Network Security

I had a lot of fun with a recent assignment for CDW, a gigantic resource for all things computed. I have been fortunate to illustrate many feature articles regarding their vast customer relations experiences. A recent assignment took me to GMR Marketing in New Berlin, Wisconsin, to create visual content for services CDW provided to GMR regarding network security. The gods/Spirit/Universe/Source was smiling on me in the form of providing these classic "security" guys: free-standing life-size models of security characters that are in GMR's lobby. It was a no-brainer. I photographed Scott and Tony, IT guys, and the 2 heavies in various environments. Photoshop-enabled creativity.

Personal Work

I am incurably fascinated by forms in nature. The beauty of the design is to me transporting. When I see something that catches my eye, I usually spend many frames investigating the possibilities of viewing the essence of the form. That essence is usually infinite, and I simply stop at some point. Or my material dries up and my time is done! Enjoy.

iPhone Fun

OK, so I don't always have a camera with me, but, actually I do, thanks to the camera within the iPhone. It is great for the quick grab of something you want to remember. As a result, I have compiled quite a few images on my phone. Given the "quick grab" nature of this camera, many of the photos have a fresh spontaneity about them, which is an upbeat energy IMHO. So, click on the title of this post, or right here, to access a recent compilation of my iPhone photos. I hope you enjoy. There are insanely small tools in the lower right corner of the slideshow page that allow you to scroll through the photos, rather than trying to decipher the insanely small thumbs.

San Diego

I just finished shooting an annual report for the McCormick Foundation, based in Chicago. Two grant recipients happened to be in the San Diego area, and I was willing to go there. Yes I was. Sheryl Oring created an interesting project called "I Wish to Say", which involved setting herself up in public spaces with a typewriter and offering people the opportunity to send a message, via typewritten postcard to the president of the United States, who, in 2008, was our beloved GW. A wonderful collection of insights from the populace. I'm showing an outtake here. While I like to shoot strong location portraits, I also like to experiment with multiple-image compositions like this one. Nick Schuler is a battalion chief with the San Diego County Fire Authority. Our shoot was interrupted by a traffic incident in which a driver had a diabetic event while driving and went off the expressway into a ravine, rolling over a few times, and ended up walking away from the wreck, all airbags deployed.

Good Fortune

This is a great profession, did I mention that? I recently photographed (again) world-class harpist Yolanda Kondonassis when she was in town to play with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and to stop in at harp manufacturer Lyon & Healy in Chicago. Yolanda and I have developed a great creative relationship regarding her images. I get the bonus of hearing her play. And the added bonus of working with her husband, Michael Sachs, of the Cleveland Orchestra. 

Another great experience was to work with Nichole Manning, Director of Game Operations for the Chicago White Sox. Yes, that is the World Series Champion ring on her finger. This assignment was for a publication of Nichole's alma mater, The College of William and Mary. This was one of those assignments that doesn't have a significant budget, but has plenty of non-monetary benefits. It was fun to roam around US Cellular Field with Nichole, who was extremely generous with her time and an enthusiastic partner in the creative process. Another bonus? The low budget dictated "hiring" my 14-year-old son, Ellis, a serious sports fan, to assist.  All good.

Where was I?

Oh yes. It was cold. And it still is. But enough of that. Literally. Jumping in to the goldmine of cliches, I shot for Manitowoc Company's Annual Report at their state of the art kitchen in Tampa, Florida. Yes, there was more than one chef in the kitchen. And yes, I withstood the heat and remained in the kitchen. Lesson learned: be nice to your chef - for they carry dangerous weapons.

Cold?

Me too. Oy. Chicago. Very tough town for winters. And for citizens' endurance of their elected leaders. Plenty of other blogs to cover that topic! So, it's cold. It serves no purpose that I can fathom, but, in the words of our national leader,"so what?". Stop me. No more politics. Personally, I have lost faith in the system, (did someone say "duh??"), so let's talk about winter. There is something nice about the quiet, when the wind isn't ripping your face off, the sky is clear, the stars are out, you wonder about the Native Americans in their time. This channel near where I live was creaking and cracking one cold night when I was walking the pup. Speaking of the pup, he is digging it. Almost as good as the dog beach in the summer, but, uh, perhaps not quite. I hope anyone who is reading this has a good new year. It's sad that so many of us suffer the consequences of an illusory economy. Hang in! I'm hoping the shake out will produce a sliver of civic consciousness that miraculously alters the ways of human beings, and a sense of the common good emerges in our policies and plans. but then, I have always been a naive optimist. Cheers!