No. 71

This is a Holga portrait of Sean waiting for the brown line a few weeks back. It was shot on expired film donated to me by a friendly man.

No.59

Portraits are fun.
Film is exceptional.
I remember exactly what transpired when this series was made.
I have a photographic itch. It pertains to photographing the people who inspire me.
Day in and day out I meet those who make up my perception of life and living.
This endless pool of personality is why I have tortured myself with the business of photography.

No. 51 continued

No. 51

A Seattle wedding.

No. 44

Life in small bundles.

No. 38

I have Holga shots to share from Elgin. This image appeared on the cover of our GO! section on Halloween.

No. 36

In light of the popular 2008 election I have chosen to explore the candidate fandom. Specifically in signs and merchandising.
I have not yet found any creative republican signs but I have found this one down the block on Walnut Street in Elgin, Illinois.
I am still looking for signs of support from the other spectrum. I just received word that I will be creating video clips on the local elections in the Kane County area. Wish me luck.

No. 35

Here is another installment on Greece. It takes place near my father's village in Alonia. The Greek countryside is often quiet. My uncle Pete told me I had to photograph this scene because it was so beautiful. I would agree only I can't take credit for it because I wasn't its original creator. I just cocked the shutter.

No. 34

This is an unpublished image from my Karen refugee photo story I did a while back. I photographed a series of encounters on expired film. The story eventually got published in a two part series on the settlement of Karen refugees in the Fox Valley. The struggles and resettlement issues were apparent. Many had very limited to no English language skills but an appetite for survival in the promise land. Their hearts were warm with desire and their American contacts were willing to teach them anything and everything. Integrating into a new culture can be daunting but I applaud the valiant effort and success of any immigrant trying to find a better life in this country. My father did the same and I often try to honor his memory by picking stories that touch my heart.

No. 33

Jatin during a brief insane layover in Chicago. One of many friendly visits welcomed, needed and inspiring. Jatin spun around the earth, enlightened his senses and came to my spot straight from India. Shot on expired film with my Nikon F100 outside a gay bar. We were not welcomed so we trash talked for fun under our breath and snapped some portraits not to be forgotten.

No. 32

Here’s another installment from the Holga series. Indiana.

No. 30

Indiana on a Holga loaded with expired black & white film.

No. 24

Well, wine and whining go hand in hand. This is from the film archives of my time spent in California. Looking through images made in the past is like scratching freshly healed scabs open. They kind of itch and sting but to know you have the power to heal your own wounds makes it okay to be curious. Some of my most memorable moments on film have been spent with friends talking the world into neat little ideas we could swallow. I say this one makes me think of women I hold dear to my heart.

No. 19

I have found the mother load of memories in binders stored away for fall days like these. This time I bring you a California night. One I remember by heart. Like many other nights this one started with a 35mm frame in a film camera. I'll let you imagine the rest.

No. 16

One after the other, we play the staring game too. This image belongs to a collection of portraits I created for a multi-culture project funded by an artist grant I was awarded by the Cultural Arts Commission in Elgin, Illinois. The capture was made with my Mamiya on black & white film in the gym of YWCA down the block on Chicago Street.

No. 14

Bar dancing is a popular profession.
No man on the street or bar top interview is available.
But if you want my expert opinion, well I don't have one but I love watching women dance.

No. 13

"Don’t think, just shoot"
Film, film, film, film, film...............
............................................I purchased this fun 35mm camera with a built in fish eye lens. It's called the Fisheye 2 and Lomographische AG makes it.

The style of photography is called lomography and it also serves as an intro to the society of "happy accident" shooters. The exposure is very similar to a holga and you need to be close to your subjects if you are using the flash adapter. I just love the opportunity to put down my Nikon D3 and slow down my visual stimuli by examining life through a camera I can hold in the palm of my hand. It's plastic, and light and oh what fun!
Total cost - about $65.00 USD.
Multiple exposures and bulb settings are also available. Be advised that the placement of the flash creates a harsh shadow in the right hand corner of the frame. I just work around it.

http://www.lomography.com/ or for the Greeks at http://lomography.gr/

Kalamata Series

This image is from May 2008 during one of many journeys to Kalamata, Greece where I owe part of my upbringing to. I usually bring a film camera on my trips back hoping to blend in with the slow moving pace of the region. This was shot with the Mamiya on black & white film. I am steadily scanning the images into digital format and I'll share as I complete more.

No.1

Let us get the ball rolling and drag some shadows out of the archives.

Lloyd Kaufman, president and creator of Troma Studios flew to the midwest to perform a cameo roll in an independant film shot in Carpentersville. Made with b&w 120 film on a mamiya. This was fun!