2024 06 18

Chicago peeking out from behind the clouds. May, 2024. © Clayton Hauck

I just got back from an assignment at Wrigley making portraits of one of their players, which was a lot of fun (and also hard ass work — it’s damn hot out there today!). As always, gaining a sliver of amazing access tops the list of why I (usually) love my job. We had a portrait setup in some VIP underground lounge I’d never been in and likely will never be in again. It had windows looking into one of the batting cages so you can watch the players warm up as if they are monkeys in the zoo (or perhaps you, sipping beers in the underground bar, are the monkey). Thru a few doors, we immediately ended up in the visitor’s dugout and then a few more steps up onto the field, where we did a second setup in the outfield among the ivy, with the iconic scoreboard in the backdrop.

Wrigley really is a special place, even after the neighborhood has been fully renovated. Today got me thinking back to 2016, which was amazing, but also had me pondering a regret. That summer, things just felt right, and I set out to both attend as many games as I could and document the entire season from a fan’s perspective. Sadly, my ambitions waned and I didn’t make good with myself on the photo project end of the deal, which remains a big bummer to me because, as we know now, they did end up winning the Series that year and I likely would’ve had a really special photobook project as a result. Even then, the rules weren’t as harsh as they are now and you could bring in nicer cameras and wander the stadium a bit just making images. Now, you need a special pass to do or go anywhere and games cost so much money, we hardly ever go.

Ho hum. Let’s play two! (I’m off to go shoot more, today)

-Clayton