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.

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

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.   

Photo of the week:

A tiny fragment of forgotten heritage.  This is a window from an abandoned synagogue.  It's fallen into disrepair over the years.  To think, 90+ years ago, a glass cutter, stone masons, plasterers, painters all carted these windows and bricks in by horse drawn carriage, painted and detailed everything by hand.  

I feel like, as a society, we've lost most of that connection to the buildings, the public spaces, the places we live, the decorations and details.  We've lost our artisans, our skilled tradesmen.  I don't know if the precision of our machines has washed us of our potential for talent and skill.  Either way, there's no doubt that the mastery of our ancestors is awesome in the true sense of the word.  

Photo of the week

More from Cancun!  This girl was playing on the beach for an eternity.  It reminded me of being that young, visiting Florida, enjoying the pure fun of sand and surf on the Atlantic.    

Whilst visiting Mexico, I had the pleasure of dipping in, body surfing the Carribean waves that crashed to the shore.  I love the feeling of the ocean, especially when the water is warm.  There's no feeling like it.  It's like a great tranquilizer.  

I can't wait to go back.  Hopefully, next time I won't pick up Montezuma's revenge! 

Neurotics Anonymous

I just got back from a short trip to Cancun for a friend's wedding.  I'm not going to show any of the wedding shots just yet, and no, this certainly isn't one of them.  

I had very little time to do what I love most, roam and explore.  In the two hours I had to get into the old part of Cancun, the downtown area and the main market, Mercado 28, I snapped this on the way.   

This 24 hour clinic hosts meetings for Neurotics Anonymous.  I'm willing to bet that everyone shows up on time and the coffee served is decaf.  

Photo of the week. 

what can one hand tell you, one arm, one leg?  I'm interested in ink.  What stories does it tell you about someone's life?  What significance does each tattoo play? I think I could do a whole book on just tattoo and body mod.  It would be fascinating to me. 

more soon.  If you haven't had a chance to check it out, I have a video demo on you tube.  There will be a link on the website, (which, according to my designer, is almost done) but in the mean time, here it is...

Photo of the week.

This is Vitamin D and Menace freestyling during an Intelligent Hulk show a couple weeks back at the Novem Store on Ashland.  

If you haven't been to the Novem Store, go check it out.  It's chock full of original designs, tees, hats, buttons and other fun gear for your rear.    

http://www.novemlife.com/

Photo of the week, 

That's a picture of me in Vegas.  My aunt actually snapped that off with my camera when we perambulated the busy desert streets of the city late one night.  

I'm thinking about using this image as my new logo.  I'm not sure how to incorporate it yet, but it seems to fit me and my photography.  

In other news, I just found out that my pictures were published in the Onion a few weeks back.  Normally, I would be enthralled by this, and I am, but I'm not credited as the photographer on these images.  The people who supplied the pictures to the Onion agreed to give me credit whenever my images were published.  I don't know if this was an oversight or what, but I'm not too happy about it.  

This isn't the first time this has happened.  I've been online for a couple people, uncredited, or worse, wrongly credited (someone else's name on my images).   I'm not the kind of guy to seek legal recourse for such things, unless they are blatant and malicious.  If someone is totally stealing my pictures and using them without any permission, that's a different story, but otherwise, I know people make mistakes.  Heck, I know I do.  All they need to do is correct them, and I'm cool.  

Ok, so I just realized how long it's been since I posted.

I've got pictures from the DNC, from friends, from gigs that I have to post. To make up for it, you're getting a double dose this week and next.

Photo of the week.

An HDR image of the city. This is a proof of a rooftop shot I took for a client here.

I just love how much detail and color came out on this.

More soon, there will be another photo of the week this week.

By the way, this is my first foray into HDR imaging. I'm really liking the results. But I see room for improvement.

Photo of the week.

So simple, but I love it.
I don't know why my eyes fall in love with textures and patterns like this one. I have a bunch of photos like this.
Anyone know what this is? Guesses?

I'm going to be at the Humboldt Park Art Fest this Saturday. Come one come all!!!

It should be a blast. Tons of artists, photographers, etc. One day only, Saturday, the 21st. I've entered some pictures in the competition and I'll have prints for sale.

I hope to see you all there.

-Ben.

This is one of the most inspiring things I've seen in a while. If only adults in this country could feel so strongly, oh wait, I think some do. I think some people never lose that passionate belief they had when they were young. I hope more and more of us find it again.



"Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead.

Photo of the week:


I'd like to open up a discussion, anonymous comments are open, who has inspired you? Alive or dead, famous, infamous or unknown. Oh, and why is this person inspirational?

Photo of the week.

Many many apologies for being away for so long. I've been working on a very time consuming project and haven't had time to surface until now.

I'm going to try and do this once a week again, maybe more often.

I'm working on new images for the website and a new design as well. I hope I can get that done soon.

This is from an event called Synphoria. Emily Klik is dancing with scarves and images are projected on her during the dance. It was a magnificent performance.

I hope everyone who could voted Tuesday. Be well.

Photo of the week.

Happy Halloween everyone!

I took this last night, and it's unedited. A collection of pumpkins carved by some friends.

Photo of the week.

This is at a live show at the Empty Bottle for Mysteriam, my friend's collaborative musical experience. They will be headlining the venue on the 1st of July; go see them. Should you decide to check them out, you can see and hear their stuff at
www.mysteriam.com

This shot is all done in camera and is unedited. What do you think?

Photo of the week.

A shot I took at a POWERS THAT BE show. My friend Joel is jammin on that keyboard. It was his birthday that night.

Unedited as usual. More soon.

Photo of the week.

This is a giant leaf from one of the water plants at the conservatory in Golden Gate Park. There is some disrupted symmetry in the leaf's veins that intrigued me.

Unedited as usual. Let me know what you think.

My wife and I are moving this weekend, I'll update the website soon, so that the new address is reflected there.

Maybe I'll post some pictures of the new digs.

Photo of the week.

Unedited as usual. This pond is but one of a few located in Humboldt Park.

Busy times are ahead. I'm moving next week and on top of that there's a ground up re-design of the website on its way.

Wish me luck.

Photo of the week.

Chicago city lights reflected off the lake. Taken around St. Patrick's day, hence the green top to the Sears Tower.

That orange haze is always there.

Unedited, what do you think?