2026 04 09
Another outtake from my upcoming zine (now on preorder!). I still quite like this shot of Sean, one of the ever-changing cast of faces Iāve met through the years while based out of the Kimball Arts Center. The building has changed and is changing in ways which seemingly parallel my own career evolution. I wonāt get into all that here today, however, to sum it up: commerce outcompetes art. That said, Iāve been really enjoying doing my own photography lately and (currently) very motivated to find a way to make it work financially, as well. Time will tell if I can crack it.
2026 04 08
Walking home. Iāve made many images of this house. It always seems to catch my eye. This image, however, stands out as the lighting was perfect, the framing ominous and interesting, and the b/w conversation really brings it all together. While I made this frame on a whim while walking home, itās a prime example of the kind of image that could potentially benefit from a human touch. Perhaps itās a person in the window or a hand behind the fence. A man on the roof would be amazing. This is an example of my internal struggle; Iām always debating with myself when it comes to the sort of images I could or should be making to maximize impact.
2026 04 06
I was a guest on City So Real, a podcast by friend Kevin Coval. While Iām sharing it here today because Iām in it, I highly recommend checking out some of his other episodes as well. Itās been a recent favorite weekly listen of mine.
2026 04 03: Making a Photozine
In classic universe-talking-to-me fashion, I sat down to write this post and checked my email one last time (procrastination!). By sheer chance, there was a Substack post hot off the digital press from a recent favorite of mine: Cate Hall.
I think people are so hyped up about agency because they are looking for an answer to the loss of control they feel spreading across their lives ā economic, political, technological, professional. People are trying to get a handle on how to adapt to a rapidly changing world, how to respond to metastatic uncertainty about the future, and they think that agency holds the key.
While the topic of agency in the above quote from her post is a bit off-topic here, the post was actually a worthwhile breakdown of her current process of writing a book about the subject (agency does play a factor for me but not one weāll focus on here). I wanted to attempt to vocalize some of my own thoughts about the process of making a much-lower-stakes photobook. Why Iāve chosen to focus on it and some of the steps involved in the process as I prepare to release my second zine Daily Bread. My aim is to make it helpful to others also considering a project like mine. I know there are a lot of you out there because I hear from you often at our Realm Books popups!
2026 03 31
Hereās another outtake image from my new zine, which I share prior to providing a link to my old zine in web form!
Check out: Pointing at Stuff 001: Indecisive Momentsvia my Substack.
I wanted to attempt to convert my printed zine into web form, mostly to see how it might work or not work. Youād think sharing it here on the namesake site would make sense, but I want to keep this space more focused on what itās already doing and not complicate things more. Maybe Iāll change that in the future and make this site more focused on the finished bodies of work in addition to the blog.
There are many more thoughts rummaging around in my brain about zines and art photography, which I will share here along with on the Substack. Iād much appreciate if youād follow along there, as Iāve learned that the blog is nice but it lacks the connectivity and social network effects that are crucial these days if you want to get your work in front of a wider audience.
2026 02 22
Iāve long been terrible at communicating my endeavors. Itās something Iām actively working on getting better at. āThe pictures do it for me,ā I tell myself. But while I sit here this Sunday morning, a day that Iād planned to use for some personal photo hunting in Illinois, Iām instead composing four newsletters (one for the studio I run called See You Soon, one for the bookshop I run called Realm Books, this one here for me, and another one for a talk Iām giving on Friday with Creative Mornings) because, well, you gotta.
This year Iām dedicating to organization, simplification, and focus. Iāve been, very-much admittedly, doing too. many. things. This has been largely by design, as I explore new ways to navigate the changing landscape of my profession in commercial photography. Largely, Iām pivoting more towards the art world, another notoriously difficult way to make a living. While Iām well aware of this stark reality, the thought of being able to focus on the things that interest and excite me is what makes it compelling.
Previously, Iād planned to write this week about my new zine project Daily Bread (Pointing at Stuff 002). Iāll shelve a deeper dive into that process for another day, only to say that the project is now available for pre-order and I would greatly appreciate it if youād consider doing so! Itās $22.22 because itās my second zine and I couldnāt resist, but you also get a signed 8x10 print if you pre-order, so itās essentially free.
Instead, letās dive (briefly) into Existential Dread, my favorite topic of late! (I realize my sarcasm usually doesnāt come across online, however, you can rest assured I am very much smiling while writing these words).
2026 03 20
Hereās another outtake from my new zine Daily Bread (Pointing at Stuff 002). I still like this image but it didnāt make the cut. A big part of learning the art of making photobooks has been learning to ākill your darlingsā when they donāt push the narrative forward or fit in overall. I still have much to learn about this, but Iām making some noticeable progress and am excited for the release of the new book!
Iāll be doing an offical announcment on IG later today and will post more info here as well, however, you can find the pre-order page here, if curious!
2026 03 18
ust a quick Note To Self today: when you have a vision that feels like destiny, that feels like itās meant to be but it doesnāt work out as you thought it would, this isnāt necessarily a bad thing. Pivot, change, adjust, and adapt. Things often happen for a reason and sometimes the reasons are good, even when you donāt fully comprehend them.
2026 03 17
Yesterday was a tough day in the sense that I became firmly aware that I am stretching myself too thin, doing too many things, without enough support being applied to the main branches of my life. Itās tough because I want to do so many things, and explore all of the ideas stewing in my brain, but I need to learn that itās better to focus on a few of them at time to ensure Iām giving them enough support to stand on their own.
The catalyst for this feeling was Kevin Covalās City So Real podcast, which I was a guest on. I was honored to be asked and mostly enjoyed the conversation, however, in typical me fashion was also left regretting much of what was said and not said. There were answers I wish I could revisit and topics Iād wanted to dive into but, as is often the case in the moment, were missed. Itās likely Iām over-thinking things and the conversations was fine, if not even good. But the anxiety I felt afterwards was real nonetheless. So real!
My lasting takeaway is that I need to improve my abilities to fluidly discuss topics I am choosing to focus my energies on. Learning to talk as an artist is as important (if not, realistically, even far more important) than making the art.
2026 03 13
I made a very similar photo of my sister 20+ years ago on my first digital camera. It was one of the first images I made that got me really excited about making images.
Today I came across the below quote while cleaning up my desktop and it reminded me that Iāve been slacking on posting quotes around here.
āEven in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.ā
ā C.S. Lewis
2026 03 12
2026 03 03
Iām not spending as much time on this here blog lately, mostly because Iāve been nonstop busy with other stuff. Two of those stuffs are related to this above snapshop of Joe!
First of all, the image was made in the first half of 2023, which is where Iāve been pulling images for my second zine project dubbed Daily Bread. That zine is nearing design completion and (hopefully) heading to the printer this week for dummy copy production. Iām aiming for a late April release. In the meantime, I will be posting more images made from that time in my life on the blog here.
Secondly, Joe was just featured on my other other blog, everyoneisfamous.com, along with his partner Maggie. I clearly donāt have time for all this blogging, but I do the best I can. While I miss hanging out here with myself every single day, itās also been nice to focus on otherā¦ stuff.
2026 02 27
I stumbled upon this image (made while being a bit too nosy during a Reader assignment) last night, so figured I should post it today after Jesseās recent passing. He was a towering figure both in Chicago and beyond. My only personal story about Jesse happened on another photo assignment. I was waiting in line to get into a rally featuring Joe Biden and President Clinton back when Obama was president. This was back in my younger and way more politically-aware days, so I was shocked when I turned around only to discover a massive and quiet figure standing directly behind me. It was Jesse Jackson. Me being me, I was too shy to say hello, but I recall wanting to congratulate him on his presidential run back in the Reagan Era, which always stood out to me as impressive.
2026 02 24
I always love it when the cars move out of my way.
2026 02 14: Reach like a Tree
I have been nonstop lately. Too busy to post. We wrapped a one-night-only photo show last night at the studio and all I can think about this morning is how much time, energy, and work goes into these things we pursue without any promise of a payoff down the road. It really has to be for the love of the game or you risk driving yourself insane. I often find myself slipping towards resentment that things arenāt working as envisioned, or as quickly as desired.
Today is a quick reminder to myself that, like a tree slowly reaching upward into the unknown, my time in this life should be used enjoying the company of birds, a gentle breeze, and doing the things that Iām good at and most enjoy; not in a race to be the tallest tree on the block.
2026 02 07: the bOtS are back
The bots are back! Really, they probably never left. I got a huge spike in traffic the last few days, which was nice to see until I quickly realized itās most likely the Chinese ai-training robots back for more content sucking. Visitors from China have jumped back up to 75%, so weāll see if I need to find a new job soon (I promised myself to quit photography if bot traffic hits 100%).
Have a nice weekend! š¤
2026 02 05: Blog/Life Focus
Yesterday, my mother-in-law asked me if the studio has had many bookings lately. Much like the nonstop madness of US and world events, which blurs reality itself, my life has been far too packed with stuff lately. The week-long play Iād hosted in my space, which was directed by Kevin Coval who she also knows, didnāt even come to mind. It both somehow feels like years ago and has already been shoved towards the back of my brainās usable memory.
This is bad!
I need to slow the fuck down and do some more reflection and documentation (see: promotion) of my own life. When Iām not even remembering the things Iām doing, how can anyone else have a chance of knowing what Iām up to? My challenge is always in figuring out how to best āpromoteā myself. It never feels right to me (have you subscribed to my new substack?!). Weāll continue to work on it.
Lastly, I aim to tweak the focus of this here blog a bit moving forward. My aim is to keep the images more timely; so either images made within the last month or so, or images made in the same season from previous years. Also, Iād like to bring more humanity to the images. Too much of what Iām posting is stuff. I like the stuff, but I think itās hard to get anyoneās attention posting only photos of trash on the lawn and cigarettes on the cement.
2026 02 04: RIP Marie
RIP Marieās. tbh I forgot about the place. Time passes us all, unfortunately. I was lucky enough to partake in this gem of gems, as we say in these parts, a few times before they poured the last cold one. These days, I drive past the location regularly without giving it a second thought. That will change after this lovely time capsule reminder from our friends Andy and Conan.
2026 02 03: My B/W Era, an Update
The motivating force for making this post was that Iām currently in a bit of a black/white phase, as a contemplated back then (point one). Itās been fun and I like how itās training me to visualize scenes in a different way than I would normally. Perhaps Iāll make a zine of the work down the roadā¦ but really, it has me seeing more potential for more thought-out and focused black/white projects.
Traveling (point two) remains my favorite thing to do when time allows. Having just returned from a job down in Louisville, I was able to put one day into my abstract Illinois Wandering project (point three), which led to a few decent images and even more grand ideas. I havenāt yet been able to figure out how to make this practice make money, though perhaps in time the images that are made from the trips will pay off in various ways. Photography as a job is always an abstract journey! While previously the commercial jobs were paying the bills, lately they have been few and far between (point four). Itās stressful financially but has allowed me to explore my own artistic impulses, which is rewarding in other ways.
While you might think the lack of jobs has allowed me huge amounts of free time, the exact opposite has been true, as Iām forced to fill in the gaps with other money-making endeavors (really, itās mostly me scrambling to make enough money to cover my studio rent each month, which is a significant use of my time). Pivoting my career towards video (point five) and/or becoming a āCreative Agencyā has been a serious consideration, but one that Iāve resisted and made a point to avoid if at all possible.
My longer term outlook on the creative field has me continually looking towards art instead of commerce, which likely goes against most peoplesā logic. I see too many headwinds to continue solely down the path of commercial photography without going crazy in the near future. Iād rather scrape by doing things I much rather enjoy.
2026 01 27
Currently, the photo studio that I opened four years ago is undergoing a transformation of sorts. While photo will always be a part of my life, when it comes to the studio, my current aim is to pivot quite dramatically away from photo and towards events. Iām in the process of sorting out the boring-but-necessary backend stuff (namely: insurance). Once I get that figured out, Iām excited to make a push and get focused on seeing results for my efforts. While Iāve always loved the space, itās never had much of a focus; weāll aim to change that. Our lease expires in one year, so itās sort of make-or-break now-or-never time. Hit me up if you need a room for a birthday party!