After a great weekend of seeing some amazing work, talking to old friends and meeting some new ones while at the Midwest Photo Summit the batteries have been re-charged.
2011... bring it.
2011... bring it.
Blog
Southside extras
Interesting little piece of sidewalk art on the way to the game....
Fruits
After a few nerve racking weeks of waiting, the Illinois Press Photographers Association wrapped up its annual conference and contest this past weekend in Evanston.
I put a lot of pressure on myself this year because I really wanted to do well my first year competing in the professional division.
I am pleased, ecstatic, thrilled, (insert other happy words here) to say that among a few other awards including first place feature story, I was awarded honorable mention in the Photographer of the Year competition.
Congratulations to Tribune photographers Scott Strazzante, Alex Garcia and Will Deshazer who won first, second and third respectively.
This post also would not be complete without a big congratulations and Thank you to Jonathan Miano who really helped shape me as a photographer during my first floundering years at the Naperville Sun and also placed third in the Sports Portfolio category.
So if you have a chance, check out all the amazing work on the IPPA website HERE.
I put a lot of pressure on myself this year because I really wanted to do well my first year competing in the professional division.
I am pleased, ecstatic, thrilled, (insert other happy words here) to say that among a few other awards including first place feature story, I was awarded honorable mention in the Photographer of the Year competition.
Congratulations to Tribune photographers Scott Strazzante, Alex Garcia and Will Deshazer who won first, second and third respectively.
This post also would not be complete without a big congratulations and Thank you to Jonathan Miano who really helped shape me as a photographer during my first floundering years at the Naperville Sun and also placed third in the Sports Portfolio category.
So if you have a chance, check out all the amazing work on the IPPA website HERE.
Opening Day: SouthSide
Opening Day: Southside from Brian Powers on Vimeo.
White Sox fans sold out U.S. Cellular Field for their teams home opener on April 7, 2011 when they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 behind 13 strikeouts from starter Edwin Jackson.
Even though I didn't grow up on Chicago's southside, I did grow up going to Sox Park aka Comiskey Park aka U.S. Cellular Field.
My grandfather and I would go to countless games a year, to be able to shoot opening day for the Sun-Times was and amazing experience.
Again, my assignment was to focus on the fans and the environment surrounding opening day, but I couldn't help but sneak down into the pit to grab a few actions shots of the best team in baseball.
Cubs Opening Day
I was lucky enough to shoot opening day at Wrigley field yesterday for the Sun-Times.
My assignment: Produce a video showing the feeling and environment of Wrigleyville and Cubs nation.
My assignment: Produce a video showing the feeling and environment of Wrigleyville and Cubs nation.
Lake Reflections
UnOfficial
I had the great opportunity to team up with the crew from BOOTH 25 EVENTS for the Unofficial St. Patrick's day in Chicago bar crawl on Saturday. We started at Casey Moran's in Wrigleyville then it was over to Vines down the street just to name a few.
Any day spent toasting the Irish is a good day in my book.
Any day spent toasting the Irish is a good day in my book.
Antiquing
Unexplainable pictures
I love old black and white photos. Love them. So when I found THIS WEBSITE I wasted about 30 minutes of my life... and enjoyed every minute of it. Check it out for a good laugh!
Dream Job #2
Q. "So what do you do?"
A. "I light stuff on fire. Legally."
A. "I light stuff on fire. Legally."
Green and Yellow
The seasons they are a'changin, and while the news-makers in the Chicago sports world now play on a wooden floor instead of the lush (ok, mush) green fields of Soldier Field I still wanted to share a few from their loss to the Green Bay Packers on a more than frigid January day.
Swimsuit weather
I know I said I would limit this blog to photos outside of work, but I had to share this one. Jordan and I went out to Yorkville last weekend to cover a Polar Plunge. While the plunge itself left a lot to be desired visually, the divers in the water were photo gold....
Streetlight
Southern Scenery
SoIll
I spent last weekend down in the southern tip of Illinois on a Rock Climbing trip with my good friend Tim. Before I went to school these trips would happen on nearly monthly basis, but as my workload grew at Western the trips dwindled. It felt really good to get back out on the rock.... and taste Waffle House again. Yum.
The spot we were headed to was pretty much undeveloped which meant we had to pack every type of scrubbing device possible from brooms to toothbrushes to clean off the rock.
It had been awhile since the two of us went climbing, so as the sun set on day one out came the cigars and scotch. Always a good way to end the day.
Our journey the next day took us around Shawnee National Forest. As we drove up one of the cliffs an observation tower met us at the top. Expecting it to be closed, we drove by slowly and much to our surprise and delight it wasn't.
A short hike through Bell Springs State Park yielded a future swimming hole and more climbing possibilities.
The spot we were headed to was pretty much undeveloped which meant we had to pack every type of scrubbing device possible from brooms to toothbrushes to clean off the rock.
It had been awhile since the two of us went climbing, so as the sun set on day one out came the cigars and scotch. Always a good way to end the day.
Our journey the next day took us around Shawnee National Forest. As we drove up one of the cliffs an observation tower met us at the top. Expecting it to be closed, we drove by slowly and much to our surprise and delight it wasn't.
A short hike through Bell Springs State Park yielded a future swimming hole and more climbing possibilities.
Wedding Weekend Wonderland
A few more from the weekend of our friends wedding bliss outside the ceremony...
Wedding bells
Jordan and I spent last weekend at Starved Rock Lodge in Utica, Ill. Friends of ours from high school were gettin' hitched and Jordan had the honor of being in the wedding.
It was the first time since I began photographing weddings that I attended a wedding as a guest, not a vendor. I had to be in the pictures instead of taking them....a very strange and uncomfortable experience for any shutterbug.
Much to the dismay of Jordan though, my camera was hanging by its usual spot off my left shoulder for about 90% of the weekend.
Now, having first hand experienced the annoyance/pressure/anger that comes with photographing a wedding/wedding party with another photographer, I limited my snaps to as few frames as possible and instead spent my time enjoying the graces of an open bar.
So here's to you Whitney and Joe, to the many memories and to the many more to come!
Congratulations!
Check back for more from the rest of the weekend!
It was the first time since I began photographing weddings that I attended a wedding as a guest, not a vendor. I had to be in the pictures instead of taking them....a very strange and uncomfortable experience for any shutterbug.
Much to the dismay of Jordan though, my camera was hanging by its usual spot off my left shoulder for about 90% of the weekend.
Now, having first hand experienced the annoyance/pressure/anger that comes with photographing a wedding/wedding party with another photographer, I limited my snaps to as few frames as possible and instead spent my time enjoying the graces of an open bar.
So here's to you Whitney and Joe, to the many memories and to the many more to come!
Congratulations!
Check back for more from the rest of the weekend!
Visualogue
After over a year of begging, pleading, planning and shooting I am ecstatic to announce the launch of "Visualogue," a photo blog for the photographers of Sun-Times Media West.
Similarly to this blog, Visualogue will showcase all the photos that are the reasons we love to do this crazy hobby we call work.
As for this blog, I plan on continuing with regular updates, maybe not with as much frequency, but with more personal stuff shot outside of work.
To check out the new blog visit HERE
It will be updated daily so just like Chicago voting, check it out early and often then tell your friends to do the same! While your there leave a comment or two and let us know what you think.
Similarly to this blog, Visualogue will showcase all the photos that are the reasons we love to do this crazy hobby we call work.As for this blog, I plan on continuing with regular updates, maybe not with as much frequency, but with more personal stuff shot outside of work.
To check out the new blog visit HERE
It will be updated daily so just like Chicago voting, check it out early and often then tell your friends to do the same! While your there leave a comment or two and let us know what you think.
Public Guardian?
There is a program in Kane County where if the County feels you are no longer able to care for yourself and have no next of kin locally they can make you basically a ward of the state.
Sound fishy?
It is. These two people below had friends and family that were put into the Guardian system only to have their friend thrown into exile and threatened if they had any contact with previous friends and family members.
Mr. Rollins' Aunt was put in this program and half her home and possessions were auctioned off before he even knew what was happening. When he found out he immediately bought the home and save what he could of her belongings.
She was put into a nursing home against her will and Mr. Rollins promised to bring her back home. Sadly, she passed away before he was able to, but as a parting gesture, he took this rose from her casket that was driven by the home on the way to her burial and walked it through the house. "It was my way of finally bringing her home." he said.
A similar story happened to Shirley Girsh, but with a close friend. "We had been friends forever, and then all of a sudden I wasn't allowed to talk to her at all," Shirley said.
Sound fishy?
It is. These two people below had friends and family that were put into the Guardian system only to have their friend thrown into exile and threatened if they had any contact with previous friends and family members.
Mr. Rollins' Aunt was put in this program and half her home and possessions were auctioned off before he even knew what was happening. When he found out he immediately bought the home and save what he could of her belongings.
She was put into a nursing home against her will and Mr. Rollins promised to bring her back home. Sadly, she passed away before he was able to, but as a parting gesture, he took this rose from her casket that was driven by the home on the way to her burial and walked it through the house. "It was my way of finally bringing her home." he said.
A similar story happened to Shirley Girsh, but with a close friend. "We had been friends forever, and then all of a sudden I wasn't allowed to talk to her at all," Shirley said.
Kylie update
I spent a lot of time over my first few weeks at the Beacon with a little girl named KYLIE. When we met, she was in the midst of battling cancer in her brain and spinal cord, but due to some access issues I was never able to follow her through the battle.
I am happy to report that a few weeks ago I got a call from Kylie's mom saying she has been doing amazing and is back to being your typical three year old troublemaker. I met up with them at their house one night as they were getting ready for dinner and bedtime.
It was great to see such an amazing kid again and to hear that she is doing so well. Her tumors are still there, but have stopped growing and the doctors are just playing a waiting game because she has had all the chemo and radiation that her little body can take.
I am happy to report that a few weeks ago I got a call from Kylie's mom saying she has been doing amazing and is back to being your typical three year old troublemaker. I met up with them at their house one night as they were getting ready for dinner and bedtime.
It was great to see such an amazing kid again and to hear that she is doing so well. Her tumors are still there, but have stopped growing and the doctors are just playing a waiting game because she has had all the chemo and radiation that her little body can take.