Hot soft light » Oak Park

winner winner

Rob Hart — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:05:13 +0000

I can honestly say I’ve never been sprayed with champagne at a local election. Check that off the list.

When three trustees were elected to the Oak Park Village Board Joe Langley got pretty excited and opened a bottle of bubbly over my shoulder. You gotta love politics.

4/5/11 Oak Park,IL Joe Langley sprays champagne at the the three winning trustee candidates for Village Board, incumbent Ray Johnson, Robert Tucker and Adam Salzman celebrate at the the Carleton Hotel in Oak Park on April 5, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Mt. Oak Park

Rob Hart — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 07:51:54 +0000

Just when you thought snow features were finally behind you, they pull you back in. All I wanted to do was use the fax machine at the office, and I ended up with some stupid snow photos.

There’s an enormous pile of snow in an empty lot next to the parking garage of our Oak Park office. It has even become a contest on one paper’s site. Driving in circles I could hear them. Teenage girls having fun. I knew they were on the pile. By the time I could park the car and get to the edge of the garage only two were left crossing Oak Park’s newest attraction. They were runners from OPRF, and when I finally got down the stairs to plead for ID’s they were running north. And I really had to get my fax sent.

We most likely wouldn’t have run the photo anyway. Editors have an aversion getting angry letters, and they have enough copy to read anyhow.

2/11/11 Oak Park,IL Two unidentified girls climb on the large snow pile at the north east corner of Lake Street and Forrest Avenue in Oak Park on Feb. 11, 2011. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

You can’t publish an excuse – Snownami edition

Rob Hart — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:46:57 +0000

I was ready. Everything pointed to one of the largest snow storms in the city’s history. Laying in bed the night before with maps plotting my route through my assigned towns. Researching the best sledding hills, the big parks, the places to catch packed commuter trains. I was texting excitedly with other photographers as the 50mph winds were rattling our windows. I thought by parking in the garage not on the street I’d have less digging time.

By 7 A.M. things looked bad. My car was stuck in the garage, for days possibly. No cabs were coming. No cars moved off my block until after 2 P.M. Everyone was stuck everywhere. I wasn’t making it to my assigned zone.

“You can’t publish an excuse.” That was drilled into my head in my first Photojournalism class by John H. White. The only option was to use your feet. Get moving, walk, shoot. The Sun-Times had plenty of folks downtown so I make the trek into Oak Park. The first loop was a 3 mile, 3 hour hike to the Eisenhower Expressway and back. Before I could get a ride I had made a second voyage, about 6 miles total. Snow skis would have helped. The places I planned to stop, warm up and transmit from were all closed.

There’s a lot about shooting in a blizzard you don’t expect/remember. Even after wrapping your gear in plastic bags/gaffer’s tape you still have to clean off the viewfinder often and even if you can see every breath you exhale fogs up your camera. Auto focus will catch the snow, but you can’t see anyway. There’s no such thing as gloves that allow you good mobility with small dials. Everything becomes wet so cleaning off your lens is something you do with the dry patch left on your shirt. No matter what your mother taught you, you have to walk in the middle of the street.

My face is wind burnt, my legs are super sore, and today I have to get to the communities we couldn’t yesterday. It was an amazing day. I loved every second of it. These photos are from my first 3 hours. More to come if I can some down time.

2/2/11 Oak Park,IL Malakai Naber, 8, plays with his neighbors in Rehm Park after a major snowstorm in Oak Park on Feb. 2, 2011. The Blizzard is third-largest storm in Chicagoâs history and some areas already have more than 20 inches of accumulation. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/2/11 Oak Park,IL Pedestrians walk down East Avenue after a major snowstorm in Oak Park on Feb. 2, 2011. The Blizzard is third-largest storm in Chicagoâs history and some areas already have more than 20 inches of accumulation. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/2/11 Oak Park,IL Pedestrians walk down Roosevelt Road at East Avenue after a major snowstorm in Oak Park on Feb. 2, 2011. The Blizzard is third-largest storm in Chicagoâs history and some areas already have more than 20 inches of accumulation. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/2/11 Oak Park,IL A snow covered car on the 1200 block of South East Avenue in the morning in Berwyn after a major snowstorm on Feb. 2, 2011. The Blizzard is third-largest storm in Chicagoâs history and some areas already have more than 20 inches of accumulation. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

2/2/11 Oak Park,IL One lane of traffic moved slowly on the Eisenhower Expressway during the normal rush hour after a major snowstorm in Oak Park on Feb. 2, 2011. The Blizzard is third-largest storm in Chicagoâs history and some areas already have more than 20 inches of accumulation. | Rob Hart~Sun Times Media

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.

Year of the Cat 2010

Rob Hart — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:16:23 +0000

If you are a photographer it’s your moral obligation to make a blog post with your favorite photos of the year. Last year I broke with that tradition and instead did my Year of the Cat 2009. Most of the popularity was because of my feline loving friends at the fabulous Luceo Images. My 2 fav’s from Matt Slaby & Kendrick Brinson. Here and here.

Moe, Tom & Sebastian wish you much napping, snuggling and treats in 2011.

Friday Nightlights

Rob Hart — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 06:02:10 +0000

Tonight at Oak Park-River Forest it was father versus son. The coach versus the quarterback. A family divided, but brought together by football.

Jim Nudera, the Oak Park head coach faced his son, Jimmy, the York quarterback (6). Linda Nudera, wife/mother, wore a half-and-half jersey and flipped the coin. There are three Nudera’s on the OPRF staff and their oldest daughter is a York cheerleader.

After Jimmy lead his team to a 36-15 victory his father just gave him a quick hug and said, “I’m proud of you son.” It was a cool moment that should have been a better photo, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.

Sun-Times story here, and more photos here.

Blackhawks Stanley Cup

Rob Hart — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:17:40 +0000

Growing up in Detroit it’s was unthinkable to not love hockey. Going to Joe Louis Arena and seeing the players skate, the octopus, the nachos. I remember the roar when it was announced on the jumbo tron that we had won the Gulf War. The night Bob Probert returned after serving a prison term for cocaine possession while he tried to cross the Detroit-Windsor border. I’ve seen six Campbell Conference Championships, four resulting in hoisting the Stanley Cup. Yzerman, Klima, Ogrodnick, Oats, Gallant, Kozlov, McCarty, Konstantinov, Fedorov, Coffey, Lidstrom, Vernon, Bowman, Shanahan, Osgood, Hasek, Hull, Datsyuk, Zetterberg. I could go on all day.

I’m very happy Chicago finally has a hockey following. Amazed they were able to go from a lottery pick team drawing an average of 13,000 fans a night to champions selling out a 22,000 plus house every night in three years. I’ll miss being able to go to the United Center and having the stadium half full of Wings’ fans, but I love the sport of hockey more.

It was great to watch people watching game six at Fitzgerald’s. The 16 foot screen cast a beautiful light on the fans as the Flyers fought back and forced overtime. The ups and downs that every hockey fan lives for. I miss playing for the cup, but I love making photos, and some of my good friends now know the joy of being a Stanley Cup Champion. enjoy.

Economy Shopping

Rob Hart — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:16:24 +0000

This story has been done and I’m ok with that. My newspaper wrote a story about the Economy Shop in 1919. I really wanted to find someone doing their holiday shopping on the cheap, the same way people have been doing here for 90 years. I love the hunt for a story, when the door opens and you stalk each room, spark up conversations and figure how comfortable you can make them quickly.

After 30 minutes of wandering a three-story house filled with treasures I found Patricia Green picking out five cent ornaments. “I’ve been coming here for the last, oh my god, thirty years. This place has been just a blessing for me,” Green said as I fumbled to get my audio recorder rolling. She was so cute and nice. Green allowed me to follow her as she shopped for everything you can imagine. Christmas tree with ornaments, bows, shoes, towels, bundt pan, wreaths, jewelry, and a $1 winter jacket. She shops for 7 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and many kids in her Austin neighborhood that are in need.

They’ve got a few more sale dates before Christmas. It’s an adventure and shopping all in one.

OAK PARK 12/3/09 Patricia Green inspects an umbrella she would eventually purchase at the Economy Shop in Oak Park, Dec. 3, 2009. The 90-year-old store is staffed by volunteers of local charities. "I've been coming here for the last, oh my god, thirty years. This place has been just a blessing for me." Green said. Green shops for her seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and some of the other under privileged children in her Austin neighborhood. "Every Thursday, every Saturday I'm here. I look forward to coming here and shopping. When I leave I'm always happy like a little child at Christmastime," Green said. (Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)

Olympic FAIL

Rob Hart — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:04:53 +0000

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.

Training is Personal

Rob Hart — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:51:48 +0000

I spent the morning working on a story about a personal trainer, Ralph Griffiths, owner ENRG Fitness. He was giving a personal training session to Jennifer Coghlan in her home. They were both super fun to hang out with even if it was before 9 a.m. Griffiths has a blog you can check out and find out more about him here.