2024 12 26
Becoming a Fine Art Photographer in 2025
This past year has really been a re-focusing of my photography career in many ways. Headwinds working against the commercial photography business have pushed me in many new directions, including more towards the art photography world. To be candid, Iām grateful for it. Iāve spent years neglecting my core passions of photography largely because the money was good. Itās been, and will continue to be, a process getting over the feeling of āselling out.ā This process will continue and hopefully only thrive in the new year, as I make a prioritized effort towards making my own personal work from a more artistic perspective (in addition to the commercial work that pays the bills ā the worry is that by trying to do both, I could dilute them both and fail spectacularly, forcing myself to become a bartender). Making money through photography is not a bad thing, donāt get me wrong. Iām just working to find a better balance and not shun the type of work that brings me joy.
At the core of this new artistic endeavor, at least as of right now, is a loosely defined Illinois Project aka Ill Wandering. The general idea behind this project is to explore the state Iāve resided in my entire life, while excluding the one county (Cook) that I spend 99% of my time in. Chicago gets all the attention (like my commercial photo career has been) but the state is so much bigger and more interesting than this one city, as great as it is. I aim to explore and document the history, people, textures, decay, nature, landscapes, and mystery contained in all one-hundred and one counties of the state that donāt include the city of Chicago.
The end goal is to turn this project into a photobook, although what exactly that book is is very much a mystery to even me at this point. Iām also considering the idea of making the project more web-based, like this here blog, with the aim of gaining exposure to the project as I collect images and stories over the coming months and, likely, years. One big challenge Iāve had so far is that I havenāt shared much, if any, of the work Iāve made so far publicly. That has been hard! I tend to be an over-sharer, so my thinking has been that this new approach (to me) in making more artistic and thoughtful work should be handled differently than my previous work, which would be blasted out onto the internet as it was made. Art is made in the decisions and juxtaposition of images, which create meaning and narrative.
My current struggle is the feeling that Iām only sharing my second tier work with the world. All of the best stuff, be it work made for commission or work made for myself, is hiding away on hard drives, not being shared. There are many justifications for this (including: fear the good work isnāt actually all that good and I will be discovered; fear of sharing all the work up front will take away from the moment when it is finally reveled; fear that sharing more of my commercial work will muddle my vision for pivoting more towards artistic photography), but the biggest reason is simply that in holding back the new work I am now creating, I can sculp and shape it into whatever becomes of it down the road. Meaning, connection, and narrative should form organically as the project is carried out.
In the end, my newfound push towards getting my ass out of the house to make work that speaks directly to me has been driven and motivated by countless other photographers, through their books, websites, YouTube videos, and instagram accounts. Iāve been diving deep into the world of photography that Iāve regrettably neglected while the gettinā was good. Getting back to my roots and putting in the effort to schooling myself on these things has been wildly inspiring, and in the end, the sole purpose of this effort is not in seeking fame or fortune (chances at either of those through this project are slim). This is about self-growth and personal discovery both in my photography and in myself. If Iām able to take a few people along for the ride and give them some new perspective as well, that would be super exciting.
Likelihood it will happen: HIGH!
-Clayton
Quiet street at sundown. Grayville, Illinois. April, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Becoming a Fine Art Photographer in 2025
This past year has really been a re-focusing of my photography career in many ways. Headwinds working against the commercial photography business have pushed me in many new directions, including more towards the art photography world. To be candid, Iām grateful for it. Iāve spent years neglecting my core passions of photography largely because the money was good. Itās been, and will continue to be, a process getting over the feeling of āselling out.ā This process will continue and hopefully only thrive in the new year, as I make a prioritized effort towards making my own personal work from a more artistic perspective (in addition to the commercial work that pays the bills ā the worry is that by trying to do both, I could dilute them both and fail spectacularly, forcing myself to become a bartender). Making money through photography is not a bad thing, donāt get me wrong. Iām just working to find a better balance and not shun the type of work that brings me joy.
At the core of this new artistic endeavor, at least as of right now, is a loosely defined Illinois Project aka Ill Wandering. The general idea behind this project is to explore the state Iāve resided in my entire life, while excluding the one county (Cook) that I spend 99% of my time in. Chicago gets all the attention (like my commercial photo career has been) but the state is so much bigger and more interesting than this one city, as great as it is. I aim to explore and document the history, people, textures, decay, nature, landscapes, and mystery contained in all one-hundred and one counties of the state that donāt include the city of Chicago.
The end goal is to turn this project into a photobook, although what exactly that book is is very much a mystery to even me at this point. Iām also considering the idea of making the project more web-based, like this here blog, with the aim of gaining exposure to the project as I collect images and stories over the coming months and, likely, years. One big challenge Iāve had so far is that I havenāt shared much, if any, of the work Iāve made so far publicly. That has been hard! I tend to be an over-sharer, so my thinking has been that this new approach (to me) in making more artistic and thoughtful work should be handled differently than my previous work, which would be blasted out onto the internet as it was made. Art is made in the decisions and juxtaposition of images, which create meaning and narrative.
My current struggle is the feeling that Iām only sharing my second tier work with the world. All of the best stuff, be it work made for commission or work made for myself, is hiding away on hard drives, not being shared. There are many justifications for this (including: fear the good work isnāt actually all that good and I will be discovered; fear of sharing all the work up front will take away from the moment when it is finally reveled; fear that sharing more of my commercial work will muddle my vision for pivoting more towards artistic photography), but the biggest reason is simply that in holding back the new work I am now creating, I can sculpt and shape it into whatever becomes of it down the road. Meaning, connection, and narrative should form organically as the project is carried out.
In the end, my newfound push towards getting my ass out of the house to make work that speaks directly to me has been driven and motivated by countless other photographers, through their books, websites, YouTube videos, and instagram accounts. Iāve been diving deep into the world of photography that Iāve regrettably neglected while the gettinā was good. Getting back to my roots and putting in the effort to schooling myself on these things has been wildly inspiring, and in the end, the sole purpose of this effort is not in seeking fame or fortune (chances at either of those through this project are slim). This is about self-growth and personal discovery both in my photography and in myself. If Iām able to take a few people along for the ride and give them some new perspective as well, that would be super exciting.
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of posts, please see 2024 12 25.
2024 12 19
As the year (and my nonstop busy schedule) winds down, Iām excited to look ahead to next year and some projects that are getting me excited. Namely: my Illinois Project aka Ill Wandering aka Plan For a New Illinois aka Untitled Clayton Hauck Photobook Project and a documentary project in the very early stages of filming. The doc, I think, will delve into the subject of art broadly and what it means to be an artist specifically.
Last night, I had an interesting conversation with a commercial film producer friend about this topic. His summary of what makes someone an artist is if they create work that people choose to look at (versus being forced to look at, as is often the case in our world of commercial photography). I liked that summary and am excited to explore these avenues, both physically and metaphorically, more thoroughly in the coming year.
Will you be looking?
-Clayton
Black & white test. Lincoln, Illinois. November, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
As the year (and my nonstop busy schedule) winds down, Iām excited to look ahead to next year and some projects that are getting me excited. Namely: my Illinois Project aka Ill Wandering aka Plan For a New Illinois aka Untitled Clayton Hauck Photobook Project and a documentary project in the very early stages of filming. The doc, I think, will delve into the subject of art broadly and what it means to be an artist specifically.
Last night, I had an interesting conversation with a commercial film producer friend about this topic. His summary of what makes someone an artist is if they create work that people choose to look at (versus being forced to look at, as is often the case in our world of commercial photography). I liked that summary and am excited to explore these avenues, both physically and metaphorically, more thoroughly in the coming year.
Will you be looking?
-Clayton
2024 12 18
Back on set again this morning for what is likely the last shoot day of the year. This year has been a weird one, from a work perspective. Fortunately, it was busier than last year, however, still far from normal. Or, perhaps more likely, it is the new normal and I am still familiarizing myself with it.
One thing that stands out to me on shoot days is how much data is flowing, and how a blockage of data flow (be it images going to the computer, or the internet failing, or a client being indecisive about approving an image) can totally derail a shoot. This image popped up and reminded of of this sentiment and made me appreciate how much infrastructure we take for granted in this world. Modern plumbing alone is a marvel of human achievement, let alone wireless communications and the world wide web!
Anyway, back to workā¦
-Clayton
Another Pittsburgh street scene. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Back on set again this morning for what is likely the last shoot day of the year. This year has been a weird one, from a work perspective. Fortunately, it was busier than last year, however, still far from normal. Or, perhaps more likely, it is the new normal and I am still familiarizing myself with it.
One thing that stands out to me on shoot days is how much data is flowing, and how a blockage of data flow (be it images going to the computer, or the internet failing, or a client being indecisive about approving an image) can totally derail a shoot. This image popped up and reminded of of this sentiment and made me appreciate how much infrastructure we take for granted in this world. Modern plumbing alone is a marvel of human achievement, let alone wireless communications and the world wide web!
Anyway, back to workā¦
-Clayton
2024 12 11
Today, a dad joke, because thatās all I have time for at the moment, as the world spirals towards wherever itās heading and this dog meekly looks on.
A man walks into a zoo. The only animal in there is a dog.
It's a shitzu.
-Clayton
Dog on leash at night. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Today, a dad joke, because thatās all I have time for at the moment, as the world spirals towards wherever itās heading and this dog meekly looks on.
A man walks into a zoo. The only animal in there is a dog.
It's a shitzu.
-Clayton
2024 12 06
āAll department stores will become museums, and all museums will become department storesā -Warhol
This amazing quote was revealed to me during a great podcast episode with photographer Christian Patterson and host Sasha Wolf. Christian mentioned it in referece to his new photobook project Gong Co, in which he documented a rural, ailing store over the course of many years. I loved hearing about the project and how he originally discovered this store by chance while driving from Memphis to New Orleans. It reminded me of some of the places Iāve stumbled upon on my brief stints in rural Illinois this year.
Excited to see this book once it hits my doorstep, as I just ordered it from BPS. Anyway, back to workā¦ setting up a market in my photo studio (lol).
-Clayton
Empty table. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
āAll department stores will become museums, and all museums will become department storesā -Warhol
This amazing quote was revealed to me during a great podcast episode with photographer Christian Patterson and host Sasha Wolf. Christian mentioned it in referece to his new photobook project Gong Co, in which he documented a rural, ailing store over the course of many years. I loved hearing about the project and how he originally discovered this store by chance while driving from Memphis to New Orleans. It reminded me of some of the places Iāve stumbled upon on my brief stints in rural Illinois this year.
Excited to see this book once it hits my doorstep, as I just ordered it from BPS. Anyway, back to workā¦ setting up a market in my photo studio (lol).
-Clayton
2024 12 04
Prepping a market, printing, framing, prepping a market, printing framingā¦
I think it was Warhol that once said: eventually every photo studio will become a mall and every mall will become dead/a location to film music videos.
Or maybe it was Bukowski.
Anyway.
Back to framing and printing and prepping a market and possibly sleeping.
-Clayton
Armitage Produce. Birds love it! Chicago, Illinois. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Prepping a market, printing, framing, prepping a market, printing framingā¦
I think it was Warhol that once said: eventually every photo studio will become a mall and every mall will become dead/a location to film music videos.
Or maybe it was Bukowski.
Anyway.
Back to framing and printing and prepping a market and possibly sleeping.
-Clayton
2024 11 23
Today, Streator, Illinois has the same population which it had in the late 1800ās, back when all of Illinois was booming. New towns were being constructed across the empty countryside, each with a grand town square.
Iāve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about how Chicago and the state of Illinois struggles in a post-boom cycle. When populations are stagnant or even declining, it becomes very hard to maintain appearances. This is what I fell alseep writing about the other night, specifically about how there used to be am elevated commuter train line running nearby our house. That elevated line was removed, along with many others, while Chicago was struggling as a city in the era of White Flight and Suburbanization. New towns were being constructed in mass-produced cookie-cutter fashion outside of the old city centers, fully enabled by the automobile and Globalized trade.
I find these small town with good bones fascinating. They get my creative visions flowing with all the possibilities. But as is always the case, in order to make big things happen you need people. Without people, these places will remain empty storefronts filled with dusty old motorcycles on display, devoid of much function beyond nostalgia and reminiscing. More on all this later, maybe.
-Clayton
Motorcycle in the window. Streator, Illinois.
Today, Streator, Illinois has the same population which it had in the late 1800ās, back when all of Illinois was booming. New towns were being constructed across the empty countryside, each with a grand town square and most with a train connection or two.
Iāve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about how Chicago and the state of Illinois struggles in a post-boom cycle. When populations are stagnant or even declining, it becomes very hard to maintain appearances. This is what I fell alseep writing about the other night, specifically about how there used to be am elevated commuter train line running nearby our house. That elevated line was removed, along with many others, while Chicago was struggling as a city in the era of White Flight and Suburbanization. New towns were being constructed in mass-produced cookie-cutter fashion outside of the old city centers, fully enabled by the automobile and Globalized trade.
I find these small town with good bones fascinating. They get my creative visions flowing with all the possibilities. But as is always the case, in order to make big things happen you need people. Without people, these places will remain empty storefronts filled with dusty old motorcycles on display, devoid of much function beyond nostalgia and reminiscing. More on all this later, maybe.
-Clayton
2024 11 19
If I had a bunch of money, Iād buy some funky old houses in Pittsburgh, fix them up, and thenā¦ Iām not sure. I guess I could live in one of them but what do you do with the rest? Sell them? To who? A big part of why Pittsburgh is great is because itās not Washington DC or Austin or Boston or Charlotte. Sure, Pittsburgh probably would still be great if it did become a trendy tech hub filled with rich bros. At least my house renovation dreams would make financial sense instead of just being fun to imagine. The problem with some of these ideas, however, is they only make sense in the hypothetical world you have built up in your head. Like Kamala Harris becoming president, or opening a bar inside the building you work at, some ideas are destined to remain fantasy.
-Clayton
Houses for sale! Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
If I had a bunch of money, Iād buy some funky old houses in Pittsburgh, fix them up, and thenā¦ Iām not sure. I guess I could live in one of them but what do you do with the rest? Sell them? To who? A big part of why Pittsburgh is great is because itās not Washington DC or Austin or Boston or Charlotte. Sure, Pittsburgh probably would still be great if it did become a trendy tech hub filled with rich bros. At least my house renovation dreams would make financial sense instead of just being fun to imagine. The problem with some of these ideas, however, is they only make sense in the hypothetical world you have built up in your head. Like Kamala Harris becoming president, or opening a bar inside the building you work at, some ideas are destined to remain fantasy.
-Clayton
2024 11 09
Came across an interesting discussion with author Cormac McCarthy (shown below) in which he discusses his thoughts on the subconscious (it speaks in code because language is, evolutionarily-speaking very new). They also discuss āThe Night Shiftā being the time, while sleeping, when your brain is working and processing thoughts and problems.
The Night Shift is fascinating to me, and I do my best to stay in touch with it (though admittedly Iām not very well connected to it and want to get better). Iāll remember dreams only if Iām awoken during them (normal, I think). Maybe it was Dali who would set elaborate contraptions to wake him up mid sleep at varying times in order to allow his waking brain to capture buts of what his sleeping brain was working on. This is fascinating!
This morning, I woke up to a dream I often have but with a twist. I regularly have what I call āset dreamsā which are basically just me working on a photo production. The difference this time was that the set was a motion set, signaling to me that Iām finally embracing my reluctant pivot to video. These dreams are usual banal, however, I love the idea that Iām running scenarios and gaining āexperienceā while I sleep to better prepare myself for the often stressful days that I go through in my day job as a professional photographer.
Last night, I was awoken in the middle of the night by a song I had been creating(?) in my sleep. This is another reoccurring dream scenario I have, which makes me wonder if perhaps I do have worthwhile music in me that wants to get out (Iāll often have the urge to start a band despite the fact I canāt play any instruments). Iāve never been able to remember one of these dream songs well enough in my waking hours to know if they are any good, however, the same sort of thing happens with movies I am ācreatingā in my dream state and those are typically far less amazing in the sobriety of the waking life.
-Clayton
Mysterious alley. Cleveland, Ohio. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Came across an interesting discussion with author Cormac McCarthy (shown below) in which he discusses his thoughts on the subconscious (it speaks in code because language is, evolutionarily-speaking very new). They also discuss āThe Night Shiftā being the time, while sleeping, when your brain is working and processing thoughts and problems.
The Night Shift is fascinating to me, and I do my best to stay in touch with it (though admittedly Iām not very well connected to it and want to get better). Iāll remember dreams only if Iām awoken during them (normal, I think). Maybe it was Dali who would set elaborate contraptions to wake him up mid sleep at varying times in order to allow his waking brain to capture buts of what his sleeping brain was working on. This is fascinating!
This morning, I woke up to a dream I often have but with a twist. I regularly have what I call āset dreamsā which are basically just me working on a photo production. The difference this time was that the set was a motion set, signaling to me that Iām finally embracing my reluctant pivot to video. These dreams are usual banal, however, I love the idea that Iām running scenarios and gaining āexperienceā while I sleep to better prepare myself for the often stressful days that I go through in my day job as a professional photographer.
Last night, I was awoken in the middle of the night by a song I had been creating(?) in my sleep. This is another reoccurring dream scenario I have, which makes me wonder if perhaps I do have worthwhile music in me that wants to get out (Iāll often have the urge to start a band despite the fact I canāt play any instruments). Iāve never been able to remember one of these dream songs well enough in my waking hours to know if they are any good, however, the same sort of thing happens with movies I am ācreatingā in my dream state and those are typically far less amazing in the sobriety of the waking life.
-Clayton
2024 11 08
Thereās this thing that happens when you (or, me, I should clarify) walk into any bar in rural Illinois. Itās the stereotypical record scratch you see on television. An instantaneous recognition from everyone inside that an outsider has entered. Things go quiet for a brief moment, which can feel like eternity depending on your level of anxiety, as you make your way inside, assessing which seat might be least awkward to claim for yourself.
My goal is to eventually embody a presence that goes largely unnoticed in these situations. Currently, my city-slicker outsider vibe is far too strong to go unnoticed, which is a bit unfortunate because I take blending in to my environment very seriously. Iāve long thought observation to be one of, if not my most important strengths. I can use it to my advantage in my pursuits of photography, and now writing.
A week ago I drove down south with Lincoln, Illinois in my crosshairs. I spent the day wandering and photographing various towns along the way. Itās endlessly remarkable to me how many towns exist which feel completely lost to time.
Two larger takeaways occurred to me on this day:
One: my still-vaguely defined āIllinois Projectā photobook was the main motivator for this trip. I havenāt been putting enough time into it and Iāve hit some snags in the process. Iām finding much of the work Iāve made has been too wide. Landscapes, mostly, devoid of people and any intimacy. One goal on this specific day was to involve humans in my work. The challenge was finding people ā any people. There just arenāt many people out here wandering these towns and rural places, meaning the images I have forming in my head would likely require me to āproduceā them by bringing people along with me. Iām not sure this is the route I want to take. Perhaps, I should lean into the desolation and capture a more true-to-life portrait of a place? The worry is that much like these empty towns themselves, most people will not be interested in seeing this work, and thatās the opposite of my goal. I want people to see the beauty in these places, and therefore Iām thinking I should instead begin to share the work more widely as I make it, instead of squirreling it away on hard drives for some hypothetical future date when I will do a show or release a book. My inbox helped me come to this conclusion after getting another gem of a piece from Meaghan Garveyās substack Scary Cool Sad Goodbye, in which she so beautifully captures the spirit of the Midwest through her adventures. Now, Iām thinking a more ongoing web presence, in some form, is a better way to go about this project, as I learn what this project even is. Ill Wandering.
Two: I have a vision in my head of a Plan For a New Illinois. This plan, while likely an impossible pipe dream, would see massive resources and money directed at Central Illinois with the goal of increasing the regionās population to three times what it is now, at roughly 2 million people. Perhaps I will post the Plan here for my tens of readers to check out! Maybe one of yāall knows the governor and can send it along to him. While itās clear Illinois is broken in many ways, it also gets a lot of over-dramatic hate tossed its way. That said, Iām not sure an influx of more people is the fix we need. Places like Austin, Texas lose what made them great as a glut of tech money and influence bros move in and completely change the dynamic of a place. This weekās election has muddied my vision as well. I get frustrated seeing places that are so clearly past their prime, and my instinct is to shine a light on them and figure out ways to help them prosper once again. But now, Iām not sure more people or more attention is what these places want. Itās likely the exact opposite (worth exploring in this project of mine, perhaps!).
-Clayton
Majestic Theater. Past its prime. Streator, Illinois. November, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Thereās this thing that happens when you (or, me, I should clarify) walk into any bar in rural Illinois. Itās the stereotypical record scratch you see on television. An instantaneous recognition from everyone inside that an outsider has entered. Things go quiet for a brief moment, which can feel like eternity depending on your level of anxiety, as you make your way inside, assessing which seat might be least awkward to claim for yourself.
My goal is to eventually embody a presence that goes largely unnoticed in these situations. Currently, my city-slicker outsider vibe is far too strong to go unnoticed, which is a bit unfortunate because I take blending in to my environment very seriously. Iāve long thought observation to be one of, if not my most important strengths. I can use it to my advantage in my pursuits of photography, and now writing.
A week ago I drove down south with Lincoln, Illinois in my crosshairs. I spent the day wandering and photographing various towns along the way. Itās endlessly remarkable to me how many towns exist which feel completely lost to time.
Two larger takeaways occurred to me on this day:
One: my still-vaguely defined āIllinois Projectā photobook was the main motivator for this trip. I havenāt been putting enough time into it and Iāve hit some snags in the process. Iām finding much of the work Iāve made has been too wide. Landscapes, mostly, devoid of people and any intimacy. One goal on this specific day was to involve humans in my work. The challenge was finding people ā any people. There just arenāt many people out here wandering these towns and rural places, meaning the images I have forming in my head would likely require me to āproduceā them by bringing people along with me. Iām not sure this is the route I want to take. Perhaps, I should lean into the desolation and capture a more true-to-life portrait of a place? The worry is that much like these empty towns themselves, most people will not be interested in seeing this work, and thatās the opposite of my goal. I want people to see the beauty in these places, and therefore Iām thinking I should instead begin to share the work more widely as I make it, instead of squirreling it away on hard drives for some hypothetical future date when I will do a show or release a book.
My inbox helped me come to this conclusion after getting another gem of a piece from Meaghan Garveyās substack Scary Cool Sad Goodbye, in which she so beautifully captures the spirit of the Midwest through her adventures. Now, Iām thinking a more ongoing web presence, in some form, is a better way to go about this project, as I learn what this project even is. Ill Wandering.
Two: I have a vision in my head of a Plan For a New Illinois. This plan, while likely an impossible pipe dream, would see massive resources and money directed at Central Illinois with the goal of increasing the regionās population to three times what it is now, at roughly 2 million people. Perhaps I will post the Plan here for my tens of readers to check out! Maybe one of yāall knows the governor and can send it along to him. While itās clear Illinois is broken in many ways, it also gets a lot of over-dramatic hate tossed its way. That said, Iām not sure an influx of more people is the fix we need. Places like Austin, Texas largely lose what made them great, as a glut of tech money and influence bros move in and completely change the dynamic of the place.
This weekās election has muddied my vision as well. I get frustrated seeing places that are so clearly past their prime, and my instinct is to shine a light on them and figure out ways to help them prosper once again. But now, Iām not sure more people or more attention is what these places want. Itās likely the exact opposite (worth exploring in this project of mine, perhaps!).
-Clayton
2024 11 07
Things change. When I was a kid, my dad brought us downtown and I vividly remember the awe inspired by this building as we entered its public atrium. This, in part, made me want to become an architect when I got older. Instead, I eventually became obsessed with video shooting and ended up pursuing that as a career as I entered my young adult years. The video obsession eventually morphed into a still photography obsession, largely because it was easier for me to make work by myself, and didnāt need to rely on others to get things done. Candidly, I was an introverted shy kid and navigating the necessity of forming a big crew to make video productions happen seemed daunting to me at the time. When I found some traction as a photographer, it was a no brainer to shift my attention to that.
Now, I find myself an older guy and the Thompson Center is underground a tech-funded transformation (along with our country, it turns out). This morning, I woke up excited about video for the first time in a long time. It was an interesting observation and one that has gotten me excited! Iāve never lost my love for video and filmmaking, however, itās been firmly in the back seat for my entire adult life. New cameras and accessories are now being released, which are making me giddy to get my hands on them. Iām in the early days of a documentary project that is getting me excited, and Iām planning on collaborating on a bunch of test shoots this winter with a talented DP friend to showcase what we can do with beverage and food.
More to come as I make steps towards a new and exciting pivot in my professional career.
-Clayton
The Thompson Center, undergoing a transformation. Chicago, Illinois. July 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Things change. When I was a kid, my dad brought us downtown and I vividly remember the awe inspired by this building as we entered its public atrium. This, in part, made me want to become an architect when I got older. Instead, I eventually became obsessed with video shooting and ended up pursuing that as a career as I entered my young adult years. The video obsession eventually morphed into a still photography obsession, largely because it was easier for me to make work by myself, and didnāt need to rely on others to get things done. Candidly, I was an introverted shy kid and navigating the necessity of forming a big crew to make video productions happen seemed daunting to me at the time. When I found some traction as a photographer, it was a no brainer to shift my attention to that.
Now, I find myself an older guy and the Thompson Center is underground a tech-funded transformation (along with our country, it turns out). This morning, I woke up excited about video for the first time in a long time. It was an interesting observation and one that has gotten me excited! Iāve never lost my love for video and filmmaking, however, itās been firmly in the back seat for my entire adult life. New cameras and accessories are now being released, which are making me giddy to get my hands on them. Iām in the early days of a documentary project that is getting me excited, and Iām planning on collaborating on a bunch of test shoots this winter with a talented DP friend to showcase what we can do with beverage and food.
More to come as I make steps towards a new and exciting pivot in my professional career.
-Clayton
2024 11 05
Itās election day. Please make sure you vote! I wonāt get into the politics beyond this, aside to say this will be a historic day in American history, regardless the outcome.
Be safe, be kind, and good luck to all.
-Clayton
Trump fan on the roll during the RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Itās election day. Please make sure you vote! While far from a perfect candidate, I think Kamala is the clear choice for the top job. I wonāt get into the politics beyond this, aside to say this will be a historic day in American, regardless the outcome.
Be safe, be kind, and good luck to all.
-Clayton
2024 10 30
Previously, I wrote about the Rick Rubin book on creativity (see: 2024 03 27).
Today, a quote from the book popped into my feeds and I thought it was worth posting as a reminder to myself the sole reason I put time into this here blog.
āLiving life as an artist is a practice. You are either engaging in the practice Or youāre not.
It makes no sense to say youāre no good at it. Itās like saying, āIām not good at being a monk.ā You are either living as a monk or youāre not.
We tend to think of the artistās work as the output. The real work of the artist is a way of being in the world.ā
ā Rick Rubin
-Clayton
Randyland. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Previously, I wrote about the Rick Rubin book on creativity (see: 2024 03 27).
Today, a quote from the book popped into my feeds and I thought it was worth posting as a reminder to myself the sole reason I put time into this here blog.
āLiving life as an artist is a practice. You are either engaging in the practice Or youāre not.
It makes no sense to say youāre no good at it. Itās like saying, āIām not good at being a monk.ā You are either living as a monk or youāre not.
We tend to think of the artistās work as the output. The real work of the artist is a way of being in the world.ā
-Clayton
2024 10 29
Thereās an evolving observation I have that so many of us are doing our best job focusing on filling up our daily schedule, thinking that equates to being productive. Itās not a new idea, The Busy Trap. But my observation is more recent and revolves around talking with people. Nobody picks up the phone and calls each other anymore. Instead, we send out a message and spend the time we wouldāve spent simply talking on the phone, going back and forth figuring out a mutually-agreed upon time to then pick up the phone and call each other some hours later.
I resist this approach the best I can. My brain works best when itās free and clear to think whatever thoughts pop into it, without the constant stress and anticipation of preparing for an upcoming engagement, as big or small as it may be. I long for the days of my childhood, a free and open calendar, allowing me to live in the moment and navigate with ease. Improvise. Go with the flow. Instead, I have a constant barrage of push notifications informing me of an upcoming meeting or conversation. Some days, when an afternoon meeting is an important one, I can hardly function throughout the morning just knowing this future event exists and is approaching.
Time is an ever-flowing river and the journey is more enjoyable when itās a lazy river, not roaring rapids (this sentence might be the nerdiest Iāve ever written for reasons I refuse to explain).
-Clayton
Dancing in the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Thereās an evolving observation I have that so many of us are doing our best job focusing on filling up our daily schedule, thinking that equates to being productive. Itās not a new idea, The Busy Trap. But my observation is more recent and revolves around talking with people. Nobody picks up the phone and calls each other anymore. Instead, we send out a message and spend the time we wouldāve spent simply talking on the phone, going back and forth figuring out a mutually-agreed upon time to then pick up the phone and call each other some hours later.
I resist this approach the best I can. My brain works best when itās free and clear to think whatever thoughts pop into it, without the constant stress and anticipation of preparing for an upcoming engagement, as big or small as it may be. I long for the days of my childhood, a free and open calendar, allowing me to live in the moment and navigate with ease. Improvise. Go with the flow. Instead, I have a constant barrage of push notifications informing me of an upcoming meeting or conversation. Some days, when an afternoon meeting is an important one, I can hardly function throughout the morning just knowing this future event exists and is approaching.
Time is an ever-flowing river and the journey is more enjoyable when itās a lazy river, not roaring rapids (this sentence might be the nerdiest Iāve ever written for reasons I refuse to explain).
-Clayton
2024 09 29
Up against the deadline, yet again. Iād love for this space to be a bit more photo-centric, to give me a break from writing something each and every day, even though that was sort of the reason for doing this in the first place. Maybe we take the website in a new direction next year. I was thinking wordpress might be the move, however, apparently wordpress is a mess these days as well. The internet is really losing its charm, isnāt it? I miss the days of pageview counters and blogrolls and animated gifs. Simpler times.
Iāll get back to posting things maybe worth reading one of these daysā¦
-Clayton
A night scene. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Up against the deadline, yet again. Iād love for this space to be a bit more photo-centric, to give me a break from writing something each and every day, even though that was sort of the reason for doing this in the first place. Maybe we take the website in a new direction next year. I was thinking wordpress might be the move, however, apparently wordpress is a mess these days as well. The internet is really losing its charm, isnāt it? I miss the days of pageview counters and blogrolls and animated gifs. Simpler times.
Iāll get back to posting things maybe worth reading one of these daysā¦
-Clayton
2024 09 24
Sometimes the accidental shots are the best shots. I made this one while strolling through the farmerās market practicing zone focusing on the Ricoh. Yes, itās out of focus, and blurry, and full of sensor dust (most of which I removed in post), but I still enjoy the image. Itās got a bit of rizz. Not much, but a touch of rizz.
This lesson in zone focusing was sort of the nail in the coffin for this camera, which Iāve been abusing for two or so years. Most of the images posted to this blog have been made using it. The problem, now, is that I canāt shoot with it unless the aperture is wide ass open, otherwise all the sensor dust fills the frame. Luckily, when you shoot wide open, you can make things invisible, allowing me to continue using the camera longer. Just not with zone focusing. Anyhoo.
Iām still months behind on photo editing and life bureaucracy. We have our wedding documents tho, finally, so thatās official and off the to do list!
-Clayton
Dogs on the prowl. Logan Square Farmers Market. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Sometimes the accidental shots are the best shots. I made this one while strolling through the farmerās market practicing zone focusing on the Ricoh. Yes, itās out of focus, and blurry, and full of sensor dust (most of which I removed in post), but I still enjoy the image. Itās got a bit of rizz. Not much, but a touch of rizz.
This lesson in zone focusing was sort of the nail in the coffin for this camera, which Iāve been abusing for two or so years. Most of the images posted to this blog have been made using it. The problem, now, is that I canāt shoot with it unless the aperture is wide ass open, otherwise all the sensor dust fills the frame. Luckily, when you shoot wide open, you can make things invisible, allowing me to continue using the camera longer. Just not with zone focusing. Anyhoo.
Iām still months behind on photo editing and life bureaucracy. We have our wedding documents tho, finally, so thatās official and off the to do list!
-Clayton
2024 09 21
Street photography is hard. Itās been on my to do list all year to get myself downtown to make some street photos. Instead, Iāve settled for a few organic moments which came to me, while listing reasons why Iām unable to get to the street photos. I need a new camera is the main reason. Sure, I donāt really need a new camera, but much like why I no longer go to music festivals, once you get a peek at the good life (VIP access, photo pits, free tickets, free drinks, etc), itās hard to go back to slumming it as a normal person. My Ricoh sensor is fucked so canāt shoot beyond f2.8. My Canons are too bulky for street. My Nikon FM2 might work but film is expensive and I havenāt really used the thing in twenty years. My iPhone would work but you canāt be a professional using a phone to make photos.
Anyway.
Itās still on the list of things Iāll get to. Or maybe itās best I donāt?
Partly why I havenāt gotten around to it is my personal life has been busy. While our wedding was a week ago now, Iām still having stress dreams about the wedding. Weirdly, while the event has come and gone, it all still feels like a blur of time; like it is still something to look forward to and not an event which has already happened which I should be posting a recap about instead of blogging about street photography.
Maybe Iāll get back to the street photography. Or maybe Iāll get the house back in order so we can feel like normal people again. Maybe thereās still time to make it to Riot Fest this weekend, after all.
-Clayton
Setting up a tent. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Street photography is hard. Itās been on my to do list all year to get myself downtown to make some street photos. Instead, Iāve settled for a few organic moments which came to me, while listing reasons why Iām unable to get to the street photos. I need a new camera is the main reason. Sure, I donāt really need a new camera, but much like why I no longer go to music festivals, once you get a peek at the good life (VIP access, photo pits, free tickets, free drinks, etc), itās hard to go back to slumming it as a normal person. My Ricoh sensor is fucked so canāt shoot beyond f2.8. My Canons are too bulky for street. My Nikon FM2 might work but film is expensive and I havenāt really used the thing in twenty years. My iPhone would work but you canāt be a professional using a phone to make photos.
Anyway.
Itās still on the list of things Iāll get to. Or maybe itās best I donāt?
Partly why I havenāt gotten around to it is my personal life has been busy. While our wedding was a week ago now, Iām still having stress dreams about the wedding. Weirdly, while the event has come and gone, it all still feels like a blur of time; like it is still something to look forward to and not an event which has already happened which I should be posting a recap about instead of blogging about street photography.
Maybe Iāll get back to the street photography. Or maybe Iāll get the house back in order so we can feel like normal people again. Maybe thereās still time to make it to Riot Fest this weekend, after all.
-Clayton
2024 09 01
I took an afternoon off to wander Atlanta and make some photos. Really, I wanted to explore a bit and see some new sights. Take in the scenery. I hopped a Lime-brand scooter and ended up in a cute neighborhood off the Belt Line, filled with charming streets and proud houses with character. Being a photographer out hunting for details, my senses were alerted to a strange man who seemed to be following me. Clearly this man wanted to steal my backpack full of expensive electronics. I zigged and I zagged and I detoured away from the man so I didnāt have to continually look over my shoulder and be on guard.
The scooter took me up and down Atlantaās hills at a rapid rate. One thing I dislike about driving in a car is all of the photos you catch a glimpse of but are forced to miss. One thing I dislike about driving in car is all the fine details that canāt be observed like they can while walking. Utilizing a scooter is sort of a compromised approach to both maximizing your exploration time when youāre on a tight schedule and want to fit it all in, while also having the ability to hop off at a momentās notice to grab some photos.
Rounding a corner of this charming neighborhood, the strange man from earlier came into view up ahead. Now I was stalking him. As I gained a better perspective, it became clear that this strange man was being so strange because he was just like me! He was out wandering and exploring the neighborhood. He held a film camera in his hand and was making photos. An immediate sense of shame washed over my body which could only be alleviated by stopping the scooter to say hello.
āIām Little Egg Boy,ā he informed me. He was out making photos. We swapped instagram handles and became digital friends, forever bonded by beautiful images we both made of a dusty old red car parked across the street. Those images have twice made appearances on this here blog (2024 08 17, 2024 06 23) and today, the third time is the charm. Little Egg Boy is an interesting man, not a strange man, and that day he was a nice reminder to me that itās usually best to keep an open mind and allow yourself to have the mysterious encounters that all too often tend to shut us down and make us afraid.
-Clayton
Little Egg Boy in Atlanta, Georgia. May, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I took an afternoon off to wander Atlanta and make some photos. Really, I wanted to explore a bit and see some new sights. Take in the scenery. I hopped on a Lime-brand scooter and ended up in a cute neighborhood off the Belt Line, filled with charming streets and proud houses with character. Being a photographer out hunting for details, my senses were alerted to a strange man who seemed to be following me. Clearly this man wanted to steal my backpack full of expensive electronics. I zigged and I zagged and I detoured away from the man so I didnāt have to continually look over my shoulder and be on guard.
The scooter took me up and down Atlantaās hills at a rapid rate. One thing I dislike about driving in a car is all of the photos you catch a glimpse of but are forced to miss. One thing I dislike about driving in car is all the fine details that canāt be observed like they can while walking. Utilizing a scooter is sort of a compromised approach to both maximizing your exploration time when youāre on a tight schedule and want to fit it all in, while also having the ability to hop off at a momentās notice to grab some photos.
Rounding a corner of this charming neighborhood, the strange man from earlier suddenly came into view up ahead. Now I was stalking him. As I gained a better perspective, it became clear that this strange man was being so strange because he was just like me! He was out wandering and exploring the neighborhood. He held a film camera in his hand and was making photos. An immediate sense of shame washed over my body which could only be alleviated by stopping the scooter to say hello.
āIām Little Egg Boy,ā he informed me. He was out making photos. We swapped instagram handles and became digital friends, forever bonded by beautiful images we both made of a dusty old red car parked across the street. Those images have twice made appearances on this here blog (2024 08 17, 2024 06 23) and today, the third time is the charm. Little Egg Boy is an interesting man, not a strange man, and that day he was a nice reminder to me that itās usually best to keep an open mind and allow yourself to have the mysterious encounters that all too often tend to shut us down and make us afraid.
-Clayton
2024 08 26
This picture is only interesting because it was taken in July. To me, a humorous observation, does not translate to you, an unknowing viewer, without a written explanation of why the thing is worth looking at. This is, I think, an unbreakable rule of how to make good art: the art has to be immediately understood at a fundamental level by the observer. Sure, the interpretation may vary but there canāt be a blog blurb explaining why itās worth looking at. Photo fail.
I was busy working all day today in Ocean City, Maryland so didnāt have the time for a more robust post. I did, however, ride a roller coaster as part of my work, so a decades-long dream has been fulfilled; since my days working as a ride operator at Six Flags Great America, I have not been paid to ride roller coasters. Until today.
-Clayton
Christmas in July. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
This picture is only interesting because it was taken in July. To me, a humorous observation, does not translate to you, an unknowing viewer, without a written explanation of why the thing is worth looking at. This is, I think, an unbreakable rule of how to make good art: the art has to be immediately understood at a fundamental level by the observer. Sure, the interpretation may vary but there canāt be a blog blurb explaining why itās worth looking at. Photo fail.
I was busy working all day today in Ocean City, Maryland (have you been here?!) so didnāt have the time for a more robust post. I did, however, ride a roller coaster as part of my job, so a decades-long dream has been fulfilled; since my days working as a ride operator at Six Flags Great America, I have not been paid to ride roller coasters. Until today. Life win.
-Clayton
2024 08 22
Iām literally falling asleep as I post this. Iām running on two hours of sleep. I just watched Kamalaās acceptance speech. Itās KamalOāclock. Goodnight!
-Clayton
Riding a bike down the block during a beautiful sunset. Chicago, Illinois. May, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Iām literally falling asleep as I post this. Iām running on two hours of sleep. I just watched Kamalaās acceptance speech. Itās KamalOāclock. Goodnight!
-Clayton