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 06: Louisville b/w
This is an iphone snap (edited to look less like one). I also made some images with my āreal camera,ā however, those files always take longer to get to. Maybe I need to change my workflow; maybe Iām just lazy and the phone is too convenient to compete with. Whatever the case, Iāve decided to be less picky about which images I choose to share around here. Previously, I was pretty firm on only using shots made from my Ricoh. These days, Iām using that camera a bit less than I had been, and instead shooting more with the phone again (yuck!) along with my Canon R5. The real camera. That I hope to swap for a Fuji GFX one of these daysā¦ but thatās enough gear talk for the week.
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 02 02: Making Art Make Cents
Thereās this vague vision Iāve had formulating in my head for a few years now. Itās not fully formed, but I want to start communicating it more to suss out whether Iām on to something of full of it.
Photography has been an āugly stepchildā of the art world for as long as Iāve been a photographer (in part, this is why Iāve largely avoided the art world), but I donāt think it needs to be this way. I continue to think of photography as a wildly under-rated and under-represented form of art. Without getting into why this is or isnāt the case here today, I will instead focus briefly on how we may be able to change this perception a bit.
Do what musicians do (I write this as I passively watch The Grammys)!
Compared to music, photography is a brand spankinā new art form. The idea is not to compete with music, but instead to take a page from how bands and musicians are able to make their practice work and bring some of these ideas over to the world of photography. Much like releasing LPs and EPs, we can and should put out books and zines. While this is not a new idea in any capacity, we could be taking it a step further by touring ā a photographer releases a project and then hits the road; pounds the pavement; communicates to the people directly, in places and spaces not previously familiar. Bring your work to the people. Become a traveling (art) salesman. Everything is sales, after all.
Musicians have had the luxury of mass transmission of their art for for decades now, however, this hasnāt been the case with photography until only recently. The internet and social apps have allowed us lowly photographers to get our work out in front of the world for the first time ever, only recently. You no longer need to be Ansel Adams to have your work seen, you can be Clayton Hauck. Of course, this has created a ton of less desirable side effects in additon to the benefits, but letās focus on the bright side of things, today!
It makes sense to bet on ourselves, as photographers, and help push our art form forward. Nobody is going to do it for us. The corporations who run the apps sure as hell wonāt.
2026 01 31: Cement City
Just a quick note today, as I just returned from four days on the road and need to immediately jump back into studio manager duties. I had an assignment in Louisville that I drove down to, planning to attempt some personal work both on the way down and back. The way down did not go as planned due to the large storm that rolled through the country, however, I was able to squeeze in a bit of personal Illinois Wandering time on the return trip. New photos and plenty of new ideas.
The job went fine, however, it also left a terrible taste in my mouth and has me even more demoralized about my role as a photographer. Long story short: the agency sent along a contract for me to sign while I was already on my way down, thus had zero time to review it. Of course, the contract is one of those āwe get all the rights and you canāt use the images for anything, plus youāre somehow finanically liable if anything goes wrongā kinda contracts. I left it in limbo, shot the project, and now Iām home stressing about it and needing to resolve things. Yet another example of why I picked my focus for the year: boring backend tasks. I ignored the legal/logistical side of things because I was more focused on hitting the road and making some new work, and now here we are, suffering the consequences.
Oh yeah, I said this would be a short post!
The only thing I wanted to share was a podcast recommendation! A worthwhile podcast recommendation!
Cement City is an amazing project and shining example of what is possible through longterm dedication to a project. Iām seven episodes in, which I listened to while wandering the small towns of Illinois as a perfect backdrop. I both highly recommend giving it a listen and have been inspired to push my own life towards making a piece that ressonates as much as Cement City has for me.
2026 01 26
This is not a political blog, but this snap felt appropriate today. Things lately are quite demoralizing. I am supposed to be on the road right now, as I type this, focusing on some personal shooting. Instead, the massive storm that hit much of the country yesterday caused me to delay my departure date by another day to await confirmation that the project Iām traveling for is even happening.
These days, Iām very motivated to make personal work, but it seems like everything is holding me back. Yes, this is an Excuse. But the mortgage is real and currently my work/life balance doesnāt allow much time for play (and by play I mean work, but fun work!). Aiming to change this in the coming months. Until thenā¦
2026 01 19: Controlled Chaos
This is a visual representation of what my life feels like lately: semi-controlled chaos; rules & regulations; logistics & confusion; planning & plotting.
2026 01 15: Donāt Fret
Thinking of Cooper today.
Life goes on, doesnāt it? Damn. Make the best of the time you have while you still have time to be had.
2026 01 10
In the new year, I need to devise a new organizational strategy for my various image projects to help me better search and find things to post on this here blog. The plan is still to begin sharing more work from my personal Illinois Project (and perhaps eventually Chicago Project and Northwoods Project). While the aim is still to elevate things a bit more around here, I donāt want to lose the exploration aspect of the blog. It will be a balancing act.
2026 01 06: Creative Resolution
My Creative Resolution for 2026
Last year I was planning to make a big pivot both to making motion work and hitting the streets once again as a photographer (see: 2025 01 06). The thinking was, by putting myself into the city and regularly making work wherever the roads and trains took me, Iād be influenced and inspired while simultaneously building a new body of work and getting my name out there. As it happened, I failed at both. This is not to say I didnāt have a successful year from a creative perspective, however, the specific goals Iād set for myself were not met. When I stop to think why this was the case, I think it was largely because I got distracted with life events and ultimately the reason for picking these tasks was misaligned with the reality of how to best achieve my bigger career goals.
