hope his address is correct.

Geekfest St. Pete photo dump

So I've been home for a week and back spending my days with mostly uninspired co-workers. Shake it off and keep focused. Remember where you were and live for the moment. That great moment.

I'm so glad I made the trip this year to Geekfest. Most of us spend our days with people who really don't 'get' us. So it's nice to take a vacation and not be the strange one.