2025 08 27
Catalpa tree and sunset storm clouds. Chicago, Illinois. May, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
-Clayton
2025 08 24
Side of house at sunset. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
-Clayton
2025 08 17
Skyline at sunset as seen from the Ike. Chicago, Illinois. May, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
It’s an always-elusive sight: the Chicago skyline as you’re driving back into town, the setting sun low on the horizon, bouncing light off the massive towers of glass and steel back into your direction. Lit up brilliantly, contrasted by the almost-night’s sky in the space beyond, the sight is elusive because managing to capture its brilliance in a photo is near impossible. For me, it’s more of a feeling I get at this time of day. People are on the move, going places and doing things. There’s an energy in the air. Aside from the traffic that comes along with it, it’s my favorite time of day to be in a big city.
While sitting on the couch recovering from Covid, youtube served me the video below and it brought a big smile to my face. As a hopeless cheerleader for the city of Chicago, it’s very cool to see creative young people doing all of the things I myself wish to do. If only I was a bit younger, I’d start a magazine. If only I had a bit more time on my hands, I’d get a creative agency going. I shouldn’t sell myself too short, I’m doing plenty of cool things (imo), but there’s a definitive feeling of being old and out of touch that often holds me back these days. Play to your strengths, I tell myself. Get started on that epic Sears Roebuck & Company biopic screenplay, I tell myself. Jokes?
-Clayton
2025 06 15
Sun sets on the flatland. Thawville, Illinois. June, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Now that I’ve been at my Illinois Project for over a year (granted, actual shooting time has been quite minimal as I’m mostly busy fighting the fight in the big city), I’m starting to get a better sense of what it is I’m looking to do. Early images, such as this one made a year ago, while nice, are too pulled back. I’m not a landscape photographer, but I was finding myself making lots of landscape photos. I need to get in the action and find the vibes!
Yesterday, at our third Realm photobook shop popup, while surrounded by some of the best art photobooks on the market, I met a local photographer. He showed me some of what he’s been working on and I immediately found myself lost in the feelings of inadequacy. This guy’s work is very good and surely he’s well on his way to publishing a meaningful book. While that in itself is great, immediately comparing myself to him and focusing on my shortcomings is not a productive reaction. Part of what makes art great is that we all have different perspectives on the world. It’s what makes us stand out. Trying to make my images look more like his, or someone else’s, is not the right approach, in my humble opinion.
That said, there are definitely productive takeaways that can be had from these tough interactions! Two quick ones:
1) Shoot less like an editorial photogrpaher and more like an artist. I’ve been a working photographer for nearly two decades and my brain has been trained to give the client what they want. Whether it’s a large commercial project or small editorial assignment, I’m a people pleaser at the end of the day. The trouble with this is when I’m out making work for myself, I’m finding myself shooting as if I’m on assignment. I am, in a sense, on a self-assignment but I default to shooting around a scene to get all of the angles and then spending a ton of time pouring over the selects, toning & adjusting, which is very time consuming.
2) Stop comparing myself to others. I’m not the next Ansel Adams and never will be, nor do I want to be! Many people will have better work than me. It is what it is and, instead of getting jealous, I should focus on the things I can control myself. Perhaps this is an obvious one but I think it’s important to remind myself of this regularly!
I’m considering a new section on this here blog with all of my Ill Wandering posts. If it does ever turn into something (a book, likely), it would be nice to have all of these thoughts nearly organized to look back on (and probably laugh at). If that’s something you would be interested in, let me know below!
-Clayton
2025 03 09
Sunset on Bloomington. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Chicago’s weather today was glorious. The first nice weekend day where everyone leaves the house and it makes the city feel alive with energy and humanity. It’s days like these that make me glad to live where I do.
-Clayton
2025 01 05
Another day not posting my 2025 Creative Resolution. I’ll get to that tomorrow, maybe. I’ve been distracted with another one of my year-end resolutions.
This sunset image reminded me of a sunrise photographer video I was sent this morning by my buddy and fellow photographer Dave. It’s fitting, in the sense that his project began from a creative resolution as well, and he’s been photographing the sunrise every day now for years. It became his job, his calling, his identity.
-Clayton
Sunset over Lake Michigan. Benton Harbor, Michigan. October, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Another day not posting my 2025 Creative Resolution. I’ll get to that tomorrow, maybe. I’ve been distracted with another one of my year-end resolutions.
This sunset image reminded me of a sunrise photographer video I was sent this morning by my buddy and fellow photographer Dave. It’s fitting, in the sense that his project began from a creative resolution as well, and he’s been photographing the sunrise every day now for years. It became his job, his calling, his identity.
-Clayton