Archive for the ‘Chicago’ Category
my Eleanor Callahan July 29th, 2010
My photographic life really blossomed in Chicago. I moved here from Detroit in ’97. In the first few months I learned about Harry Callahan, who had left Chicago by then. He was from Detroit too!
A street photographer, an experimenter.
In the late 90′s I wanted to be Andres Serrano, or Jim Goldberg. But Callahan’s work was so personal and he spent much of his life making photos of his wife, Eleanor. In fact this photo could compete for my all-time fav. Along with a push from George Waldman, John H. White, and Bob Thall I decided to do document the lives of others.
With no disrespect to my wife, my cats have become my Eleanor. Working from home we spend lots of time together. It helps they tend to sleep in nice light. When I bought a new LED laser pointer they allowed me to try it out on them. You can lure them onto things with treats, too. Maybe cat photography is my schitck?
Posted in Cats, Chicago, Rob Hart | Comments (0)
Millennium Park July 23rd, 2010
After seeing so many updates from Senior Strazz’s blog and his great photos from Millennium Park recently those photos were on my mind tonight. With some family in Chicago for the night we decided to take the kids to play in the water there.
I wanted to make some photos of the kids, but still make photos for me.
Posted in Chicago, Rob Hart | Comments (0)
Olympic FAIL October 2nd, 2009
As I was parking my car to attend a big party where Chicago would be named greatest city in the freakin’ world and get anointed with the crown that is the 2016 Olympic games, NPR reported the vote went the other way. I wasn’t totally in favor of the Olympics, nor against it. The city has way more serious issues that could use attention, like gun violence, poverty, gentrification, failing schools, I could go on. So the reporter I was working with, Chris LaFortune, and I hung out as a handful of students and faculty at Concordia University Chicago watched news reports.
Most people declined to be photographed, the gym was super dark, and we missed the moment. But you can’t publish an excuse.
Posted in Chicago, Oak Park, OakPark365, Rob Hart | Comments (0)
Survivor Day July 23rd, 2009
“I have always treated my good health as a gift, not a given.” -Kerry Lutz
Kerry Lutz was still a stranger to Bob Winkelmann when her stem cells gave him back his life. He now has her blood type, and a wonderful “stem niece,” as he lovingly calls her.
I’m not a details person. It drives my wife nuts that I don’t catch the names of the disease’s and afflictions that we report on. (Ok, for the record Bob had acute myeloid leukemia) This was a person caring enough to help someone else. I love these assignments. This was about making a connection. This was about giving a grandpa back to 14 kids. It’s amazing to think you can radically affect an entire family by giving some your blood.
Bob’s wife, Karen, met me at the door and within seconds you become part of their world. We listened to Karen’s 14-year-old grandson cover a White Stripes song as she danced in the kitchen. We sat by their pond and Bob told our reporter a ton of details, most of which I didn’t really understand. You can read the story here.
Then Bob broke out a DVD me made. He wanted to thanks his anonymous donor in case he didn’t make it. Kerry started crying, Bob was choking up, Lynne our reporter was crying a bit. Then came the laughter. Lots of laughter. I was shooting photos not watching the DVD at this point and even I could feel this heavy emotion.
Today I learned you don’t have to be a hero to save someone’s life.
Then I shot over to Northlake to spend some time with Jillian Jeske, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 4. She’s been in remission for 2 years and is captain of her team at the Relay for Life held at East Leyden High School. Her story is here.
Tags: Bob Winkelmann, cancer, Glenview, Kerry Lutz, leukemia, stem cell, survivor
Posted in Chicago, Rob Hart | Comments (0)
Rock Band April 19th, 2009
After a great engagement session with Dan and Cressie, 4 assignments, and hanging with the cats the wife and I decided to hit up some mixers and celebrate Jason Brown’s 31st birthday. First stop was the OFS Showroom in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart for a Rock Band party. I’m not a very big fan of Rock Band, Guitar Hero and the like. It’s a lot of fun, don’t get me wrong, but it has about as much in common with music as Operation does with anatomy.
My biggest beef with Rock Band is more a personal preference to not listen to the same song over and over. Unless it’s the new Thermals single. I could dig Country Band with an upright bass, and steel guitar. Ok, so maybe not. I clearly love music, and Josh and Elizabeth have a lot more songs than the last time I saw the game played. I’m excited to see bands like the Pixies, Mission of Burma, Old 97′s, Neko Case, and The New Pornographers. Josh and Elizabeth are really good at this game, and I hope we can do this again. It’s fun even if some great songs aren’t in the game.
Songs I nominate for Rock Band:
1. The Hold Steady “The Swish”
2. Neutral Milk Hotel – “Holland, 1945″
3. LCD Soundsystem – “All My Friends”
4. Iggy and The Stooges – “Loose”
5. Art Brut – “Formed A Band”
6. The Creation – “Makin’ Time”
7. Buddy Holly – “Rock around with Ollie Vee”
8. BR549 – “18 Wheels and a Crowbar”
9. Unit 4 + 2 – “Concrete and Clay”
10. The Weakerthans – “Civil Twilight”
I could go on all day. Let’s move on to the photos.
David Fields sings a song in Rock Band at the OFS office in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
Christine Hart block photographer Rob Hart from taking her picture at a Rock Band party at Chicago's Merchandise Mart in the OFS Showroom.
Jason’s official party was at Quenchers at Fullerton and Western where I had one of my all-time favorite beers, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. It’s a load of chocolate, little licorice, hint of vinalla, kiss of fruit, and coffee undertones. A 10% beer and a mighty fine pint. Jason, Brian Valentin and I stuffed into an old timey photo booth for a souvenir for JB’s 31st. Good times…
Tags: Brian Valentin, Christine Hart, David Fields, Jason Brown, Merchandise Mart, OFS, Quenchers, Rock Band
Posted in Chicago, Oak Park, Rob Hart | Comments (0)