Before the cold winds came howling

I had the pleasure of meeting Sasha Bonilova at a photo assignment for a client. We took the opportunity to make some images along the lakefront one morning a few weeks back. Sasha had recently adorned the pages of Playboy magazine in May of 2011. Let me know if you're interested in a signed print, thanks from both of us.

Marilyn on the Mag Mile

A new work of art on North Michigan Avenue has certainly spurred many opinions. It's been vandalized twice since the unveiling.

Fun @ the ballpark

I had an opportunity to attend a recent Cubs vs. Astros baseball game and walked around Wrigley Field bit with the new fisheye lens, among others.

A handful from the past few weeks.

This is a representation of some of the gigs over the last few weeks.

Images range from a fund raising event for a local high school with actor Joe Mantegna; the Chicago Tribune Lit Fest - a two day event - featuring two of Tribune Company's more popular staff - John Kass and Tom Skilling; Chicago Live! stage show - featuring the Chicago Children's Choir who were amazing; and a friend's foundation fund raising event at a Blues club for for a kid's music program.

Westchester Prairie Fog

Took a walk through the Westchester Prairie, always a good spot for interesting imagery.

Fun in the rain, & CS5

Made the image last evening during a storm, had some fun in CS5 as well.

variation on a theme

and yet another

A rose, is a rose, is a rose..., we're not talk'in Derrick Rose here.

Joyce Carol Oates illustration

From an image I made of the author last evening @ a Chicago Tribune event @ the Harold Washington library. During her discussion with Julia Keller, Oates displayed quite a forlorn look as she discussed her latest offering, "A Widow's Story". The illustration is from a cropped section of an image, with several PS enhancements including sharpening/filters/saturation adjustments among others.

Black & White fun

I converted this from a color image I made @ an event this weekend @ the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. I isolated this musician from a trio playing some background music outside of the grand ballroom. The wall directly behind the sax player was white, and the rest of the room had light gold walls. I've attempted to mimic an old "Kool" cigarette ad with the B/W and high contrast feel.

Lov'in the Lensbaby™

A 'Stargazer Lily'

HipHop in Chicago

I've had the opportunity to photograph some of Chicago's Hip Hop artists of late. Top - down:

Rhymefest

GLC

Psalm 1

Lupe Fiasco

The Asylum

Fav's from 03.03.11 Chicago Live!

MARCH 3

• Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts (David Haugh interview)
• Desiree Rogers, CEO of Johnson Publishing and former White House social secretary (Phil Rosenthalinterview)
• Rob Stone, blues musician
• John Robinson and Kerry Tamura of Chicago Sake talk about sake cocktails and their efforts to make sake the new drinking sensation. (Lauren Viera and Rick Kogan interview)
• Kevin Coval and Louder Than A Bomb high school slam poetry competition finalists
• Marc Smith, creator of the poetry slam (Rick Kogan interview)
• Comedy from The Second City