2024 06 15

A fork in the road. Atlanta, Georgia. May, 2024. © Clayton Hauck

Gone Shootin’

I’m out today exploring Illinois and making photos for a personal project I haven’t said much about on here yet. None of the images I’ve made thus far have been posted here, or anywhere, and likely won’t be until I figure out whatever this project is going to become. It’s just a vague idea at this point and I’m seeing where it takes me. Really, the only guiding restriction is that images must be made within the state of Illinois and outside of Cook County (Chicago).

As I make images, I have been printing all my selects as 4x6” working prints to get a better feel for how they work, or don’t work. This has been a really enjoyable process, as the images hit so much harder (and different) when you can hold them in your hands. Also, I don’t need to apply a 10% Gaussian blur just to get the file size small enough, like here on this blog!

I’m so far getting quite a lot of wide landscape images, which are nice, but am lacking more impactful human moments. Certain photobooks are becoming a clear inspiration as to how this project takes shape. I will write more about those specific books to better understand what I like, or don’t like, about them. Realistically, this project will drag on for years, which I think I’m fine with. It’s also a nice excuse to explore areas I haven’t previously explored.

More on all this in the coming months (or years).

-Clayton