Hot soft light » Chicago

Keep in Flight – John H. White quotes

Rob Hart — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:39:14 +0000

Oct. 2nd, 1997. My second week in Chicago. Before this date I wanted to be an art photographer. Every day after has been an amazing gift. And I owe John more ‘thank yous’ than I could ever express.

Sitting in class that night at Columbia College was Tamara Bell. These pages are from her journal of the time that she allowed me to photograph and publish. We’ve been friends and colleagues ever since.

The pages are quotations from our teacher, friend, mentor, and co-worker, John H. White. In his 30 plus years teaching photojournalism at Columbia College thousands of lives have been changed. So many young people like myself came in thinking they were going to be Andres Serrano and left wanting to be John. He infects you with the addiction that is documenting the light and life that surrounds you. To always be in the world witnessing and recording. If you’ve sat in that class some of these words will bring you back.

If you need proof watch the crowd from the last PJ Love gathering. Then check this Sun-Times commercial.

Some of my favorite quotes:
“You must have intimacy with light and nature.”
“Stay connected to the people that fuel your journey.”
“We are visual servants.”
“Talent unused loses it’s usefulness.”
“One of the greatest things in life you can do is give.”

Journal of Tamara Bell the words of John H. White photographed by Rob Hart. robhartphoto.com

Year of the Cat – 2011

Rob Hart — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:49:36 +0000

Plenty of my photo friends always post their best images of the year, and they’re usually very, very good. I enjoy seeing what they’ve been seeing the last 12 months. But a few years ago I (2010, 2009,) decided to unleash the fury of my felines unto the world. So here’s my annual year of the cat with Tom, Moe, Sebastian, and Maeby.

The last 12 slides are my 2012 cat calendar. I’ll ship a copy to anyone who wants one.

The song is the classic 60′s hit from Norma Tanega, “Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog”

It’s a girl! well, (Callie) Maeby… “there’s a girl in my soup”

Rob Hart — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:12:18 +0000

This summer the wife and I were enjoying some falafel and hummus in the kitchen when we heard a cat howling outside. Before I got out the door my wife had a cute little hungry 4-month-old calico kitten in her arms. Her? We called our neighbor who’s a vet at Pet Vets in Oak Park and after the little kitten got a clean bill of health we decided to foster her and find a good home. We once attempted to foster 3 brother cats from Hurricane Katrina, and they never left, so I was skeptical.

The first weekend we had 6 adults, 2 children, and 4 cats in the house. Because we didn’t want to keep her long term we gave her a temporary name, (Callie) Maeby, like maybe she stays, maybe not. Also named after “Maeby” Fünke. Maeby stayed with a potential family for a weekend, in the end they weren’t ready. So I guess our boys got themselves a lady, and when I say lady I mean the kind of lady that eats out of a garbage pail.

Really this is my wife’s fault for having such a big heart and always wanting to do the right thing for people and animals no matter what inconveniences they come with. People always say their wife is their better half, she’s the better whole. Not that I’m a marriage expert.

So this is the less gross birth announcement.

So how is the little lady getting along with the big boys? She’s kinda a b$*@h.

She is going on her first trip to Detroit for halloween, so I dressed her up as a tiger fan.

Tossing Children

Rob Hart — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 02:11:48 +0000

Brian Morowczynski throws his son, Jack, into the air at the Illinois Press Photographers Barbecue along Lake Michigan.

On my way back from Michigan the wife and I stopped in at the Illinois Press Photographers beach barbeque at the 41st Street Beach. I made a flick of Brian Morowczynski tossing his son, Jack into the air while standing around drinking some Founder’s RyePA and it kinda reminded me of another photo I shot earlier this year of my brother-in-law throwing his daughter, Haley towards the ceiling.

The Rose and the King

Rob Hart — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:42:18 +0000

In a game that featured MVP caliber players Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James it was Luol Deng that delivered a dagger to the Heat tonight. It was Deng’s three-pointer gave the Bulls the lead with 16 seconds to play and LeBron was taking his talents back to South Beach tonight.

2/24/11 Chicago,IL Joakim Noah (13) of the Chicago Bulls and LeBron James (6) dunks against the Miami Heat at the United Center in Chicago on Feb. 24, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media 2/24/11 Chicago,IL LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat dunks the ball versus the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago on Feb. 24, 2011. The Bulls won 93-89 over the Heat. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/24/11 Chicago,IL Kyle Korver (26) of the Chicago Bulls wrestles for the ball with Dwyane Wade (3) of the Miami Heat at the United Center in Chicago on Feb. 24, 2011. The Bulls won 93-89 over the Heat. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/24/11 Chicago,IL Luol Deng (9) of the Chicago Bulls makes a leaping basket after beating LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat at the United Center in Chicago on Feb. 24, 2011. The Bulls won 93-89 over the Heat. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media 2/24/11 Chicago,IL Derrick Rose (1) of the Chicago Bulls reacts after making a basket to put the Bulls up in the 4th quarter against the Miami Heat at the United Center in Chicago on Feb. 24, 2011. The Bulls won 93-89 over the Heat. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

Picturing Picture People

Rob Hart — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:03:15 +0000

If you’ve ever been around musicians when they get together, they jam. Photo people are exactly the same. We instinctively just start making frames.
Last Saturday was an Illinois Press Photographer’s Association photo night. The day started with a field trip to see the Vivian Maier show. The hottest unknown street photographer of the year. And you know the art world loves work that no one else knows about.

So how do you warm up after looking at photos and wandering Chicago in the cold? Yea, Billy Goat Tavern.

It was pretty sweet wandering, drinking, and clicking with some fun folks. Brian Valentin, Char & Tim Galloway, Joel Wintermantle, and Colin McAuliffe. Good times.

2/5/11 Chicago,IL Tim and Char Galloway on the Green Line in Chicago on Feb. 5, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/5/11 Chicago,IL Char Galloway sits at the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago on Feb. 5, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/5/11 Chicago,IL A lens and mugs of beer at the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago on Feb. 5, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/5/11 Chicago,IL Tim Galloway at the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago on Feb. 8, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/5/11 Chicago,IL Brian Valentin at the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago on Feb. 5, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/5/11 Chicago,IL Tim Galloway, left, and Brian Valentin at the Rocking Horse in Chicago on Feb. 5, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

Boozer and da Bulls

Rob Hart — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:33:00 +0000

I’ve never aspired to photograph professional sports. I’m not a huge fan, and I’d rather spend time with people that aren’t millionaires. Your access is much better with poor people. But oh, the free popcorn! There’s a lot of downtime, but it’s kinda addicting.

The first time I photographed Derrick Rose was 2007. Rose lead Simeon to a Super-Sectional victory over St. Joseph. The St. Joe’s team included NBA’er Evan Turner and ILL’s Demetri McCamey. Rose was always super friendly. His mother loved to talk about her son. I need to find those photos.

2010 – the way I see it

Rob Hart — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 21:55:22 +0000

Most people take pictures to remember, I’m in it for the experience. As a teenager I heard John H. White tell us, “A camera is your passport to the world.” True, not only has it taken me into some amazing places, it’s led me to make some great friends.

I had some really fun days last year. Some really sad days and even some really boring, sit and wait for a guy to walk out of court days. How many people can knock on a strangers door, be invited in, and witness their life?

These are a few of my favorite frames last year. They may not be the best photos, but they were good times.

Make it rain photos

Rob Hart — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 23:48:10 +0000

I’ve written so many inappropriate jokes about this assignment, and received so many already from my friends/colleges. I’m always up for more.

My boring office work day with fellow PJ Joel Wintermantle was interrupted by a FireNet page about a structure fire at Allstars Gentlemen’s Club. It was before my shift so I called the desk, no one was on the way, and somehow a fire at a strip, or gentlemen’s club seemed more exciting than the boring office work of a photographer. As soon as we stepped out the door the huge plume of smoke could be seen more than 5 miles away.

Since I was shooting for OT I could take my time and make some abstracts and have some fun. I was hoping for more glitter in the photos, but we can’t have it all.

Chicago Skyline

Rob Hart — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:48:24 +0000

“Some days I just want to go up there in the bucket, have a cup of coffee and read the newspaper,” Franklin Park Fire Chief Steve Iovinelli told me this morning after I spent some time 100 feet in the air in a Schiller Park ladder truck.

Some days a lame assignment can yield a very nice picture if you just get out of bed.