I was recently hired by a local bank to capture some artistic photos of the sedate leafy suburb of Winnetka. There were lots of photos of quaint shops, half-timber ersatz English facades, and assorted architectural details, but this photo of a cafe window was my favorite. I like the colors, the many depths of activity, and the cacophony of shapes.
Last weekend was incredibly clear, puffy white clouds filled the sky–basically a perfect day for photos. The city never looked better. It took me almost an hour to swim out to this spot, plus it was incredibly difficult to keep the water off my lens. The things I do for my art.
Today is the first day of what I hope will become a regular daily feature. I want to post a photo on my blog every day; I realize this is a big step, a big responsibility, a venture into the unknown. But as the Zen Master says, “a journey of a 1000 miles begins with one step”…I think he really meant one photo. So here goes….
This is the staircase at the Rookery Building, designed by Burnham and Root. This is one of my favorite buildings in Chicago, unfortunately access is restricted, so I haven’t been able to shoot there in decades. Luckily I had an assignment in the building last week and updated my collection of Rookery photos.
About ten years ago when the NATO summit was in town, our city played host to thousands of international visitors, and a couple dozen world leaders. Where do these presidents, prime ministers and brutal dictators stay when they are here in Chicago? Surely not at the Days Inn or the Holiday Inn Express. More than likely, they occupied the many uber-elegant Presidential Suites that are downtown. I had the wonderful privilege to photograph several of them for Elite Traveler magazine. After shooting this assignment, I know that I will never be satisfied with any hotel room again…but then I rarely pay $4000 to 5000 per night for a room. No, that isn’t a misprint. Politicians, rock stars, Wall Street bankers, and world leaders are about the only people who can afford this luxury. Here is a glimpse into that rarefied world that most of us will never be privy to.
Back in 2002, I had the privilege of being hired to photograph the Tupperware Annual Report; this assignment took me around the world, visiting nine countries in 19 days. Yeah, that sounds ridiculously hectic now, but at the time, it really didn’t seem that bad–it was almost like time slowed down as I tried to absorb the incredible mix of cultures. The Dundee-based design firm SamataMason (now Smbolic) sent me to Mexico City, NYC, Paris, Frankfurt, Delhi, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Manila, and Tokyo to gather images illustrating the marketing efforts of Tupperware. Traveling in those months immediately after 9/11 was a little tense, but everything went without a hitch. The only regrets: I wish the trip lasted longer, and I wish I had been shooting digital back then.
At the end of February I shot a two-day track & field meet in Sterling IL for the Great West Conference. That is a bit of a misnomer, as there are teams in this conference from Washington State, Utah, Texas, Chicago, and New Jersey. I have shot professional and college sports on occasion–it is certainly not a specialty–but there is nothing better than learning on the job. The low level of the indoor lighting presented a considerable challenge and I envied those sports photographers who have the luxury of shooting outdoors. In spite of this challenge, I was able to capture numerous images that illustrated “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” Later this month I progress to a basketball championship at Chicago State University, and, with luck, the next stop will be London and the Olympics.
One of the most incredible interior spaces in Chicago is rarely seen, unless you are a commuter or Amtrak loyalist. And even then, most people rushing to or from their train have little time to stop and admire the breathtaking architecture surrounding them. Union Station was completed in 1925 by the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson and Probst, though Daniel Burnham drew up the original plans; he died before his plan could be realized. The 110’ high, block-long Great Hall is a vast space defined by it’s barrel-vaulted ceiling and rows of Corinthian columns (not related to the Corinthian leather in your dad’s Chrysler). As many as 100,000 passed through Union Station back in its heyday in the 1940s, though today it’s a small fraction of that number. Next time you are in the west Loop, grab a sandwich and have lunch sitting on the benches in the Great Hall and just admire how grand architecture can inspire the soul–or at least make for an enjoyable lunch.
Henry Paulson was chosen by George Bush to be US Secretary of the Treasury in 2006 and he played a large, and controversial role in the government’s attempt to prevent a total economic collapse. Our economy is still ticking, so he wasn’t a total failure, but Monday-morning quarterbacks continue to snipe about his actions. All this aside, I had the opportunity to photograph him at Chicago Booth (University of Chicago Graduate Business School) when he spoke to a large class of students in mid-January. Paulson was humble and accepted some blame for faulty decisions that were made, and he welcomed sharp questions from the audience. As a token of his goodwill and sincere feelings of remorse, Paulson handed out $100,000 gift cards to all the students in the room. To insure my journalistic integrity, I declined the obvious attempt to sway my opinion.
Just two hours–and 200 years–from Chicago in NE Indiana is Amish Country. Anchored by the towns of Shipshewana, Goshen and Nappanee, this area is home to a religious sect that disavows modern conveniences and other trappings of life in the 21st century. Lines of buggies dot the country roads, women in long dresses and colorful bonnets shop at local markets, and men sporting beards and black coats are commonplace. Last month I was sent to this region to document some of the culinary traditions of the Amish for ADA Times, the publication of the American Dietetic Association. Traveling to farmers markets, retail stores, farm stands, and small farms down isolated back roads, I discovered a vast assortment of tasty baked goods, succulent fruits and vegetables, cheese factories, and jars of homemade pickles, apple butter and cherry salsa. The Amish may not have their MTV, but they are prepared when the munchies come-a-calling.
Some of the most famous and creative people in the world pass through or reside in Chicago. Here are just a handful: fine artist, ceramist, classical pianist, duck decoy carver, potter, art restorer, fashion designer, stained glass artist, blues musician, and jewelry maker.
