My latest work

     I created this drawing of my niece and nephew for my sister to give as a gift to her mother and father in law. I was asked at the last minute if I could complete this drawing by Christmas. I had to work fast and there are some things about it I would do differently if I had more time. I also do not have any good drawing materials and had to do it on computer paper with a number 2 pencil. I was thinking about the artist James Hampton who was an African American artist who worked as a janitor and used scavenged materials to create religious art. If he can create something out of nothing then so can I.

Libby's Art

     It appears as though my niece is quite the artist. She loves creating things and one of her birthday gifts was more paper for her easel. My sister sent me these pictures she painted and explained that the only help she received with the bird paintings was in rendering the feet and the beak.
     I am very impressed with these paintings. They are very well done for a 4 year old and extremely advanced for any child. The only reason she needs help rendering some detail is because she does not hold the paint brush properly. Once she learns this skill she may end up being a regular Picasso.
     I also like the abstract painting along with it's title. Very creative!!!!!

Hell on Earth

     Religion is about learning how to love yourself so you will be able to love others. It's about learning how to forgive and turn the other cheek. It is about caring for those who are less fortunate. Religion teaches things like compassion, understanding, sharing, and empathy.  It helps us to understand our suffering and how it can make us stronger. It teaches us how to live in peace in our communities, and accept people for who they are, and understand that none of us are perfect.
     I believe this is the sole purpose of religion. These are important lessons we can learn from religion. If one is able to extract these ideas from religion, and avoid focusing on all the crap that people who know nothing about religion try to emphasize, you will avoid a hellish life on earth. Hell on earth is definitely real.
     Religion is not about judging people and condemning them to hell if they don't believe everything you believe. I am willing to bet my own life that there is no place called hell, where if you don't live a perfect life, you will be condemned to this place for eternity. The idea that a loving and forgiving god would create a place like that is asinine.
     But if there was a Hell, I kinda wonder what would that Hell would be like? For some people it my be an enclosed space with only a single TV. And that TV only will allow you to turn off the power if you have the remote. And the remote is nowhere to be found. As you spend eternity searching for this non-existing remote you are forced to watch re-runs of "Joey" or "Cop Rocks." Or maybe your Hell would be an eternity of driving in Florida traffic where the person in front of you avoids the left-turning lane to make a left turn, stops at green lights, and travels 15 mph under the posted speed limit.
     My personal Hell would be sitting and listening to right-winged fundamentalists speak about religion (something they know nothing about) and being annoyed by stupid, pointless religious messages on an interstate highway. So to all those fundamentalists and stupid religious billboard makers out there; "you are all annoying cock-weasels, and if I am going to hell, I can guarantee now that god knows what my personal hell would be, I will be taking you with me."   PEACE :)

Two Birds with one Stone

     I travelled to Nashville this weekend to attend my nieces' birthday party and the baptism ceremony of my nephew. The first night I had a sleep over with my niece Libby. She was upset because her cousin did not want to sleep over in her room the night before her party. My sister said, "I bet uncle jack will have a sleep over with you." I agreed and before too long was snuggled up in a princess sleeping bag that was bursting at the seems as I attempted to fit inside it.
     Libby wanted me to sing her some songs before "sleep time" and requested "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." I gladly sung it for her. Her next request I was concerned that I did not know all the words. She requested that I sing "The Camptown Ladies." I informed her that I did not know the whole song and she said "do your best." This is all I knew:


The Campptown ladies sing this song,
Doo-da, Doo-da
The Camptown racetrack's five miles long
Oh, de doo-da day
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day

At this point I just started making up words hoping that she would not notice. I mean come on she just turned four. After I was done she said "You were right Uncle Jack you don't know that song" I asked her to help refresh my memory to see if she knew the words. In her High Pitched Nashville twang she said;

"I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray"

I could not stop laughing. Anyway it was a fun trip and we hit a snow storm on the way back.

   Libby loves dogs. She asked me what my favorite animal was and I said the Duckbill Platypus.
   She then proceeded to ask if the platypus was nocturnal or diurnal. I said "nocturnal of course."

Drawing vs. Photography

     I am intrigued by the subtle differences in the detail of the human face. When we look at images of ourselves we find some images we like and others we don't. It is amazing how the direction, and the properties of light, can give our faces many subtle differences. I have seen pictures of myself that I like and pictures I do not like.  I have even seen photos of myself and I don't even recognize myself. Maybe the camera just doesn't really know us that well. Or maybe we don't really know ourselves.  Due to the limitations of exposure latitude of film, and many other limitations, the camera does not see things the same way we see them. In some cases this is a blessing and in others cases it becomes quite frustrating.
    Artists that create drawings from photos will generally request several photos of a subject to get a better idea of features that remain consistent. One photo does not always do justice to it's subject. You really have to get to know the geography of the face for an accurate portrayal. When a photographer takes your picture he/she has control over the light, your pose, and the overall composition. However, considering the camera is a mechanical device, there is no guarantee the photo will reflect how the photographer as an individual sees you. In simple terms a photograph is made by a machine.
     A drawing, on the other hand, is more about the individual's interpretation of how you look as opposed to the camera's record of the light reflecting from the subject. You are likely to get a better idea of how others might see you from a drawing. The drawing is more like an impression of you as it exists in the eyes of the artist. I like the idea that the drawing possesses a quality that the photo does not. That quality is human touch. The filtration of the image through the artist's hand adds a sense of humanity to the image. This is something the camera, in all it's magnificent glory, is unable to produce.
      I'm not saying drawing is better than photography for the purpose of portraiture. I believe the two mediums serve completely different purposes.  I am disturbed by the direction photography has taken when it comes to fashion and advertising. There is so much make-up, airbrushing, and unnatural lighting schemes used that the identity of the person becomes lost or hidden. The images are not photographs anymore they are photographic. Photographic is a generalized term that means of or related to photography. Photography is an aid in making a photographic image. Instead of using the camera's ability to record things with natural exactness photographers take that image and change it to fit  the parameters of ideal beauty. In situations like this I have only one thing to say. Why use a camera at all?

Finally!!!!

     Twelve years I've been shooting pictures for newspapers and I have never followed a local team to a State Championship and had the team I was following actually win. Thank you to the New Trier Varsity girls Swimming and Diving Team for actually winning.  I was almost as excited as they were. Not really, but, kinda really.

What do you see?

I need some feedback on this abstract photo.  Does this look like anything or does it read as just a bunch of random colors? What do you  think this is a photo of? Anyone....I would like to know what you see. If anything at all.

Dream Girl? She's Not all That.

    

     You know when you have a really weird dream that you cant quite explain? You want to talk about it because of it's disturbing quality but you just can't find the words. I had one of those dreams recently. In my dream I met Barbie and a couple of her friends. We actually had a lot of fun at first. I went driving in her Corvette, hung out in her RV, and even attended a fashion show with her. She had some life-like qualities but also retained some of her doll-like features. On the one hand, I will have to admit, I was intrigued by her spontaneity and attractive qualities. On the other hand there was something strange and plastic about her.
     As the dream progressed I became more and more dissatisfied with her company. Things just started to go seriously downhill. She had this fetish. A fetish common to every girl I have ever dated. She liked to wake up every morning, dress up as herself, and act like a bitch all day long. It wasn't long before I got fed up with the dream and woke up.
     I know there is no way to illustrate all the disturbing feelings I experienced during my dream. As a response to this dream I was inspired to make some images to try to illustrate my mind's image of Barbie. The disturbing external qualities of these images serve as a metaphor to the anxiety I felt while interacting with Barbie.
 

Chicago Marathon

     I photographed the Chicago Marathon this weekend. I didn't get down there early enough to secure the spot I wanted, so I had to find some new locations at the last minute. I wanted to shoot from the bridge that overlooks Columbus Drive where the race started. I figured with nearly 40, 000 participants this would make for an interesting image.
     The crowds were too thick on the bridge and I did not want to force my way through the crowd of people who had the discipline to get there early enough to secure that location. I noticed there were some people who had entered a garden that overlooked Columbus Drive. I went into an open gate to check out this location. There was a young boy, his mother and father, along with six or eight other random people.
     After investigating the spot I decided it was not that great. I started to make my way out of the garden. A few seconds after I made the decision to leave a security guard appeared, and in a very rude manner, told everyone they had to leave and could not watch the race from the garden.  No one offered any resistance. They truly did not know they were on private property.  As they were starting to leave the rent-a-cop began to threaten people with "your all going to jail" even though we were all very cooperative. He even threatened the eleven year old boy with jail time if he did not leave. The family of the boy was trying to console him as they exited the garden to ensure him that he did nothing wrong and would not be going to jail.
     There was a time in my life where I would have lost my temper with this security guard and challenged his authority. He had no authority to detain or take anyone to jail. All he could do was ask us to leave. The threats were unnecessary.  If you choose not to leave, he can call the police, and have you charged with trespassing. This security guard's behavior was appalling.
     All I could think about was my Uncle John, who was born and raised in Macon Georgia, and how he would have reacted in this situation. Uncle John is the most laid back southerner you will ever meet. I could just hear him saying it under his breath. "Ya no wut makes men act that way"? "small dick syndrome" he would say.  I began to laugh hoping the security guard would not see me snickering. Uncle John had a theory that all man's aggressions were due to fear of inadequacy. Men wage war to compensate for their small penises. Maybe Uncle John is on to something.

WHAM Mission to Nicaragua

     I have posted this video for those who have requested to view it before it is finalized. This is a collection of photos and video made into a multi-media project to be presented to the parish of The Holy Comforter Episcopal Church. Members of WHAM (We Have a Mission) went to Nicaragua to establish a presence in a village called Cusmapa. The youth of the church spent time with the students of the Miramar School along with helping to make aesthetic improvements to benefit the village and school in Cusmapa. The young adults did a really great job and recorded their experiences through photos and journal entries. I decided against using footage of individual interviews simply because there were so many participants in the interviews that it made the video too long. I think we compiled a good selection of photos and along with the group interviews got the point across very efficiently.

Photography is not Art

     A photograph is an object. It is a scientific discovery. A record of light. A piece of history. Art is not an object. If art was an object than any man made or natural thing would be art. Every element, every atom, every disease, every living thing, and every non-living thing. How can art be this generalized? If art is everything than art is really nothing.  Is a tree art? If so than who is the creator? If the creator is god, or alah,  or just a random act that was predetermined during the evolution of the universe than the person that photographs it is a copyist.
      I remember the first time someone asked me "if a tree falls in the woods, and there is nobody there to hear it,  does it make a sound." The answer is no. Sound exists because life exists.  When a tree falls in the woods it produces waves that radiate out from it like waves produced in a lake after a rock is thrown into it. Living things, like human beings, have ears that interpret those waves and produce what we call sound.
      While the Mona Lisa hangs in a gallery it exists as an object. Without the company of human influence it is nothing more.  The art in an object happens during it's creation and viewing, not as it hangs in a gallery, suspended in space with no human interaction. Art is the relationship between the artist and his work. Art happens when a connection/relationship between artist and viewer is established. Art is not a painting, a drawing, a photograph, or a sculpture.
     Science is based on facts produced by studying the behavior of things during observation. Science studies how. Art and religion study why. Art and religion are related concepts. The word religion is a latin term that means "to tie things together." One of the most important concepts taught by religion is man/woman's relationship with her/his neighbor. Strong relationships with our friends and family define who we are and give us a reason for living. Without them we are lost.

Mary at the Beach

I took Mary to the beach today.  She loves the mild weather and always wants to go outside and chase the squirrels. It is the highlight of her day. There are also a lot of rabbits for her to chase. She has reunited with her friend Pearl and they play every day. Pearl is my parent's dog. Mary still follows me everywhere I go but she has adapted well to her new environment. She is the most loyal companion and the greatest dog ever.

I've forgotten more about lying than most people ever know.

     I have like 20 points on my drivers license for various violations.  Fortunately for me the Florida DMV is so disorganized they are unaware of it and have not suspended my license.
     I was driving through a suburb of Chicago working on some real estate photos the other day and was not aware of how fast I was going. I was stopped for speeding and the police officer said I was going 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. I knew I was going to have to be pretty creative in order to get out of this ticket. When the officer asked for my drivers license I told him it got suspended after I was arrested for my second DUI. He said what about registration? I told him the registration was in the glove compartment next to a .38 caliber pistol that I used to kill the fellow I had stuffed in the trunk. He began to back away from the vehicle clenching his pistol while using his radio to call for back-up.
     Within a few minutes more than five police cars had me completely surrounded. The chief of the local police department, who was an expert negotiator, was sent over to have a little one-on-one talk with me. He asked me my name and I handed him my drivers license like there was no issue. He said "I thought you didn't have a drivers license." I said "sure I have one" and I assured him it was valid. He then said "what about the body in the trunk?" I laughed and assured him there was no body in the trunk. He said "officer O'Connor told me that you admitted to having a dead body in the trunk." I said "well Officer O'Connor is obviously lying because there is no body in the trunk." "He is probably lying to you about how fast I was going too.

Drawing vs. Photography

I made these drawings of my niece and nephew. Drawing and painting seem to exist to mock photography. Photography exists to mock painting and provide physical surface details regarding a subject that the human hand cannot mimic. Maybe the human mind can provide insight into a subject through painting and drawing that surface detail recorded by the camera cannot illustrate. If I draw something to copy a photograph am I providing any new insight into the true nature of the subject?

My first Chicagoland football game

        

I photographed my first Chicagoland high school football game on friday night at New Trier High School. I heard a lot about this school from locals before seeing the campus for the first time. New Trier was founded in 1901 and is known for its large spending per student, along with its academic excellence, athletics, drama, visual arts, and music programs. This school is huge. In 1981 the school had more than 6500 students. These are not my best pictures but I like the action shot of number 15 running the ball. The foreshortening of the lens makes it look like his leg is bent in an awkward direction. If New Trier is willing to spend so much money on their athletic program I have only one thing to say, "get some better lights for your stadium. They are sub par."

My niece and nephew

I went to visit my sister and brother-in-law in Nashville. I took some pics of my niece and nephew.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

I will not be able to post anything for a short time because I have to go back to Florida and fix a problem. It appears as though the caretakers at my condo have proven themselves unreliable. Not as unreliable as Jack Nicholson character from "The Shining" but as close as you can get to that without attempting to murder your entire family with an axe.

Digital Pinhole Photography

  Bet you didn't think it was possible.  The first image is made from a lens constructed of aluminum foil. That is why there is so much feedback in the form of a burst of colors. The second image is a macro wide angle lens pinhole configuration which shows a close-up of a sewer cap or manhole, and the third  image is the equivalent of a 50mm lens and shows a chair thrown in Lake Michigan. Whom ever it was that threw the chair in the lake, I have one thing to say, "you're a douchebag."

Photography is not a Profession

   Since nobody who will be offended follows this blog I am going to speak my mind about "professional photography." Photography does not exist as a profession. For the last ten years I have made a modest living taking pictures for various clients. My financial problems have always stemmed from frivolous spending. I squander just about every dime I make and would sometimes prefer to tell my clients I am busy, simply because I would rather watch Caddyshack for the 1000th time, than take a picture of old grandma McGillicutty with her freshly woven quilt. Not all my assignments were this ridiculous but beggars can't be choosers.


You are not a professional just because you get paid to do something. I used to get paid to mow the lawn and take out the trash. Does this mean I am a professional lawnmower and trash taker outer. Professionals almost always require at least a four year degree and some sort of accreditation by other field professionals. Any job that has to use the tag "professional" in front of it is nothing of the sort. You ever heard of a professional doctor or freelance gynecologist. Anyone can pick up a camera and say I am a professional. And believe me when I say "They Do." I can't count the number of times I went on assignment and the soccer mom next to me, who had a rich husband, had better equipment than I.

In the beginning It felt good to tell people I was a photographer. Now I just feel like a jack@$$. Most of the knowledge I acquired in college regarding photo is useless today. Many photographers today don't know the first thing about the law of inverse squares, reciprocity, or the zone system.

Photography is a trade. It does require training and years to master but it is still just a trade. Trades are jobs that produce tangible goods. Professionals are hired for what they know not what they produce. The architect designs the building and is paid for what he knows. The tradesman (carpenters and construction workers) are paid for what they produce. I did not go to college to be a laborer.

Furthermore it has become very clear to me that the trade of photography has become enveloped with billions of photographers. That is why so many clients are quick to haggle you down. If you don't budge they will find someone with a skill level they are comfortable with that will. I'm not saying there are not clients out there that will pay a pretty penny for what you can produce. I once got paid $4,200 for taking some product shots that I completed in half a day. However, at times when the economy is bad, everyone is looking to pinch pennies. If you are going to stay afloat as a tradesman you will have to adjust your business accordingly. Photography is a business for skilled tradesmen. I will have to say I am tired of playing the game. Sometimes I feel like I would rather dig ditches for peanuts than help million dollar corporations make another million off my images.

I always new I had a problem with my so-called profession. Now I have been able to verbalize it. I have come to terms with my mediocrity and lack of prowess and see that my only option is return to school. Of course first I must get my credit cleaned up enough that I can steal more money from the government. Just kidding, but not really.

This is a really cool street performance. You think the drummer for Iron Butterfly needed discipline to get through his inagaddadavida drum solo. Check this out. FYI, performers in the streets of chicago pay a fee of $100 per year to perform in the streets. These are not homeless, no talent, losers. They are artists.

Agora

I saw "Agora," for the first time. It is a permanent sculpture piece in Grant Park on the south end of Michigan Ave. The work was created by a Polish artist named Magdalena Abakanowicz. Agora was a place of public assembly for Greek city-states. People would gather in the Agora for military purposes and public assembly. This piece is very military in structure but at the same time displays a sense of choas. Each individual sculpture has similar qualities but the details that make up those qualities are very different. I will have to say I was feeling a little uneasy and somewhat agoraphobic walking through this piece.

Self Portrait

I feel like I have been through hell and back. I will be the agent of my own salvation. The war is over and now it is time to rebuild.

The EYE

I went to see the eye today. It is a public art piece created by Oak park artist Tony Tasset. There has been some public debate on whether it is "art or crap." A lot of Tasset's work has been tongue-in-cheek and the public in general seems to love it. They all loiter around it with their cameras and come from across town to see it. Art is in the eye of the beholder. One man's trash is another's treasure. I will say that it is hard not to admire. All 30 feet of it. And it took a lot of skill and planning to create and display it. It also makes me wonder what would posses someone to create something like this.

                        It is thought provoking and visual. I would say it is definately art.

Bizarre Foods in Chicago

Andrew Zimmern, of the travel Channel's Bizarre Foods, was at a restaurant in Chicago called Xoco this summer. The question on everyone's mind was what bizarre food was being featured. They have a Goat Barbacoa Torta which was suggested as a possibility. That torta (mexican sandwich) consists of oaxacan pasilla-tomato salsa, avocado, onions, cilantro and Goat of course. But I guess we will have to tune in to find out.

Cool Water Sailing

I'm going sailing on Lake Michigan on a Hobie Cat on Tuesday. I am praying that my sailing knowledge is still sound even though I have not sailed in years. I do not want to turn this boat over. The water in Lake Michigan is too cold for this Florida boy.  I keep trying to remind myself not to Jibe if the wind is too strong. Nothing wrong with a chicken jibe. Once I get used to the rigging I will feel more confident.

Ridin' that train

Chaos

I have been reading about chaos theory. There is both order and disorder in chaotic systems. Just the slightest disturbance can change the way a system behaves. This makes me question the significance of all my actions and the actions of people around me. For instance the butterfly effect. The simple flapping of a butterfly's wings in one part of the world can bring a disturbance that can grow so rapidly at an exponential rate causing storms on the other side of the earth weeks later. Wow!!!!! Is this possible? Not sure I am buying it but it is an interesting theory.

blogging about blogging

Thought I would try out the blogging thing. Maybe I can learn something about the world or myself.