Thanks

Thanksgiving is a strange holiday.

Working at a preschool and noticing the contrast to that of my own Thanksgiving education when I was little, I wonder what Thanksgiving means to these kids today. Sure the narrative has changed, but I hope the feeling has not. For myself, it has less connection to history and more relation to pumpkin pie and warm hugs. History is quite the complicated one!

Thanksgiving was special this year. I left my friend’s house feeling calm, connected, and very uncomfortable from my enlarged food baby. Exactly the feelings I want to feel.

After, to process some of the large quantities of calories, I accompanied my friends as they walked some dogs around the neighborhood. There is “pet eye” reflection remover in Lightroom, but because I couldn’t decide, I left one of each in the shot below. Thought it looked interesting.

This weekend,

my new roommate Tamera began the lengthy process of doing her hair. And by this I mean, removing her previous weave (with a quantity that could fill a normal size grocery bag), bleaching her hair, dyeing her hair, dyeing her new weave, and fixing it to her scalp. So much work! Incredible. Upon entering the kitchen, (camera first) she quickly hooded her hair! This is probably not the best for new roommate-ship relationships, she is gonna probably kill me if she finds these images … but, I think she looks lovely without the weave! In any case here are some detail shots from this afternoon -

~ Happy day

Lovely and Sweet

Since I frequently find myself at weddings, sometimes the question comes up:

“What would you do for your wedding?”

Well, this.

I met this couple at a Mahalia concert at Lincoln Hall, my roommate connecting with the husband for being a therapist, and myself connecting with the wife for working with kids. Stayed in touch every so often on social media and then… one year later I find myself photographing their wedding! How rad is that?

Asher and Dylan held a wedding in a minimalist, large-windowed Peerspace rental on the edge of Logan Square. Only immediate families were welcomed and Asher’s sibling helped set up the quaint space. Both sides of family helped officiate and host the wedding, and everyone was able to coexist in a calm atmosphere, free from large swaths of guests and complicated wedding planning stressors. Both of their attitudes were open, excited, and full of so much heart.

Weddings can turn into an anxious event with the handful of vendors, day-of surprises, and general overstimulation from guests. If I were to have a wedding, it would follow suit with the ideology and and energy that Asher & Dylan laid with their special day.

Happy Day ~

A Montessori Photoshoot

I have been working at Montessori preschools for about two years now, but have never really utilized my school knowledge into my photography. Normally when I leave the school, I leave my teacher hat in the classroom. My brain turns off, and I only snap back into Mr. Spencer when I wake up Monday morning.

But today, was different. I photographed some very close friends of mine, who have a 3 and 4 year old daughter and son, respectively. And although I have always focused on “getting theeee shot” in every shoot before this one, I wanted to have a different approach.

In Montessori, although there are rules and limitations that the children must know, every child is still given ample freedom in the form of choice. Because I never photograph such young kids, I wanted to keep it light, fun, and give them plenty of choices during the afternoon. After editing, although it was very apparent that I was moving fast and very focused on the overall experience (a lot of blown out or out of focus shots), I think it was a great exercise into what family photography could be with small children.

What went well?

Having a plan is always necessary (to reduce my anxiety), but allowing for freedom along the way, gives a great test to our talents as photographers and creatives. During moments when the children had the urge to explore or play, instead of re-wrangling, I decided to lean-in. “Whoa, what did you find?” This added to our planned shots, but rewarded our shoot with some more creative images and backdrops I would never have thought of otherwise (more on this later *). But when things needed to happen, and I needed to snap a certain shot; I relied on simple incentives (high fives, affirmations), narrating good behavior, or leading a shot with a storyline. “Okay Asa, so since you’re such a helpful leader, it’s gonna be your job to lead your family down this pathway, through the leaves! Let’s go!”

Overall I think it was a fun first shooting experience for the kids (as well as myself, so much less stress when you go with the flow). No posed shot lasted long enough to trigger any tears thankfully. I think I have growth when it comes to my sense of direction when leading so many humans at once, but also on the photo technical side: managing focus, stopping down lower than 2.8 oof, and watching blown highlights.

*One of the many unplanned shots occurred when the children begin resting on the bike rack my bicycle was stationed at. Looking back at them, I jumped. Took off my bike, and snapped the picture you see below.

Happy day ~

Portraits in Pilsen Pt.2

And now the artist!

Three months have passed, and I have landed back in the beautiful Pilsen courtyard I photographed Ryan. But now, it is a friend who is painting her way to a new life as a professional artist. When I first met Jennifer, the work she showed me was mainly portraits in realistic spaces, but has now grown more faces since then. Her talents even landed her a spot in a competitive reality show called The Exhibit. Attached below are a few of her works/collections I fancied. If you like them, please click for more info…

Happy days ~

Zanzibar

Van Gogh Project

Black Girl 2020

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Portraits in Pilsen

Hidden behind the bare brick buildings in Chicago, it is always a joy finding spaces not easily seen from the street. Ryan, reached out in need of a work headshot, and while discussing possible locations, mentioned their partner had access to a courtyard in their complex. And can I say… what a joyous treat this courtyard was. Trees plump with cherries, a spitting fountain, textured brick and greenery encapsulated this lovely eden behind Halsted. Here are the results from our speedy 25 minute session ~

Winnemac Park

So I finally discovered Andersonville…. and I may be planning my next move…

Merely jokes, I don’t think I could ever leave the South Side but Andersonville exhibited a tranquility and “small town charm” that I think my soul SEEKS in this digital age. The Hyatt-Hamilton family below was a family I worked with at a preschool in Wicker Park, and I couldn’t say goodbye without a family photoshoot. I became so close working with their son during their time there, showing my love many times translates to acts of service, which is how this whole day came about. Vibrating with energy, the boys kept me on my toes while I was able to catch up with their parents. I was able to capture some sweet moments. Enjoy -

A lovely maternity at Garfield Park

One of my strongest photoshoots to date.

This day was planned out weeks in advance, but changes in weather modified our plan to what it became. An indoor shoot at Garfield Park Conservatory as well as an outdoor “still-life” shot in the nearby park. With multiple phone conversations to start, we slowly formed what the culture of this photoshoot would be: mindful and genuine.

With all of the hulabaloo at the conservatory, I wanted to begin with a simple meditation outside on the exterior grounds. Guided breathing, reconnecting with the body, and envisioning personas we wanted to showcase. I had never done this before at a shoot and it proved INCREDIBLY useful. It calmed our spirit, focused our intentions, and simply made the day more enjoyable! At times I noticed anxiety or an uncomfortable look, we stopped, came back to center, and resumed. Purely magic.

Never have I felt so at-peace, confident and present, during a photoshoot. With the culmination of thoughtful preparation and body awareness, I think this came out to be one of my strongest portrait sessions to date. Enjoy -

Merry Covid Christmas

I got Covid!

My lack of respect for this virus throughout this year sent me dive bombing into cluttered cafes and dancing through packed night clubs with no fear. And it all caught up!

It took just one holiday party to get infected, and bed ridden I was for a week! Everyone has a different reaction to Covid, and with the multiple variants present, it’s hard to say what the reasons may be. But my experience was fairly intense. Incredible back and knee pain, heavy sinus pressure, high fever, chills, and fatigue lined my first three days dealing with the symptoms. From there it has turned into a normal cold, with unrelenting coughing and a nasty sore throat. I wouldn’t have cared so dearly if it hadn’t overlapped the Christmas break!

Luckily… the friends who were infected with us, were able to join for a get together, making the day not so lonely! Silly games, feasting, and of course ALCOHOL, covered our celebration - and for me, didn’t feel any different than any other Christmas in Chi. Family portraits were a must. Happy Holidays folks -

LaTorre Family - Humboldt Park

Rough weather on this family portrait session ~

Luckily the Latorre family was laid back, brimming with positivity, and great sports about the situation. (Enduring intense winds at a bone chilling 35 degrees fahrenheit!) Abandoning the original plan of using Humboldt’s flower garden, we headed over to the Boathouse to use the structure as a wind-block while we waited for the wind to die down.

It never did.

But no matter. After shooting some formals in the cover of shelter, we headed down some park trails to grab some walking and action shots. My hopes were high from the beginning, but still very content & surprised with the outcome. Here are some of my favorite shots -

Cheryl & Karl - CS Park Downtown Chi

Cheryl and Karl brought together their two families into one beautiful union for Karl’s 50th birthday! This family session, shot at the Cancer Survivor’s Park Downtown Chicago, was a dream! Each kid showed off their individuality, some not scared to share their artistic direction! Special shouts to the girl in frame 7 holding the piece of prairie grass, it was COMPLETELY her idea to shoot in that space and we were able to capture some incredible portraits! It is always best to collaborate versus dictate if the opportunity arises.

Special special family:) I hope to have a family-portrait-reunion someday! Enjoy -

The Other Art Fair - Revel, Fulton Market

Happy Monday to you all!

This weekend was filled with creativity and love!

Thursday 09/30

I was tasked with covering a few artists featured at the “The Other Art Fair” which turned out to be such an incredible event. Stationed at Revel in Fulton Market, the event space was JAM PACKED with creative souls. Documenting Colleen Walsh, Jennifer Warren, Dail Kirkpatrick, and Lorimar Matos sent me running rounds through the organized alleyways, able to browse the diverse selection of artists! Here are some of the shots covered:

Saturday 10/02

A wedding between two wonderful souls, both working in the nonprofit space, Arthur and Rachel were a dream to document. Laid back and sweet, the day rolled out with smiles and laughter through rain and wind. I was only a second shooter for this event, so I will not be posting any images.

I am blessed...

I am truly grateful to be a photographer, and sometimes I forget how magical this artistry is. Photographing those I know and care about provides me a sense of purpose that sometimes goes unlooked in my subconscious. A recent shoot with Itohan reminds me once more on how photography is a PRIVILEGE, and how I should respect my craft and give more thought to this beautiful trade I have dedicated a large portion of my life to.

Now with that out of the way ;)

Here are some images for the graduation of Itohan Omelere, a writer, poet, and Chicago-based activist. We ventured into Downtown Chicago, making sure to photograph underneath the street dedicated to Ida B. Wells, an investigative journalist and early leader in the civil rights movement. From there, we let the wind set our sails into locations that fit the mood for the day, covering alleyways to green brush. Congratulations to the beautiful Itohan, this photoshoot was incredible! Link to her website and instagram below.

Free All Of Us / freeallofus.com / @freeallofus

Images shot on Nikon D750 / Nikon 50 2 & Sigma 35 1.4

Tiffany Clomax - Brand Shoot

Chicago is a toss-up. Sunny one day, cold and rainy the next. The good thing about these aggressive weather tilts, is it makes you deeply appreciate when the conditions PERFECTLY align for a gorgeous day.

Saturday, 7 AM

I photographed Tiffany Clomax, a Forensic Psychologist interested in building a consulting agency for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) interested in the mental health sector. The marketing team rented an upscale, FULL window loft for the shoot, and the day yielded some fantastic brand imagery. Funny enough, we mostly shot outside and in the lobby, with the loft space feeling too bright / too harsh. But hey, what are you gonna do. Below are some of my favorite images from the day.

Ending so early, I embraced the beautiful weather and ending up sitting outside sipping sangria and munching fresh empanadas at 90 Miles Cafe. And oh, what a treat. Happy day -

All images shot on a Nikon D750, Nikon 50mm F2

Indianapolis Adventure

With a world still plagued with a virus itching to mutate, any opportunity to leave Chicago sends me in a state of bliss. That day came, as many do, with a spontaneous text from Brooke, words seemingly vibrating with excitement on my screen. Her brother-in-law is the master brewer at a space called “Metazoa” and they were happy to house us for a night to come explore the city.

On arrival, we were greeted by two small faces, bouncing with energy, the oldest contorting her face and bending herself into a pretzel as she stared into my camera lens. Brooke’s niece and nephew, Audrey and Jude, acted as the unofficial welcoming party, spoiling us with attention combined with random little hugs that loosened my ever-growing frustration towards humanity lol. The night began with burgers and whiskey and wonderful conversation, until we were off to the brewery!

Metazoa was a treat, first class tour behind the scenes, and the first non-staff members to try their new Prickly Pear Seltzer. Light and refreshing, not particularly my cup of tea (or beer) but their BEER…. oh my word. I had the DDH Hoppopotamus was and is one of my favorite IPAs to date. I wish I took home more cans…

The images below follow our adventures with the kids, road trip views, and everything in between :)

Happy day -

Stevie's day out...

These days, we all need a bit of fun -

And what’s better than a couple shoot with a cat! A friend requested to mark his wife’s birthday with a family shoot including their recent adoptee, Stevie. And how could I resist? My last portrait session has been almost a month ago now, so my skills are rusty, but with such a great subject we were able to get some fantastic shots. Thanks to Jocelyn and Danny for the wonderful help.

Great time, great shots, great cat. Happy Tuesday folks, get outside before Winter truly comes!

~

Shots taken with a Nikon 50mm F2, Sigma 35 F1.4, and Nikon 105 F2 on a Nikon D750 body.

New surroundings, new company

And so it goes…

More riots. It seems this virus is here to stay, at least for awhile.

But in the darkness that swallows the city, joy and grace always arise. How can it not when the sun continues to bloom just above, bringing weather that soothes even the most tender sores. Although I cringe at the site, there is something deeply gratifying seeing community gatherings again; bbqs in the park and birthday celebrations releasing echoes of laughter and spreading a sweet smell of hickory smoke and sizzling fat. It’s the bit of the normalcy I think we all need.

In the moments since my last post, I’ve moved to a new apartment, adopted a cat, and purchased my first laundry machine. Humboldt is quite the change in environment and vibe, but the close proximity to work has truly been a blessing.

Mo Mo is her name and she is a dream (Currently passed out on a chair that of mine at my desk) It only took a couple minutes to fall in love with her on my first visit to the foster home. Being extremely social and very chill, she is seemingly not scared of many things -except DOGS (which I recently found out first hand). I have the urge now to do anything in my power to ensure she doesn’t live a sheltered lifestyle - sitting inside all day watching the world between window glass.. Goal for 2021 is a road trip bringing the girl for the ride. (She is already comfortable on a leash!)

Lastly, this new large appliance purchase will make my 15 minute (and much more expensive) coin laundry commute a thing of the past! It’s the little things you know?

To finish it off, Mo Mo pics and rooftop colors below. All the best and stay safe -

All images shot with Leica M9 / Zeiss 50 1.5

A calm AFTER the storm

Even the sunniest days can’t mask the problems still afoot; but hot damn has the weather been incredible. Almost as if by reflection of our current state however, Monday broke.

Other than pandemic and political malfeasance nationwide, LOCALLY, we’ve taken a hit. Monday morning, tempers peaked in the form of looting once more in Chicago. Cloudy details of yet another police shooting was the spark.* From my ventures around the city, Jewelry row (Downtown) and the Apple store (Uptown) were some of the many hit. Planks of wood, quickly reappeared in my neighborhood as the West brought in suffocating heat and humidity. Within a span of around 20 minutes, madness ensued with 100mph winds rocking our windows and shuttering the trees. As quickly as it began - it left - taking the oppressive mug and leaving one of the most magnificent sunsets.

After photographing, I stopped and stood on my roof for awhile, I needed it. There was a stillness in the air that filled up my lungs fuller than it had in a while. The weight of these current times can drag my shoulders and deter the trails in my mind. But in that one moment - that one second, the world didn’t feel so broken…

*I do not intend to go in depth into this shooting. Facts are still developing and biases can change the intention of details. If you would like to read a bit more, USA Today published an article yesterday covering this story. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/11/chicago-looting-police-arrest-man-attempted-murder-charges/3343649001/

Shot with Leica M9 / Zeiss 50 1.5

What A World... Oh my

I guess a six month break from posting was long enough.

The country I thought to be so great, so hopeful and powerful, has transformed into a gritty wasteland over these past months. The pandemic response from both our country and citizens is something deeper than appalling, and even today, we are still not out of hot water. Now social reform, where do we start…

I’ve learned more about black history in these past three months than in my entire grade-school and college career combined. The disgust and anger I feel - powered from these newly discovered secrets of our country shouldn’t be surprising (when thinking about how the US was first formed), but timelines lined with violence, rape, and torture will always inflict a guttural sting on our communities. 2020 is the year when the bandaid on this wound stopped masking the pain. We need to change, we need to learn. The problems are still current and deep. This will not happen overnight, but we need to start talking to one another. Educating ourselves and those around us is the only way we can better our communities - and our judgment.

On a lighter note…

2020 has been a dry year in photography for me. I’ve lacked the motivation to shoot for myself, so most of my fiddling as an artist has been placed in the form of calligraphy doodles on notecards. Luckily, I was tasked for a portrait shoot by a friend - beginning anew with a fresh startup business. Practiced in spoken word and poetry, Itohan Omolere is an activist and educator who reached out to be photographed on her birthday for the launch of her new website. Check out her store at http://www.freeitohan.com/shop. Shot at Columbus Park, West of Chicagoland, we could not have asked for better weather. Here are some of the resulting images. Stay safe, stay well -

Shot on Nikon D750, 105mm F2 D

Hug a plant

40 degrees icier.

I’ve returned to Chicagoland. I’m working again back at the ol’ ball and chain, Printlab (said with love). These days I have the pleasure of organizing a 30+ year film archive; meaning rummaging through slides and sleeves trying my best to connect dots and return them to their original home. Some connect, others may take months. The process is quite therapeutic. Outside however, not so therapeutic.

I love Chicago, but hot damn if the cold doesn’t make me think twice! “It could always be worse,” I remind myself, but returning from a full month in warmth and humidity makes it that much harder. Friends and warm jackets will soothe this rocky transition.

In the meantime, my friend, Sam, invited me out to Garfield Park Conservatory to take a break from the chill and decaying leaves. Turned out to be busier than I had hoped. Along with the weekend crowd, setup for an event was afoot, but still beautiful as ever. In the fern room, cascading fern leaves danced over patted moss, while overgrown branches flung through walking paths like protruding arms. It seems the plants are larger, understandably, compared to my last visit. Outside, on the outdoor grounds, Sam connected with nature; quite physically. No matter where you are in Chicago, never forget to ask yourself. Have you hugged a plant today? Cheers.

Hope your winter is warm and flu free -

Shot on Leica M9 / 35mm Summicron

Sun rises to car lows

Buckle up bruddahs -

My sister is finally leaving the warm sunshine that is Oahu, to venture off into another chapter of her baking career. With all of the swift packing and sad goodbyes she’s endured, her final morning was decidedly spent watching the early morning sunrise - beachside. Luckily I joined. Dodging bouts of rain, I was astonished by the transformation of the hillside as purples and pinks danced and faded across clouds and tide pools. I could not take pictures fast enough, evident by the over 100 shots I snapped during this time span of less than 30 minutes. oof.

All seemed to be peaceful and well. However…

…on the way to a friend’s vegetable farm in Waimanalo we were struck from behind by a distracted truck driver while we were waiting to turn. Launched forward, my forehead connected with my camera’s shutter speed dial and ripped a 1-2inch gash - SPLOOSH. Everyone was alright otherwise, however our car was totaled and now under inspection for insurance. My head will make a full recovery after some stitches and Tylenol.

Attached below is the best of the magical Sandy Beach at 7am, followed by my Harry Potter-esque injury. Can’t stress enough how vital my seat belt was in this situation, so buckle up bruddahs.

Stay safe -

Shot on a Leica M9 / Leica 35mm Summicron

If you do not want to see my cut then scroll no farther!