Some Things Stay the Same

Time Travel to Sunnyvale

Gage Park 83 years apart...

Gage Park, Chicago, 1928

Gage Park, Chicago 2010

Man with Fish, 2010

Jack Spencer's powerful image, Man with Fish, Como, MS, 1996 (at left), is the inspiration for this piece. His photograph of a young man with a large caught fish is about potential, bounty and hope. It's glowing light and deep shadows speak of life's miracles and mysteries, including man's complicated relationship to nature and the cycle of life.

Although Mr. Spencer uses the word “Man” in the title, to me it speaks about youth. The optimism of the large fish and the smooth hairless chest make me think “young man” of about 20 years old. A man, but not by much.

My treatment of the image is anti-optimism. By reshooting the image with an older fully grown man, holding a small diminutive fish, I am expressing disappointment. This, along with his softer physique, less symmetrical frame and somewhat slouchy appearance, convey my dissatisfaction in mediocrity, reality, mankind and men.

*I'm still working on the statement...but you get the idea.

9648 South Calumet Ave.

This is a follow up to the Abbott Park Post.
Above, the child hood home of my high school photography teacher.
Below, the house across the street.

More shots HERE on my flickr.

Abbott Park - updated

Abbott Park 49 E. 95th St.

Update:
I got a hard-core reality check from my amazing high school photography teacher after sending him a link to the pool pictures:

He writes:

Those images you shot on the South side are right where I grew up.
Harlan High School (where I attended) is the next structure south of Abbott Park. I lived three blocks from that park on Calumet Avenue...a stones throw from Chicago State on King Drive. Chicago State is occupying an area that use to be a train yard.
When my parents move over there I was three years old and we were the only blacks in the neighborhood. We had to endure the cross burnings in our front lawn and our garage being burned down. But we stayed and my parents lived there for over thirty years.

Indeed, I have spoken with many older people in the neighborhoods and many lament the changes that have taken place over the years. This email was a reminder of not only the struggles of our parents (and our parents' parents) but of the cyclical nature of urban environments. Buildings, pools and parks being the constant, while the populations move in, have children, grow old, move out or dies, and then...it begins again.



More pictures on my Flickr.

Exploding Plant

June 6th.
June 20th.

Finished Product

Here is the finished painting by Francis. Work in progress seen HERE. Also, he has posted more pics from the Gallimaufry opening HERE.

How You LIke Me Now?

The Evolution of the Hipster 2000-2009

The Evolution of the Hipster
2006: The Mountain Man
He seeks working-class authenticity, taking pride in his full beard and the fact that he’s often mistaken for a homeless person.

Below, my buddy Steven.
He sent me this link saying, "This is bullshit!" Steven insists that he is NOT a hipster. To prove this point, we took a photograph of Steven in a similar pose. As you can see, there is only a very slight resemblance...

Nothing's Shocking

This...reminds me of this...
which reminds me of this...

originally posted here.

Illustrated Women

Ladies and Gentlemen, Nikki "Balls" Lugo.
Below is a shot from the Chicago Tattoo Co. collection, one of many that served as an inspiration for this shoot.

The Amazing and Talented.....Nikki Lugo!

Nikki is in town until Wednesday doing a guest spot at Chicago Tattoo Co.


She was able to take some time out of her busy schedule to collaborate on a photo shoot with me. Nikki modeled an early 20th Century look for an upcoming Then and Now. Gorgeous photos Coming Soon....

Camouflage: Reoccurring Themes

Above is a photo I took yesterday at the Kohl Children's Museum. The kids can look up and see themselves on a monitor, blending into the trees. At left is a shot from Garden State with Zach Braff. This image really hit the nail on the head for me. I had a vision of this (type of) image for a long time and I think I'm not alone. Below is a picture I took in 1996 as a new photographer. What is it about camouflage?

Haircut Day

for two boys in my charge. I told the hairdresser "short".

Now and Then

Alex Garcia sits in the front seat of my Volvo wagon - 2008

Alex garcia sits in the front seat of my Dodge Colt wagon - 2000

Old School, New School