2024 03 21
Work is slow, I am hearing more and more. An increasing number of people have told me they have been job hunting for months now. Elections are coming and surely people will voice their frustrations at the ballot. On the surface, the economy feels fine but underneath it sure doesnât. Yes Gaza is a nightmare but have you heard about Haiti? Have you heard about Sudan? The list is long.
Working on some more in depth blog postings but Iâve been busy with life so today I offer you this concrete graffiti and doomy brain puke.
Thanks for stopping by!
-Clayton
Bob Sucks written in concrete. Skokie, Illinois. September, 2023. © Clayton Hauck
Work is slow, I am hearing more and more. An increasing number of people have told me they have been job hunting for months now. Elections are coming and surely people will voice their frustrations at the ballot. On the surface, the economy feels fine but underneath it sure doesnât. Yes Gaza is a nightmare but have you heard about Haiti? Have you heard about Sudan? The list is long.
I had this vision when LinkedIn introduced the âopen to workâ tag on peopleâs profile photo that one day soon youâd scroll through Linkedin and every account would have the banner listed on their image. Imagine if LinkedIn existed during the Great Depression⊠that kind of vibe. I donât think weâre going in that extreme of a direction (though AI may beg to differ), but I do think the digitization of the economy exaggerates the negative aspects of things very efficiently, leading towards this ominous feeling.
Iâm working on some more in-depth blog postings but Iâve been busy with life so today I offer you this concrete graffiti and doomy brain puke.
Negative thinking, yes, but sometimes you just need to vent âem.
Thanks for stopping by!
-Clayton
2024 03 20
Many times, Iâve had the idea of starting a website in which I would make a post anytime I (got immensely frustrated, considered leaving society and living out the remainder of my life in rural Montana but then took a deep breath, calmed down and) solved a problem or learned something important. Over years of accumulation, it would be a sort of gathering place of answers to questions people commonly have (and perhaps gain a considerable following via google searches which would maaaybe be modestly monetized). Iâm not going to do this, however, I will honor the idea here today:
If you, like me, are having an issue connecting to your fancy high tech Sonos speakers because the software is unable to update and therefore you can no longer connect to your speakers, this is likely the solution:
Note: if you are using a Windows machine, I canât help you.
If you are using MacOS, the issue is likely solved by allowing Sonos to update or delete other applications via App Management in System Settings (why the software doesnât alert you of this fact when it repeatedly fails to update, I have no idea, but am starting to thing AI is running these tech companies and nobody actually uses their own product).
Stolen from Reddit (oh yeah, my website idea already exists [and is going public on the stock market this week!]):
Check to see if Sonos and/or Sonos Installer is listed under Settings > Privacy and Security > App Management
If not:
Close the Sonos app
Go to Applications
Right click on Sonos
Pick Show Package Contents
Go to Contents/Resources
Drag the Sonos Installer app to the window in System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> App Management (As a bonus, make sure that Sonos is on the App Management list too, otherwise add it!)
Start the Sonos app and Install Update
If you are using a not-current-to-this-posting version of MacOS, all of these specific directions may no longer exist, might have changed names, etc. Please proceed to toss your expensive speakers into the trash and light fire to it while cursing the digital gods who continually rule your life.
Also, please use my affiliate link to buy some nice new Sonos speakers!
Also, if anyone knows how to repair a neon light, hit me up.
âŠand now Iâm off to buy some Reddit stock.
-Clayton
Vienna Beef neon light, as seen reflected in a shot glass, in my See You Soon studio. This neon is again broken for the third time in two years. September, 2023. © Clayton Hauck
Many times, Iâve had the idea of starting a website in which I would make a post anytime I (got immensely frustrated, considered leaving society and living out the remainder of my life in rural Montana but then took a deep breath, calmed down and) solved a problem or learned something important. Over years of accumulation, it would be a sort of gathering place of answers to questions people commonly have (and perhaps gain a considerable following via google searches which would maaaybe be modestly monetized). Iâm not going to do this, however, I will honor the idea here today:
If you, like me, are having an issue connecting to your fancy high tech Sonos speakers because the software is unable to update and therefore you can no longer connect to your speakers, this is likely the solution:
Note: if you are using a Windows machine, I canât help you.
If you are using MacOS, the issue is likely solved by allowing Sonos to update or delete other applications via App Management in System Settings (why the software doesnât alert you of this fact when it repeatedly fails to update, I have no idea, but am starting to thing AI is running these tech companies and nobody actually uses their own product).
Stolen from Reddit (oh yeah, my website idea already exists [and is going public on the stock market this week!]):
Check to see if Sonos and/or Sonos Installer is listed under Settings > Privacy and Security > App Management
If not:
Close the Sonos app
Go to Applications
Right click on Sonos
Pick Show Package Contents
Go to Contents/Resources
Drag the Sonos Installer app to the window in System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> App Management (As a bonus, make sure that Sonos is on the App Management list too, otherwise add it!)
Start the Sonos app and Install Update
If you are using a not-current-to-this-posting version of MacOS, all of these specific directions may no longer exist, might have changed names, etc. Please proceed to toss your expensive speakers into the trash and light fire to it while cursing the digital gods who continually rule your life.
Also, please use my affiliate link to buy some nice new Sonos speakers!
Also, if anyone knows how to repair a neon light, hit me up.
âŠand now Iâm off to buy some Reddit stock.
-Clayton
2024 03 19
It used to be things were messy. These days, everything is clean, sleek and easy! Of course, this isnât the case, weâve just become better at hiding the messy bits behind a fascade.
The Disneyfication of America, if you will. Apple is a shining example. PCs used to be complicated until Apple made it easy. All the system files and folders are hidden behind a digital curtain which you can only peek behind if you know the secret access door. We donât trust you with those files. Itâs plug and play! Granted, this approach makes a lot of sense and has been wildly successful. It is the better wayâuntil itâs not. Until your system has crashed and you now donât know a thing about it and are therefore reliant on the Genius Bar to come to your rescue and free your important business documents from digital purgatory.
Today, I walked to work after being unable to charge my electric vehicle for reasons unknown. File a service request and move on. Itâs a fun car, though! Not a button in sight!
Arriving at work, I go to turn on some music but my fancy wireless speakers donât work because the Sonos app canât update and is stuck in a doom loop of saying it needs to update, followed by a failed update with no further information. File a service request and head to the daily photo blog to vent about it.
In a way, itâs a nice reminder that while things may appear orderly and structured, thereâs still a mess behind the scenes.
Donât becomes fully dependent on the Genius Bar. Stay messy.
-Clayton
Damaged car situation somewhere in Chicago. September, 2023. © Clayton Hauck
It used to be things were messy. These days, everything is clean, sleek and easy! Of course, this isnât the case, weâve just become better at hiding the messy bits behind a fascade.
The Disneyfication of America, if you will. Apple is a shining example. PCs used to be complicated until Apple made it easy. All the system files and folders are hidden behind a digital curtain which you can only peek behind if you know the secret access door. We donât trust you with those files. Itâs plug and play! Granted, this approach makes a lot of sense and has been wildly successful. It is the better wayâuntil itâs not. Until your system has crashed and you now donât know a thing about it and are therefore reliant on the Genius Bar to come to your rescue and free your important business documents from digital purgatory.
Today, I walked to work after being unable to charge my electric vehicle for reasons unknown. File a service request and move on. Itâs a fun car, though! Not a button in sight!
Arriving at work, I go to turn on some music but my fancy wireless speakers donât work because the Sonos app canât update and is stuck in a doom loop of saying it needs to update, followed by a failed update with no further information. File a service request and head to the daily photo blog to vent about it.
In a way, itâs a nice reminder that while things may appear orderly and structured, thereâs still a mess behind the scenes.
Donât becomes fully dependent on the Genius Bar. Stay messy.
-Clayton
2024 03 18
Itâs Monday. Back to workâŠ
Hereâs a little self promotion. I do a really fun portrait setup in my studio where I offer $100 portrait sessions in which participants get 100 unique photos of themselves. No AI, no fancy Photoshop tricks, just a unique approach to good old fashioned portrait photography.
âĄïž You can check out more about the process, or book a session next time Iâm offering it, here on the studio page.
-Clayton
Filmmaker & educator Anu Rana in my See You Soon studio as a subject in my Keep it 100 portrait setup. February, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Itâs Monday. Back to workâŠ
Hereâs a little self promotion. I do a really fun portrait setup in my studio where I offer $100 portrait sessions in which participants get 100 unique photos of themselves. No AI, no fancy Photoshop tricks, just a unique approach to good old fashioned portrait photography.
-Clayton
2024 03 17
Gone Drinkinâ!
Nobody reads this blog on Sundays and Iâm off exploring the state a bit, wandering, making some photos and considering if I might want to sink a bunch of time into a broader Illinois art photobook project I have brewing in my brain.
-Clayton
A pint of beer sits atop the bar at Art History Brewing in Geneva, IL. January, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Gone Drinkinâ!
Nobody reads this blog on Sundays and Iâm off exploring the state a bit, wandering, making some photos and considering if I might want to sink a bunch of time into a broader Illinois art photobook project I have brewing in my brain.
-Clayton
2024 03 16
Last last year, I covered this assignment for Chicago Magazine where I spent three days with knife maker Sam Goldbroch in his studio outside of Chicago while he made a custom chefâs knife from scratch. It was a cool experience and I was really happy with the images I came away with, however, it left me thinking the still photos were a bit less effective than perhaps a well-made video would be in showing viewers the entire process from start to finish, having just experienced it myself in person.
Flash forward to now, after the Chicago piece ran, seeing an email from my uncle with a link to a really well done video featuring Anthony Bourdain in his visit to another bladesmith, Bob Kramer. That video can be viewed below and is worth a watch while also serving a sad reminder of how much I miss Anthony Bourdain.
-Clayton
Bladesmith Sam Goldborch in his studio in Skokie, Illinois. September, 2023. © Clayton Hauck
Late last year, I covered this assignment for Chicago Magazine where I spent three days with knife maker Sam Goldbroch in his studio outside of Chicago while he made a custom chefâs knife from scratch. It was a cool experience and I was really happy with the images I came away with, however, it left me thinking the still photos were a bit less effective than perhaps a well-made video would be in showing viewers the entire process from start to finish, having just experienced it myself in person.
Flash forward to now, after the Chicago piece ran, seeing an email from my uncle with a link to a really well done video featuring Anthony Bourdain in his visit to another bladesmith, Bob Kramer. That video can be viewed below and is worth a watch while also serving a sad reminder of how much I miss Anthony Bourdain.
-Clayton
âĄïž Click here to see the Chicago Magazine piece
âĄïž Click here to see more of my photos from the shoot
2024 03 15
On Banning TikTok
Iâm not aiming to make this a news commentary blog with quick takes on current events, but let me take a few moments to jot down some thoughts on this possible TikTok ban legislation currently in the news:
Thereâs an evolving summary of America I have in my head that is essentially boiled down to this: America will (more or less) let you do whatever you want unless you fuck with Americaâthen America will kill you.
One of my complaints with America boils down to the killing portion of this summary, in the sense that I think we should be doing less of it. Killing people to solve our problems never seems to work, yet we go back to this game plan repeatedly for reasons Iâve yet to fully understand. Our current misguided killing, being done through our friends in Israel, has grown wildly unpopular in no small part due to the efforts of the fine folks behind TikTok.
Youâd maybe think that, for this reason, Iâd be against the banning of TikTok but youâd be wrong. Iâve been in favor of TikTok regulations for what seems like an eternity now; Since before Trump was in favor of banning it, before he âchanged his mindâ and decided he doesnât care so much after all.
Part of the problem is how we are discussing the topic as a ban. Scott Galloway put it well by saying we donât consider 65 mile per hour speed limit signs as the banning cars, we think of them as a safety regulation, which is exactly how we should talk about implementing new restraints on social media apps (be it foreign-owned names like TikTok or domestic products). Calling it a ban sounds unnecessarily extreme.
That said, itâs the foreign-owned aspect of this issue that is whatâs going to lead to this so-called ban on TikTok. Lawmakers were supposedly inundated with calls from frustrated kids who were prompted and connected by their TikTok app in an effort to stop this legislation. Ordinarily, this would be standard operating procedure in our so-called democracy, however, itâs now being seen as the weaponizing of our youth by a foreign power in which we have no control. This, coinciding with the turning of the narrative against our stupid war is what has lawmakers fed up. America is being fucked with!
But how is this justification to outright ban a foreign company, just because you donât like how they are shining a light on your shady dealings?! Well, my beef with TikTok is more due to unfair business practices (China does not allow US companies to operate within China yet expects us to allow them to operate here) and with social media toxicity generally. I donât think we should be allowing our youth to use consequence-free, unregulated social media like we do, but since weâre a âfree countryâ and lawmakers shrug their shoulders at the idea of implementing any sort of protection in this regard, we should at the very least ensure these companies, whom weâre allowing to raise our children, are not run by uncooperative foreign actors with motives fully unknown to us.
Damn. This took entirely too long to write, still comes off as generally vague and unconvincing, and therefore is why I donât write commentary on news. Anyway, to distill my thoughts even further, I will say this: I think TikTok should be regulated, as I think all social media companies should have better oversight and far more accountability. I donât think this country should allow foreign access to our markets without at least some level of reciprocity. And Iâm going back to making photos while thinking less about messy geopolitical social media attention wars that are really about money, power, and control of the people.
đ”tiktok chimeđ”
-Clayton
Rural Illinois farmland. February, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
On Banning TikTok
Iâm not aiming to make this a news commentary blog with quick takes on current events, but let me take a few moments to jot down some thoughts on this possible TikTok ban legislation currently in the news:
Thereâs an evolving summary of America I have in my head that is essentially boiled down to this: America will (more or less) let you do whatever you want unless you fuck with Americaâthen America will kill you.
One of my complaints with America boils down to the killing portion of this summary, in the sense that I think we should be doing less of it. Killing people to solve our problems never seems to work, yet we go back to this game plan repeatedly for reasons Iâve yet to fully understand. Our current misguided killing, being done through our friends in Israel, has grown wildly unpopular in no small part due to the efforts of the fine folks behind TikTok.
Youâd maybe think that, for this reason, Iâd be against the banning of TikTok but youâd be wrong. Iâve been in favor of TikTok regulations for what seems like an eternity now; Since before Trump was in favor of banning it, before he âchanged his mindâ and decided he doesnât care so much after all.
Part of the problem is how we are discussing the topic as a ban. Scott Galloway put it well by saying we donât consider 65 mile per hour speed limit signs as the banning of cars, we think of them as a safety regulation on driving, which is exactly how we should talk about implementing new restraints on social media apps (be it foreign-owned names like TikTok or domestic products). Calling it a ban sounds unnecessarily extreme, especially in this time of extreme actions, when having resources to freely vent our frustrations is as important as ever.
That said, itâs the foreign-owned aspect of this issue that is whatâs going to lead to this so-called ban on TikTok. Lawmakers were supposedly inundated with calls from frustrated kids who were prompted and connected by their TikTok app in an effort to stop this legislation. Ordinarily, this would be standard operating procedure in our so-called democracy, however, itâs now being seen as the weaponizing of our youth by a foreign power in which we have no control. This, coinciding with the turning of the narrative against our stupid war is what has lawmakers fed up; Turning the social network into an echo chamber of discontent aimed directly at the United States by a foreign interest with a different viewpoint. America is being fucked with!
But how is this justification to outright ban a foreign companyâjust because you donât like how they are shining a light on your shady dealings?! Well, my beef with TikTok is more due to unfair business practices (China does not allow US companies to operate within China yet expects us to allow them to operate here) and with social media toxicity generally. I donât think we should be allowing our youth to use consequence-free, unregulated social media as we do, but since weâre a âfree countryâ and lawmakers shrug their shoulders at the idea of implementing any sort of protection in this regard, we should at the very least ensure these companies, whom weâre allowing to raise our children, are not run by uncooperative foreign actors with motives fully unknown to us. That it takes a shitty war largely of our making is an unfortunate means to an end, I fully agree.
Damn. This took entirely too long to write, still comes off as generally vague and unconvincing, and therefore is why I donât write commentary on news. Anyway, to distill my thoughts even further, I will say this: I think TikTok should be regulated, as I think all social media companies should have better oversight and far more accountability. I donât think this country should allow foreign access to our markets without at least some level of reciprocity. The world is an increasingly-complicated-and-increasingly-connected place and the people who control the algorithms have as much power as the people who control the guns. TikTok isnât going away, thereâs too much money at stake, but US leadership has finally seen the light on how vital control of the worldâs most popular social network is to the operation of the American Machine, and that is why they will somehow, someway, wrestle away enough control of it to better sleep at night.
And Iâm going back to making photos while thinking less about messy geopolitical social media attention wars that are really about money, power, and control of the people.
đ”tiktok chimeđ”
-Clayton
2024 03 14
Is anyone putting out albums anymore? Anytime I hear a fun, previously-unfamiliar song served to me by Spotifyâs algorithm, I get excited to hear more and click on the album only to discover itâs just a single and thereâs nothing more to listen to, which then makes me sad.
This concludes my 60 Minutes Andy Rooney replacement audition tape.
-Clayton
Evergreen tree hit with rising sunlight creating a neat effect. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Is anyone putting out albums anymore? Anytime I hear a fun, previously-unfamiliar song served to me by Spotifyâs algorithm, I get excited to hear more and click on the album only to discover itâs just a single and thereâs nothing more to listen to, which then makes me sad.
This concludes my 60 Minutes Andy Rooney replacement audition tape.
-Clayton
2024 03 13
Recently, I came across a new-to-me photography podcast titled Visual Revolutionary and gave an episode a listen. This episode was a thought-provoking one with an interview of Jason Peterson in which they discussed is new agency The Times. Iâm not going to dive deep into my take on what they discussed in this blog (maybe another day? Definitely a topic Iâve been stewing on a lot lately), but I did want to pass it along in case any of yâall were interested in the topic. To summarize: Jason is an Instagram-famous photographer and ad agency-executive who left the more traditional agency world to start a new leaner take on how to be a content-producing agency, which largely boils down to hiring less people, younger people, cheaper people, leaning into AI, working cheap and fast, using social media and all things digital to execute the work quicker while itâs still topical.
In keeping with the theme of The Times, I jotted down some notes as I listened to the podcast, which were then fed into ChatGPT and summarized below, for your my convenience.
The conversation delves into the operational dynamics of an agency, shedding light on its revenue model, organizational structure, and adaptation to contemporary trends. It's noted that agencies, much like lawyers, often prioritize elongating processes and expanding their workforce for financial gain, rather than solely focusing on client needs. In this particular agency, most team members, aside from one or two, are involved in production and creative tasks. The agency boasts significant assets, including a spacious production facility with comprehensive equipment, enabling agile responses to topical narratives. Notably, the speaker, Jason, previously associated with Havas, implemented a strategy of recruiting young talent from platforms like Instagram and TikTok, contributing to substantial growth. Despite resistance from traditional practitioners, Jason emphasizes the need for adaptation or replacement to remain competitive. With a relatively small team of 25 employees, the agency leverages digital platforms to reach a broader audience and emphasizes the importance of innovation over entrenched practices. Additionally, the discussion highlights the agency's integration of AI technology, such as ChatGPT for copywriting, and its exploration of AI applications in video production. Referred to as the "Content Playhouse," the agency showcases a commitment to content creation and innovation in storytelling. Overall, the conversation underscores the agency's modern, technology-driven approach to content creation and its proactive stance towards industry evolution.
-Clayton
Lone Wolf bar patrons Haley and Allison. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Recently, I came across a new-to-me photography podcast titled Visual Revolutionary and gave an episode a listen. This episode was a thought-provoking one with an interview of Jason Peterson in which they discussed his new agency The Times. Iâm not going to dive deep into my take on what they discussed in this blog (maybe another day? Definitely a topic Iâve been stewing on a lot lately which basically is boiled down to everyone now needing to do more work with less resources and compensation), but I did want to pass it along in case any of yâall were interested in the topic. To summarize: Jason is a(n Instagram-famous) photographer and ad agency-executive who left the more traditional agency world to start a new leaner take on how to be a content-producing agency, which largely boils down to hiring less people, younger people, cheaper people, leaning into AI, working cheap and fast, using social media and all things digital to execute the work quicker while itâs still topical.
In keeping with the theme of The Times, I jotted down some notes as I listened to the podcast, which were then fed into ChatGPT and summarized below, for your my convenience.
The conversation delves into the operational dynamics of an agency, shedding light on its revenue model, organizational structure, and adaptation to contemporary trends. It's noted that agencies, much like lawyers, often prioritize elongating processes and expanding their workforce for financial gain, rather than solely focusing on client needs. In this particular agency, most team members, aside from one or two, are involved in production and creative tasks. The agency boasts significant assets, including a spacious production facility with comprehensive equipment, enabling agile responses to topical narratives. Notably, the speaker, Jason, previously associated with Havas, implemented a strategy of recruiting young talent from platforms like Instagram and TikTok, contributing to substantial growth. Despite resistance from traditional practitioners, Jason emphasizes the need for adaptation or replacement to remain competitive. With a relatively small team of 25 employees, the agency leverages digital platforms to reach a broader audience and emphasizes the importance of innovation over entrenched practices. Additionally, the discussion highlights the agency's integration of AI technology, such as ChatGPT for copywriting, and its exploration of AI applications in video production. Referred to as the "Content Playhouse," the agency showcases a commitment to content creation and innovation in storytelling. Overall, the conversation underscores the agency's modern, technology-driven approach to content creation and its proactive stance towards industry evolution.
-Clayton
2024 03 12
Recently, I asked ChatGPT if it knew me and its reply made me wonder if it perhaps has access to alternate universe. It told me:
Clayton Hauck is a photographer based in Chicago known for his documentary-style photography and his work capturing the city's culture, events, and everyday life. He has contributed to various publications and projects, showcasing his unique perspective on Chicago's urban landscape. Additionally, Hauck is the co-founder of the popular photography project and blog, "Everybody Street Chicago," which celebrates the diverse street photography scene in the city.
My follow-up: What is Everybody Street Chicago?
My apologies for the typo. "Everybody Street Chicago" is a photography project and blog founded by Clayton Hauck and others. The project aims to showcase the diverse street photography scene in Chicago by featuring the work of various photographers who capture candid moments, scenes, and characters encountered on the city streets. It serves as a platform for photographers to share their perspectives and stories through their images, offering a unique glimpse into the vibrant urban life of Chicago.
Me again: Thatâs cool! When was this project founded?
The "Everybody Street Chicago" project was founded in 2010. Since then, it has grown to become a prominent platform for street photographers to share their work and perspectives on the dynamic urban landscape of Chicago.
None of this is true but my hunch is the AI dataset has some fragmented information about my past, including both that I have been a street photographer and that I started a website called EveryoneisFamous.com. The website was essentially how I self-taught myself photography and where I regularly posted my photos which mostly consisted of nightlife, parties, and music scenes, but not street photography.
This simple inaccuracy got me thinking about what my life could have been if instead of focusing on the party scene I instead focused on street photography and started a website revolving around that. Itâs a fairly common consideration Iâve been having latelyâchoosing between art photography and commercial photographyâso when AI suggested I perhaps lived an alternate timeline, it seemed both relevant and plausible!
Perhaps thereâs still time for me to get that popular street photography project up and running.
-Clayton
Two people walk down a street in Grand Detour, Illinois. February, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Recently, I asked ChatGPT if it knew me and its reply made me wonder if it perhaps has access to alternate universe. It told me:
Clayton Hauck is a photographer based in Chicago known for his documentary-style photography and his work capturing the city's culture, events, and everyday life. He has contributed to various publications and projects, showcasing his unique perspective on Chicago's urban landscape. Additionally, Hauck is the co-founder of the popular photography project and blog, "Everybody Street Chicago," which celebrates the diverse street photography scene in the city.
My follow-up: What is Everybody Street Chicago?
My apologies for the typo. "Everybody Street Chicago" is a photography project and blog founded by Clayton Hauck and others. The project aims to showcase the diverse street photography scene in Chicago by featuring the work of various photographers who capture candid moments, scenes, and characters encountered on the city streets. It serves as a platform for photographers to share their perspectives and stories through their images, offering a unique glimpse into the vibrant urban life of Chicago.
Me again: Thatâs cool! When was this project founded?
The "Everybody Street Chicago" project was founded in 2010. Since then, it has grown to become a prominent platform for street photographers to share their work and perspectives on the dynamic urban landscape of Chicago.
None of this is true but my hunch is the AI dataset has some fragmented information about my past, including both that I have been a street photographer and that I started a website called EveryoneisFamous.com. The website was essentially how I self-taught myself photography and where I regularly posted my photos which mostly consisted of nightlife, parties, and music scenes, but not street photography.
This simple inaccuracy got me thinking about what my life could have been if instead of focusing on the party scene Iâd focused on street photography and started a website revolving around that. Itâs a fairly common consideration Iâve been having latelyâbetween art photography and commercial photographyâso when AI suggested I perhaps lived an alternate timeline, it seemed both relevant and plausible!
Perhaps thereâs still time for me to get that popular street photography project up and running.
-Clayton
2024 03 11
May all your problems be boring
One of my favorite writers dropped a new substack (lol) that hit close to home. Tim Kreider is one of those writers who makes writing look fun and easy, like maybe something I could do if I put my mind to it. This is not to say I think writing is easy, but an appreciation of his skill for making it appear to be so. Like a person living a simple-yet-interesting life while occasionally heading to the computer to jot down some words along the way in exchange for money to keep the whole operation going. Are we allowed to start a sentance with the word like? I donât know, Iâm only a pretend writer.
Getting old is on my mind basically all the time now. Having just celebrated yet another birthday in what seems to be an increasingly-faster routine of numbers going up. Forty snuck up on me, as the end of my thirties was spent locked down in our house waiting out a global pandemic. This seems unfair to me but my problems are probably not so interesting to you. Instead, take a moment to read Timâs birthday wish contemplating life and getting older below.
âĄïž On Boring Problems
The former alderman is now retired and his suburban-style home, built thanks to being an insider able to bend the system to his own wishes, has seemingly moved on to places unknown. Time keeps on slipping.
Humboldt Park, Chicago, Illinois. February, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
May all your problems be boring
One of my favorite writers dropped a new substack (lol) that hit close to home. Tim Kreider is one of those writers who makes writing look fun and easy, like maybe something I could do if I put my mind to it. This is not to say I think writing is easy, but an appreciation of his skill for making it appear to be so. Like a person living a simple-yet-interesting life while occasionally heading to the computer to jot down some words along the way in exchange for money to keep the whole operation going. Are we allowed to start a sentance with the word like? I donât know, Iâm only a pretend writer.
Getting old is on my mind basically all the time now. Having just celebrated yet another birthday in what seems to be an increasingly-faster routine of numbers going up. Forty snuck up on me, as the end of my thirties was spent locked down in our house waiting out a global pandemic. This seems unfair to me but my problems are probably not so interesting to you. Instead, take a moment to read Timâs birthday wish contemplating life and getting older below.
âĄïž On Boring Problems
2024 03 10
In researching (aka looking for ideas to steal) video content to help me âpivot to videoâ six years too late to salvage my commercial photography career, I remembered a great website that was super inspiring back in the day called California is a Place. This website was super ahead of itâs time back then and the content holds up today, while serving me a nice reminder that filmmaking was my original passion that got me into this mess to begin with!
Anyway, time for me to make some videos.
-Clayton
Photographer Saverio Truglia loads in supplies for a photo shoot at See You Soon. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
In researching (aka looking for ideas to steal) video content to help me âpivot to videoâ six years too late to salvage my commercial photography career, I remembered a great website that was super inspiring back in the day called California is a Place. This website was super ahead of itâs time back then and the content holds up today, while serving me a nice reminder that filmmaking was my original passion that got me into this mess to begin with!
Anyway, time for me to make some videos.
-Clayton
2024 03 09
Uh oh â Iâm out of buffer! The wrap on my brain is being revealed to show Iâve run out of ideas only a few monthâs into this project!
Well, not really, but finding the time to do a daily post is proving to be more time consuming than Iâd anticipated. Iâm aiming to avoid simply plopping down an image with a meaningless sentence, but creating posts with deeper meaning is time consuming. If only we had a way to automate this process! (Kidding. Thatâs what AI is and yes Iâm still obsessing over it and how it is coming for all of our jobs).
Enjoy the weekend. Iâm off to think up more thoughts (have plenty of pictures).
-Clayton
Car under wraps in Chicagoâs Humboldt Park neighborhood. February, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Uh oh â Iâm out of buffer! The wrap on my brain is being revealed to show Iâve run out of ideas only a few monthâs into this project!
Well, not really, but finding the time to do a daily post is proving to be more time consuming than Iâd anticipated. Iâm aiming to avoid simply plopping down an image with a meaningless sentence, but creating posts with deeper meaning is time consuming. If only we had a way to automate this process! (Kidding. Thatâs what AI is and yes Iâm still obsessing over it and how it is coming for all of our jobs).
Enjoy the weekend. Iâm off to think up more thoughts (have plenty of pictures).
-Clayton
2024 03 08
Do you think dogs think humans are idiots? We put their poop in a little bag and carry it around with us then dispose of it in another bigger bag when clearly they wanted it right where they strategically dropped it.
Iâve come to think of dogs like graffiti artists, frantically leaving their mark on the landscape to let others know they exist and hopefully find some admirers.
-Clayton
Buddy the dogâs post-operation scar. October, 2023. Chicago, Illinois © Clayton Hauck
Do you think dogs think humans are idiots? We put their poop in a little bag and carry it around with us then dispose of it in another bigger bag when clearly they wanted it right where they strategically dropped it.
Iâve come to think of dogs like graffiti artists, frantically leaving their mark on the landscape to let others know they exist and hopefully find some admirers.
-Clayton
2024 03 07
Movie Idea: A man spends a lifetime attempting to figure everything out, does, then promptly dies.
-Clayton
Filmmaker, writer, director, actor, friend Kenneth Yoder caught in a moment. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2023. © Clayton Hauck
Movie Idea: A man spends a lifetime attempting to figure everything out, does, then promptly dies before writing it all down or telling someone about it.
Letâs make a movie!!
-Clayton
2024 03 06
Everyone is safe, which is all that matters. The moments during the fire, which woke you up in the middle of the night, confused, smelling smoke in the air, seeing the lights and the hearing the commotion out the window but unsure what was happening, are now seared into your brain. You step outside onto the back porch to try and gauge what is happening and see your neighbor rushing outside of his house. âEveryone is safe,â he yells up to you in a voice that doesnât sound like his own.
It is no longer a home but a place transformed into somewhere that something happened. The first floor is dirty, wet and disheveled as if I college keg party had taken place during the night only to have the participants flee from any cleanup responsibilities. There are streaks of mud on the floors and walls showing the movements of people at a different time. Walking up the stairs, the space is transformed into something unrecognizable. The ceiling and roof are missing, revealing charred wooden beams and a view of the late afternoon sky above. Coldness fills the air giving a clear feeling of abandonment. The floor everywhere is spongey and wet with debris scattered throughout, making movement difficult and dangerous. You get the sensation that the floor may be structurally compromised from all the weight of things.
I then realize this is likely the last time I will be in this place and, unknowingly, my last visit to this home had already occurred without me knowing it. Something monotonous that was actually meaningful. Everything has changed in a moment. The structure will need to be demolished and replaced with something new; it will be made from modern materials and of a modern design; another old growth, hand crafted, century old home lost to time, never to return. New people will eventually fill the space, completing the transition into something fully unfamiliar and new. One spark from a busted furnace altering the course of lives.
Itâs at this time you take to heart lifeâs fragile reality, rearrange your priorities a bit, and call your insurance broker to get some clarity on what your fire coverage is like in a worst-case scenario â the kind you previously never considered one day might happen to you.
-Clayton
Aftermath of a neighborsâ house fire. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Everyone is safe, which is all that matters. The moments during the fire, which woke you up in the middle of the night, confused, smelling smoke in the air, seeing the lights and the hearing the muffled commotion out the window but unsure what was happening, are now seared into your brain. You step outside onto the back porch to try and gauge what is happening and see your neighbor rushing outside of his house. âEveryone is safe,â he yells up to you in a voice that doesnât sound like his own.
It is no longer a home but a place transformed into somewhere that something happened. The first floor is dirty, wet and disheveled as if a college keg party had taken place during the night only to have the participants flee from any cleanup responsibilities. There are streaks of mud on the floors and walls showing the movements of people at a different time. Walking up the stairs, the space is transformed into something unrecognizable. The ceiling and roof are missing, revealing charred wooden beams and a view of the late afternoon sky above. Coldness fills the air giving a clear feeling of abandonment. The floor everywhere is spongey and wet with debris scattered throughout, making movement difficult and dangerous. You get the sensation that the floor may be structurally compromised from all the weight of things.
You then realize this is likely the last time you will be in this place and, unknowingly, your last visit to this home had already occurred without even knowing it. Something monotonous that was actually meaningful. Everything has changed in a moment. The structure will need to be demolished and replaced with something new; it will be made from modern materials and of a modern design; another old growth, hand crafted, century old home lost to time, never to return. New people will eventually fill the space, completing the transition into something fully unfamiliar and new. One spark from a busted furnace altering the course of lives.
Itâs at this time you take to heart lifeâs fragile reality, rearrange your priorities a bit, and call your insurance broker to get some clarity on what your fire coverage is like in a worst-case scenario â the kind you previously never considered one day might happen to you.
-Clayton
2024 03 05
While getting ready for the day this morning, NPR did a full hour on libraries. While this is a breath of fresh air in itâs own regard, it reminded me of the Mr Rogerâs Senate testimony video which I like to watch from time to time. If you havenât yet seen it yourself, take a moment to give it a watch!
-Clayton
Abandoned television. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2023. © Clayton Hauck
While getting ready for the day this morning, NPR did a full hour on libraries. While this is a breath of fresh air in itâs own regard, it reminded me of the Fred Rogers Senate testimony video which I like to watch from time to time. If you havenât yet seen it yourself, take a moment to give it a watch!
-Clayton
2024 03 04
As a way to get myself to watch less youtube videos, Iâm initiating a rule that if I watch a video I find worthwhile, I need to write about it on the ole daily photo blog.
As I was getting my morning coffee, they asked how I was. You know, the rhetorical âhow are you?" only I bit and mentioned my head was all jumbled up with a mess of thoughts because I spent too much time âreading about AI yesterday.â
âOh, what were you reading?â he asked back, genuinely interested in my peril.
âHeh. Well, I guess I wasnât actually reading but watching youtube videos,â I replied, ashamed of myself.
This, however, was not met with scorn from the young barista but an acknowledgment that youtube and reading are essentially the same thing. He then asked which channels, which I again had no idea how to reply because when youâre just doom hopping on youtube youâre not really paying close attention to the people behind the content.
âWell, she writes about economics but this one wasnât really about thatââ I rambled.
ââKyla?â he asked confidently.
Holy shit. Indeed it was a Kyla Scanlon video Why We Donât Trust Each Other Anymore Iâd watched which kicked off my spiral into AI doomerism (more on this video laterâagain, themâs the rules!). Itâs remarkable to me how much youtube has become a main vehicle of communication in our world both for mindless time such gibberish and highbrow philosophical economics theory.
But this post isnât about all that, itâs about how this Van Neistat video (linked below), which I watched (in the background) while trying (and failing) to get photo editing done, that really struck a nerve. I feel Iâm guilty of abandoning projects or simply not even beginning them because I too often have an issue giving myself a deadline. This video was helpful in examining this and I like how Van approaches his art even though itâs far too rigid for me to be able to implement myself â says the guy with a daily photo blog. Okay, well, at least Iâm making an attempt.
âPerfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can achieve excellence.â
â Vince Lombardi
Anyway, back to the photo editing. Enjoy the video.
-Clayton
Apartment complex I often photograph as I walk this stretch. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
As a way to get myself to watch less youtube videos, Iâm initiating a rule that if I watch a video I find worthwhile, I need to write about it on the ole daily photo blog.
As I was getting my morning coffee, they asked how I was. You know, the rhetorical âhow are you?" only I bit and mentioned my head was all jumbled up with a mess of thoughts because I spent too much time âreading about AI yesterday.â
âOh, what were you reading?â he asked back, genuinely interested in my peril.
âHeh. Well, I guess I wasnât actually reading but watching youtube videos,â I replied, ashamed of myself.
This, however, was not met with scorn from the young barista but an acknowledgment that youtube and reading are essentially the same thing. He then asked which channels, which I again had no idea how to reply because when youâre just doom hopping on youtube youâre not really paying close attention to the people behind the content.
âWell, she writes about economics but this one wasnât really about thatââ I rambled, attempting to salvage my dignity in this moment.
ââKyla?â he asked confidently.
Holy shit. Indeed it was a Kyla Scanlon video Why We Donât Trust Each Other Anymore Iâd watched which kicked off my spiral into AI doomerism (more on this video laterâagain, themâs the rules!). Itâs remarkable to me how much youtube has become a main vehicle of communication in our world both for mindless time-suck gibberish and highbrow philosophical economics theory.
âŠ
But this post isnât about all that, itâs about how this Van Neistat video (linked below), which I watched (in the background) while trying (and failing) to get photo editing done, really struck a nerve. I feel Iâm guilty of abandoning projects or simply not even beginning them largely because I too often have an issue giving myself a deadline or admitting a project is good enough to call it a wrap. This video was helpful in examining this mindset and I like how Van approaches his art even though itâs far too rigid for me to be able to implement myself â says the guy with a daily photo blog. Okay, well, at least Iâm making an attempt to implement some rules around here.
âPerfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can achieve excellence.â
Anyway, back to the photo editing. Enjoy the video.
-Clayton
2024 03 03
Now that weâre a few months into this blog, Iâm thinking I donât love the way things look on a desktop. The images are often too big, esp when vertical, to display fully and the text still has the issue of paragraph breaks displaying as line breaks without the extra bit of spacing to let them breath. I have no idea why (I think itâs a Squarespace bug) but these two issues have me thinking I should do a little visual reworking.
If you have any thoughts, Iâd love to hear them below!
-Clayton
Night street scene. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Now that weâre a few months into this blog, Iâm thinking I donât love the way things look on a desktop. The images are often too big, esp when vertical, to display fully and the text still has the issue of paragraph breaks displaying as line breaks without the extra bit of spacing to let them breath. I have no idea why (I think itâs a Squarespace bug) but these two issues have me thinking I should do a little visual reworking.
If you have any thoughts, Iâd love to hear them below ⊠in the comments ⊠which you can only see when you view the specific blog entry page, not on the homepage index.
Yeah, design changes.
-Clayton
2024 03 02
AI sources its âinspirationâ from existing imagery. They grab millions, if not billions, of images and feed them into a massive neural computer network. Many, if not most, of the images are made by artists with no interest in training a computer model. Some of the images are illegal. Child pornography that got sucked into the system in the corporate drive to automate systems to train other systems on the biggest pool of imagery possible.
What interests me is what happens in 5-10 years when (if?) most content is AI generated. It will become a Digital Doom Loop of artificial reality. AI systems training themselves on artificial material made by other AI systems ad infinitum. Language will shift based on what the computers interpret to be language. If we canât understand the computers, weâll lose our grip on them, so weâll be forced to bend to their automated will.
Anyway, have a nice weekend.
-Clayton
An outtake from my âKeep it 100â portrait sessions. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
AI sources its âinspirationâ from existing imagery. They grab millions, if not billions, of images and feed them into a massive neural computer network. Many, if not most, of the images are made by artists with no interest in training a computer model. Some of the images are illegal. Child pornography that got sucked into the system in the corporate drive to automate systems to train other systems on the biggest pool of imagery possible.
What interests me is what happens in 5-10 years when (if?) most content is AI generated. It will become a Digital Doom Loop of artificial reality. AI systems training themselves on artificial material made by other AI systems ad infinitum. Language will shift based on what the computers interpret to be language. If we canât understand the computers, weâll lose our grip on them, so weâll be forced to bend to their automated will.
Anyway, have a nice weekend.
-Clayton