Blog Archives
side-eye
That family over there seems to be a little skeptical about what is going on with the fountain. And in spite of how the photo looks, they didn’t actually get wet. As far as I know.
Crown Fountain
Chicago, Illinois
photographed 6.27.2022
Hyde Park express
One of my previous careers was in the field of mass transit. The career didn’t end well* and I moved along to something else. But I do still notice buses and bus operators. And if reflections cross faces in an interesting way, all the better.
Chicago, Illinois
photographed 6.27.2022
*So what happened was that I got fired. But that opened up a chance at my new career, which is truly the best career and job that I could have ever hoped for. So, from that angle, that whole transit career ended very well indeed.
the photographers
This is the story of one thing I got right and another thing that I got wrong.
Almost from the beginning of thinking of myself as a photographer, I was steadfast in my refusal to photograph people. I just…didn’t. What I pretended was an Important Artist Decision™ was mostly just me being an idiot, being too afraid to try, being afraid someone might notice me or challenge me or yell at me or whatever. That’s the part I got very, very wrong.
The part I got right was that I needed to be in places that were more populated, where there were lots of people out on the streets doing their things. Lubbock is not exactly a pedestrian-friendly place, so on top of not being a huge city, no one is really outside and it’s hard to find subjects and harder to blend in, to be patient about waiting for something photo-worthy to happen.
So, earlier in the summer when I was in Chicago, I went for a photo walk with a street photographer that I’d met on Instagram, and he was kind enough to share his favorite locations with me. And then, later in the week, I ventured out on my own and discovered that street photography is, in fact, something that I can do.
Now I am trying not to think about how many good photos I’ve missed over the years because I was too afraid to push myself.
Chicago, Illinois
photographed 6.30.2022
ballgame
During my trip to Chicago, I was working on an assignment for an online photography class on narrow depth of field. Because I was sort of obsessive about looking for photos to submit for the image review, and because I had already thought about the possibilities at a Cubs game, I was ready when the gentleman a few rows ahead of me held his phone up to get a photo of the action. Without that assignment in my head, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed what he was doing. It was nice of him to help me with my assignment, don’t you think?
Wrigley Field
Chicago, Illinois
photographed 6.29.2022
beacon
That afternoon light did me a huge favor, spotlighting the bridge tower like that. And then a boat went by! It was practically an embarrassment of photographic riches, and that’s even without the iconic Chicago Tribune sign over there on the right side….
Chicago, Illinois
photographed 6.27.2022
One Day | One Image 