Dr. Karen Cassiday on avoidance and panic attacks:



A new clip from the upcoming film "Face to Facebook" by gopho films.  This is turning out to be a very important and inspiring film about panic, anxiety, the internet and conquering fear.  If you have a moment, pledge what you can on Kickstarter and please share this link.  Thank you for your support.  We wouldn't be able to make this film without you.  


http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gophofilms/f2fb-face-to-facebook

www.f2fb.net

I'm tremendously excited to announce the launch of gopho films.  Our first film is a documentary feature entitled Face to Facebook.  This is about a woman with agoraphobia and anxiety who has challenged herself (by way of a New Years resolution) to meet all of her Facebook friends within the year.  As of December 31st she had 325 friends and 11 more were added to the list on the 1st.  She has 365 days to do this and the kicker is that she must travel all over the world to meet them.  She must face her worst fears and conquer her anxiety to do this. 


Face to Facebook will be an inspiring and incredible journey and I'm so excited to be a part of it.  View the trailer on our website www.f2fb.net and spread the word.   We are counting on the support of our friends and their friends to get the word out and make this film possible.  We have the project up on Kickstarter.  Any and every donation makes a huge difference.  


Here's a link to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune about ArLynn's resolution and the film. 
Tribune Feature Article


Thank you for your support and for helping us get the word out on this important film!

Photo of the week:

Density

So much to say in so little time. At least it feels that way these days. Hours pass like seconds. You turn your head and the whole world changes in front of you. Like a dense fog, there are the vague outlines of what is in front of you that get clearer and clearer with each step you take.

Happy New Year

These little piggies belong to the one and only Desmond Marcus Durbin Gonzales. Welcome to the world little man. You just made my year!

Heck, you just made my life!

Photo of the week:

Autumn.

The leaves are falling, and temperatures are dropping. Those last bits of precious sunlight are dwindling, getting dark earlier and earlier.

Birds have started their migration Southward and the burrowers have fattened themselves for the winter ahead. The gray and white are here to nest for a while.

This time of year is one of reflection and growth for me. I always become a bit of hermit, shutting myself in, reviewing my work and my images, preparing a new leaf for the spring, planning and plotting the activity for the warmer months and this time, especially, preparing for a new born child coming in the dead of winter. I'm not one to normally have this, but my nesting instinct is in full gear. New digs, new goals and, certainly, new motivations are guiding me now.

I look into to future and see only a fog but right before me, I can see each wave breaking at my feet with intense clarity.

photo of the week:

you have my heart in your hands

art in public spaces can be so evocative and powerful. I wish I could transfer my photos on to some of the drab gray concrete walls that overpower most of this great city. Fortunately, there are some artists who have been good enough to share their visions with us all for free. This is art for it's own sake. An idea to be shared, not sold.

Who are your favorite street artists? Where can we find their work?

This image was taken at Hubbard and Milwaukee. I don't know who the artist is.

Photo of the week:

I got published!

This is from the September issue of Chicago magazine. This segment highlights mixologist Daniel De Oliveira of Boka for winning the Jose Cuervo Platino mixology contest this summer.

I referenced this a little while back and well...

here's the article.

YAY! I got published. YAY!

Photo of the week:

Vacation

This is my nephew standing by the lake in WI. Spending a week with the little guy was incredible, to say the least. It reminded me of when I was young, experiencing the sand between my toes for the first time, my first sunset, feeling waves crash over my feet. I remember how magical everything was. I still try to relive that feeling.

What do you remember from your youth? What memories, sensations, experiences shaped you?

Photo of the week:

The Barkeep.

Daniel DeOlivera is the senior mixologist at Boka. A talented young man, quick witted and charming, not to mention, a master of the habanero! His spicy sweet concoction, "Arana de Amor" recently took 1st place at a Jose Cuervo Platino mixology contest, and with good reason, it's remarkably delicious!

Get your self down to Boka and try one or any other of his signature drinks. You're sure not to be disappointed. Oh, and keep a look out in Chicago Magazine this September for an article on Daniel featuring my photos. YAY!!!! Publication rocks.

Kudos Daniel.

Photo of the week:

Independence.

What are we celebrating? Why do the bombs burst in the air? Of what did these bombs give proof through the night? Our flag is still here. Where are we taking it? What are we doing with it? What have we done to it already? Do we celebrate our solidarity, our citizenship, our freedom?

I think this independence day, this time of celebration, we should remember why this country was founded, the principles so lost in the rhetoric that they are all but forgotten. We are free, free from oppression of thought, speech, religion, belief. Free. Let's, in the next year, see exactly how free we really are.

Photo of the week:

Something else.

I wonder if we were meant to see something else. Would it be as beautiful as what we see now? Would we ever know the difference?

Photo of the week:

Gone fishin'

first, let me thank everyone who came out to the 3rd annual Humboldt Park Art Fair. It was a great success. I sold a number of prints and made some great connections there. I'm looking forward to being a part of it again next year.

This photo is from a couple weeks back. Sunset on the lake. Some friends got together for a barbeque up in the boon docks. Look, you can see the edge of one at the bottom of the picture. It was a long drive involving arguements, getting lost and eternal frustration with traffic, but it was completely worth it.

Nothing relaxes me like a fire by the lakeside, a nice sunset and a good beer. It's one of my favorite things in the world. In a month or so, I get a week of that straight. I'll be sure to share some photos. Keep an eye out.

Next week, HDR.

Humboldt Park Art Fair

Yeah, I'm there.

doors open at 10am tomorrow

Saturday, June 13th

at the boat house

1400 N. Sacramento (Humboldt Blvd.)

Come on out! There's bands, artists, films, food, beer and fun. It's free admission and the weather should be great. You have no excuses.

I'll have some prints to buy and a catalog of prints available to order. 20% of my profits are going to Graffiti Zone, who is hosting the event. It's a great cause. Check them out.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Tell all you friends.

Photo of the week:

The Book

It's a fading memory, a relic of someone else's life.  The rotted cover, cracked open just enough to give you a glimpse of what's inside, yet making it harder to open, harder to search through the brittle pages without destroying them.  

The shelf this came from was full of books in some state of decay and this was hardly the worst of them.  The space was all but abandoned, and apparently in a hurry too.  I promise, there will be many more pictures from this place.  

Photo of the week:

ACen:  Anime Central Convention

I had the privelege of getting a press pass to the Anime Central Convention at the Rosemont Convention Center this year. The photos were published on the Windy Citizen.   Unfortunately, I was only able to spend a day there.   Next year, I'll be there all three days if I can.  

There were booths from vendors of manga, anime, hentai, weapons, costumes, props, artists, comics, art schools, toys, videos, and a ton of other gizmos, gadgets, and anime gear.  However, this year, like most others was all about the costumes or 'cosplay'.  

I took a ton of photos of these elaborate and creative costumes.  Here's a link to the entire set on Flickr, just this once, so you can see all the characters.  Enjoy!

Photo of the week:

The Mistress.

The Dominatrix.  She's plotting your demise.  She sits there, judging you, carefully calculating every motion.   

This isn't my first time shooting with Miss B, and it won't be the last.  Her expression and her edge are cutting.  It's so great to capture that stare.  

 

Photo of the Week, 

Fishlips!

I went exploring around some abandoned places in the city and came across this.   So there's this street artists, posting up drawings almost everywhere.  I've seen his/her (I think his) work all over town, even across the street from where I live.   For once, I had my camera out while I was passing by.  

I love it.  I just love it.  I want to know who this person is, I want to see his/her process, influences, ideas.  It's some of the most oddly interesting art I've seen, and I love that it's just out there in public.  I love that it's temporary, these posters degrade and fall off or get washed away.  If you live in Chicago, try and find some.  They're hiding in some of the most familar places. 

Oh, no, I'm not going to tell you where they are... that would spoil the fun of it.  

Photo of the week:

Eastover.

I, like many others, have family in two faiths.  While I was raised Jewish, my father's family is mainly Catholic.  My father converted before I was born and I was sent to Hebrew school, Jewish camp, Jewish youth group etc etc.  So, needless to say, I came out of that with a strong Jewish identity but I never learned about the Catholic side.   Well, I did later, but not as a child.  

And now, my wife's family is Methodist.  So, once again, with the prospect of children, I have to think about this scenario.  Neither of us are religious, but we have backgrounds in two different faiths.  We have history in two different faiths, two very different traditions.  We both feel it's important for our child to learn about faith and history, but which side?  Which faith?  Do we try and marry both?  Do we teach both separately?  Do we teach one and not the other? 

It's times like these that I start to ponder on these questions.   Two very important holidays in both faiths, Easter and Passover, are happening at the same time.  I have always loved Passover.  It's been my favorite holiday for a long time.  I love the tradition, the history.  It connects me with my past and my future.  It's something I know generations upon generations have participated in and will participate in.  The holiday itself is about the struggle for freedom.  It's about the importance of history.  It's a spring holiday, one for renewal and growth, much like Easter, the last supper being a Passover feast... the two go hand in hand.  

Photo of the week:

The Jordan Years

This shot was taken this week at Reggie's Rock Club in Chicago.  The band The Jordan Years played a killer set.  In front you've got Roger Panella, in back is Mike Andersen on bass and Michael Cole on keys. Unseen here is Joe Dorenbos on drums.  Guest vocalist, Wes Restless, had a few jams with them as well.  

 They record at West Town Recording in Humboldt Park.  Check out that site and you might see a few of my shots up there of the studio and some of the other shows and bands that record there.  Click HERE to see the rest of the set from this gig. 

Seen any good shows lately?

Photo of the week

Smiles in the sunlight. 

Sometimes a little patch of sunlight brightens up your day, illuminates something you haven't seen before, shows you a new path, a new idea, gives you something to laugh about, smile about, rejoice in.  

What's brightened your day lately?  

By the way, you can now follow me on twitter and on blip, if you're not already.  Check it out.