Hot soft light

The Hott-est Wedding

Rob Hart — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:43:57 +0000

Taking a photographer to a wedding (or anywhere really) is like taking a drug addict to an opium den. We really just can’t help ourselves, and we can’t stop. Ashley and Allen’s wedding, aka the Hott-Plant Wedding, was in Springs Preserve in Las Vegas. Beautiful location. So far from the strip that I felt we were in the desert and not surrounded by the clanging and chirping of slot machines.

Being a guest I just enjoyed sitting down during the ceremony and holding my wife’s hand, mostly, and sometimes shooting from my seat. But there are occasions when you just have to jump up and make a picture. It’s an addiction.

These were my 3 dates.

My wife, now in her 3rd trimester was a trooper. Staying up for almost 24 hours and looking beautiful (or Hott!).

Aunt Stacy was randomly in Vegas and got to feel the baby try and escape.

I got to meet Georgia, the offspring of one of my favorite photographers to shoot with back in his Oak Park days, Mr.Josh Hawkins. Such a cute girl. He’s as comfortable with his daughter as I’ve ever seen him.

fallin’ feels like flyin’

Rob Hart — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Midwest Photo Summit 2012

Rob Hart — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:42:16 +0000

Cash + Kittens

Rob Hart — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:39:58 +0000

2 great things happened in one day. Brian Cash Valentin modeled my new kitten t-shirt he bought for me with Tamara Bell. Then we drank, arguably, one of the finest beers ever made. Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout.

“This Founders KBS is like drinking melted dragon cheese that fell off of one of God’s nachos.” – Kevin Buist (@KevinBuist)

We also had a mighty fine Secret Stache Stout from Finch’s Beer Company.

Cats in the Cradle

Rob Hart — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:45:49 +0000

Chiditarod

Rob Hart — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:26:04 +0000

There’s nothing like spending a work day with drunk people dressed in costumes, raising money for charities, and sprinting around Chicago with some of my favorite photo friends. So goes the Chiditarod. A costumed race/drinkfest for a good reason.

The king of Weird Sports, Sol Neelman was in town and the strange just finds him. I’ve been quoted as saying to Neelman, “Pretty much anything you shoot is like Christmas morning for a photographer. There are presents everywhere.” It’s so hard to focus, and not get wrapped up in trying to experience everything. But if my photos suffer because I’m spending time doing something awesome, I’m ok with that.

Sol summons the Weird Sports Gods to grace us with the strange.

Roll Bounce

Rob Hart — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:37:47 +0000

One of my favorite photographers asked me recently to dig up photos of her 40th birthday party at a roller rink in Lynwood, IL. Suzanne Tennant and I shared a lot of the same ways of seeing, we both looked for the perfect imperfection, the moment you don’t notice, or as I’ve said un-eloquently, ‘shot on the downbeat.’ We so want everything to be beautiful, she found the highlight in every situation, and I’d be drawn to the shadow.

I never published the this photo of her. To me it felt sad, like the mascot dog was consoling her, the spotlight was fading. It was actually a very happy day. But sometimes there’s that fraction of a second that gets to what I though was happening. It could be real, coincidence, or total projection and fabrication. I’m good with any one of those. I miss having Suzanne on our staff. I miss the kind of person that saw this.

I also loved getting to skate with my wife like we were 15 again.

Photographing Photographers III – A case of the Mondays

Rob Hart — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:20:32 +0000

Monday is a photographer’s Sunday. I wish everyday was making pictures for no reason. I even shot 2 rolls of film. Yes, film. That’s not a typo.

From left Gary Middendorf, Candice C. Cusic, Vincent Johnson, Rob Hart, Shauna Bittle, Brian Valentin, Matt Piechalak, Brian Powers, and Sol Neelman.

Then we found a sweet spot at the Crimson Lounge at the Sax Hotel.

And the Billy Goat.

Photographing Photographers II

Rob Hart — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 05:43:36 +0000

Marianne Mather Morgan

Corey R Minkanic

It’s Personal – I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby

Rob Hart — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:45:44 +0000

Sometimes the most meaningful photo is the one you don’t make. As an editor told me of our ultrasound picture, “Did you take this photo? It is dark, blurry and out of focus.” Brilliant Mr. Beasley.

Last weekend we surprised our parents with a photo of the newest Hart baby. It’s pretty exciting to be welcoming a baby girl into the mix this summer. I’m not sure the cats will be as excited.