Out of Chicago Debrief

The Out of Chicago Photography Conference was fantastic! It was a weekend full of seminars, photowalks, and time to connect with incredible people.

My agenda began with a little workshop on legal issues for photographers. Did you know that while humans automatically own the copyright on any photos they take, monkeys are out of luck?

I also learned a bit about time lapse photography. No, it’s not just for nature documentaries — think about the dramatic opening sequence of House of Cards.

And I picked up some great tips for photographing Chicago cityscapes from the conference founder, Chris Smith.

But my favorite sessions were about street photography. Some people dismiss street photography as just ‘pictures of random strangers in a city.’ But as you really look at these images, you begin to appreciate this discipline as the true art form it is.

The equipment list for great street photography is surprisingly simple. All you need is a small, quiet camera — an iPhone will do in a pinch. Less is more. The true skill comes in spotting a scene and waiting for the right person to enter that scene. Sometimes, as the photographer, you’ll be noticed (and get an odd stare), but often your presence will go undetected.

After the lectures, acclaimed street photographer Valerie Jardin led a street photowalk. Wow, this is hard work, even for a family photographer! It’s not uncommon to be out shooting for a couple of hours and come home with only a few keepers. But the good ones make it all worthwhile.

To learn more about next year’s conference, visit OutofChicago.com.

Out of Chicago Photography Conference

This weekend, I’ll be attending the Out of Chicago Photography Conference! Each year, I try to attend at least one photography workshop or conference. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and learn some new tricks. Thanks to an onslaught of online training options, it’s easy to talk yourself out of actually jumping in the car or catching a plane. But no webinar can truly replace the personal connections made at in person events.

One of the things I love about photography is that the learning never stops. And this particular conference is geared toward that fact. The schedule is full of speakers from a variety of disciplines - from architecture to street photography. Only a slice of the content deals with portraiture, my passion. And that’s one reason why I’m going. Learning about other photographic genres is a perfect way to put a new spin on old perspectives. For example, I’ll be sitting in a few lectures on street photography. Street photographers, by definition, strive to be invisible. The best images are usually made without the subject even realizing an image was captured, thus preserving a special authenticity. When shooting a Day in the Life session, I want to be discreet. Sure, my clients know I’m there, but anything I can do to blend in a little better is beneficial.

In addition to lectures, the conference will also have several photowalks. Yes, we’ll be out running around Chicago! Photowalks are great, because only a fellow photographer can appreciate the idea of spending hours shooting The Bean from every conceivable angle.

Stay tuned for a debrief next week! And I promise to pick just a couple images to show you.

And we all fall down!

Parenting is a carefully choreographed super marathon performance. Lots of duct tape and glue sticks are required to hold it all together. But despite our best efforts, sometimes we trip and fall flat on our face. That sums up the last few days in our house.

We’re blessed to have a healthy family. Rarely do the kids miss school. But when they do, it’s a mess. The routines go out the window and the goal is just to get through the day in one piece.

“I can count the number of times a bug has taken us down. And it’s always the ‘tummy bug’...”

I can count the number of times a bug has taken us down. And it’s always the ‘tummy bug’...  Kids aside, it’s bad enough for adults. But throw in a developing immune systems or maybe some potty training and things things get raw (and smelly).

At 3, Pete is a tough little guy. We’ve joked that he has an iron tummy. He’s dodged all the viruses that have passed through his classes in the last couple years. A few months ago he was sent home for reporting his tummy hurt, but he never got sick. Remember, he’s in room full of preschoolers, and they’ll repeat anything they hear...  I honestly don’t remember him ever being sick before this weekend.

He was sent home late last week after some projectile vomiting. Luckily, it was only one incident. But then things started coming out the other end. I’ll spare you the details, but we made good use of the sanitize cycle on the washer. What followed was a few pretty miserable days. The bug meandered through the house, catching us all, but manifesting itself in different forms. Most meals consisted of ginger ale, lots of water, and crackers.

As we all edged back to 100%, the survival instinct subsides and I began to look back on those days as an accomplishment. We all made it through (except a towel or two) and we discovered a few new Netflix options with the kids. Sure it’s frustrating to see your schedule get puked on. But times like these are always a good reminder that sometimes you have to let go. Just cover the basics for a few days and know that the chaos of ‘normal’ life with kids will be there waiting.

Do you have a good tummy bug story? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
 

You picked out an amazing prom dress, now shave your head!

Think back to the spring of your senior year in high school... College applications & scholarship interviews, job interviews, finding a date to prom, searching for the perfect tuxedo or dress, and deciding how to wear your hair to prom...

Alyssa, a senior at Warren Township High School in Gurnee, can now skip the last question. Because she shaved her head (and donated a pony tail too). In the process, Alyssa raised a pretty good sum of money in support St. Baldrick's–an organization that funds childhood cancer research. 

It was humbling to watch as all her beautiful hair floated to the floor. Her parents, practically in tears, watched from just a few feet away. And I simply tried to photograph the moment as best I could.

Her bravery in that moment was unbelievably inspiring. Without hesitation, she tossed away the ridiculous social pressures of high school, all so that a young child somewhere might simply be able to live to see her prom...

We Strapped Blades to their Feet!

We had a great time in Cleveland. In fact, we even dodged a bit of snow (not something Cleveland is known for). But it's good to be back in Chicago.

We spent time with family and even did a little ice skating! Skating with little kids is pretty brave by itself–I mean they're challenging enough to contain, so why not strap blades to their feet? Oh and remember not to pick up your kid with skates on... 

To make it more interesting, I was lugging my camera around the ice. I love making photographs in tricky situations (kids, ice, blades, past bed time–a perfect combination).

And if you read my last post, you might be wondering about the drive home... The image below pretty much sums it up. Both kids were out cold for a good 2 hours! I caught up on a few podcasts and we stopped only once during the 6 hour trip. I'd call that a win for Dad. Now back to work, spring break is over!