2024 10 16
Sadly, Iām here to announce the end of this here blog. While we didnāt quite hit our goal of one year of continuous daily blogging, I think we should be proud of the two-hundred and eighty some odd days we did complete!
For those of you who are curious about why the sudden end is necessary, let me explain. Today I was offered a job I couldnāt say no to. The Listerine company has a viral marketing division and Iāve accepted the role of clandestine marketer for the Chicago region. Basically, my job will be to attend six to ten karaoke events nightly and sing Bushās hit song āGlycerineā, while humorously swapping out the title word for that of my new employer, Americaās best mouthwash brand, Listerine. Perks of the job include free mouth mash and one draft beer at each location to help me blend in with the crowd. Iām excited for the opportunity to push the Listerine brand forward and help America keep our teeth looking sparkly clean. Also, if youād be so kind to follow my TikTok account @BushMegaFanG, I would super appreciate it. If I get a post to go viral, I get really nice job perks, such as lunch with the CEO at Applebeeās or additional drink tickets, which I can also trade in for their cash value if I decide not to consume the alcohol and instead sneak a decoy beer container into the bar to appear like a regular customer.
Anyway. Thanks so much for stopping by and Iāll see you at karaoke!!
-BushMegaFanG
Bar whoopsie. Ocean City, Maryland. September, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Sadly, Iām here to announce the end of this here blog. While we didnāt quite hit our goal of one year of continuous daily blogging, I think we should be proud of the two-hundred and eighty some odd days we did complete!
For those of you who are curious about why the sudden end is necessary, let me explain. Today I was offered a job I couldnāt say no to. The Listerine company has a viral marketing division and Iāve accepted the role of clandestine marketer for the Chicago region. Basically, my job will be to attend six to ten karaoke events nightly and sing Bushās hit song āGlycerineā, while humorously swapping out the title word for that of my new employer, Americaās best mouthwash brand, Listerine. Perks of the job include free mouth mash and one draft beer at each location to help me blend in with the crowd. Iām excited for the opportunity to push the Listerine brand forward and help America keep our teeth looking sparkly clean. Also, if youād be so kind to follow my TikTok account @BushMegaFanG, I would super appreciate it. If I get a post to go viral, I get really nice job perks, such as lunch with the CEO at Applebeeās or additional drink tickets, which I can also trade in for their cash value if I decide not to consume the alcohol and instead sneak a decoy beer container into the bar to appear like a regular customer.
Anyway. Thanks so much for stopping by and Iāll see you at karaoke!!
-BushMegaFanG
2024 10 05
I started writing this after hearing Jon Stewartās interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates and continued writing it this morning while listening to a This American Lifeās episode from firsthand accounts of the kidnappings in Israel/Gaza, along with seeing this tweet about a possible impending strike or invasion of Iran happening right now.
I wonāt claim to have any answers or point any fingers. I am merely trying to better understand, which, if I did have any ideas on what to do, it would be this (while acknowledging that mass-understanding is a remarkably hard, if not impossible, task).
Ta-Nehisi Coates said something on Jon Stewart that really stuck with me. On his recent trip to Lebanon, he was struck by the simple act of hearing, from Palestinians, what their issues are. Itās a common-sense idea that usually goes ignored. Hearing, and understanding, the perspective of the other side. Once you realize they are also humans with similar thoughts and concerns as yourself, it becomes quite hard to justify the endless bombing campaign being made against them.
Tit for tat forever.
The conflicts in the Middle East are vastly complicated to the point they have become a cliche. Personally, Iāve been critical of Israelās handling of their response to the brutal invasion of their territory, in large part because I have been to Lebanon and talked with Palestinians myself. They were sane, and logical, and passionate. One guy, roughly my age, told me he would never in his lifetime be okay with Israelā¦ existing. Then we went and casually grabbed beers at a bar (where he also described horrific events that happened during the previous war). These extreme thoughts and ideas are commonplace on both sides because of the decades of back-and-forth violence and escalation.
Once you see this perspective firsthand, you realize the price that will need to be paid in order for one side to get their way, and it quickly becomes untenable. Surely, diplomacy is the only possible solution, and for that you need give, not just take.
This is all to say, I also think Israel has been right and justified to an extent. Both sides are guilty of horrible behavior and both sides have been victims of it as well. When you are the clearly dominant force, as is Israel and the United States in most conflicts to have taken place in our lifetime, if you act as the bully you should expect the bruise to your reputation. What worries me most about this conflict, which gets largely ignored, is that itās not as one-sided as most people realize. Iran is an active participant. That is where things can snowball, quickly. That is where I now fear Israel sees an āopportunityā to act, now, swiftly and dramatically, in order to cease the moment, regardless the consequences.
Weāll eventually reach a tipping point and opinions will change. Possibly after millions of people are dead ā but letās pray it doesnāt come to that. Itās ironic that religion is so much at the core of these issues because praying is really the only option for most of us looking on in horror at what is now playing out. Praying, and hopefully, despite the darkness, a bit of understanding.
-Clayton
Money: the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems! St Germain, Wisconsin. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I started writing this after hearing Jon Stewartās interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates and continued writing it this morning while listening to a This American Lifeās episode from firsthand accounts of the kidnappings in Israel/Gaza, along with seeing this tweet about a possible impending strike or invasion of Iran happening right now.
I wonāt claim to have any answers or point any fingers. I am merely trying to better understand, which, if I did have any ideas on what to do, it would be this (while acknowledging that mass-understanding is a remarkably hard, if not impossible, task).
Ta-Nehisi Coates said something on Jon Stewart that really stuck with me. On his recent trip to Lebanon, he was struck by the simple act of hearing, from Palestinians, what their issues are. Itās a common-sense idea that usually goes ignored. Hearing, and understanding, the perspective of the other side. Once you realize they are also humans with similar thoughts and concerns as yourself, it becomes quite hard to justify the endless bombing campaign being made against them.
Tit for tat forever.
The conflicts in the Middle East are vastly complicated to the point they have become a cliche. Personally, Iāve been critical of Israelās handling of their response to the brutal invasion of their territory, in large part because I have been to Lebanon and talked with Palestinians myself. They were sane, and logical, and passionate. One guy, roughly my age, told me he would never in his lifetime be okay with Israelā¦ existing. Then we went and casually grabbed beers at a bar (where he also described horrific events that happened during the previous war). These extreme thoughts and ideas are commonplace on both sides because of the decades of back-and-forth violence and escalation.
Once you see this perspective firsthand, you realize the price that will need to be paid in order for one side to get their way, and it quickly becomes untenable. Surely, diplomacy is the only possible solution, and for that you need give, not just take.
This is all to say, I also think Israel has been right and justified to an extent. Both sides are guilty of horrible behavior and both sides have been victims of it as well. When you are the clearly dominant force, as is Israel and the United States in most conflicts to have taken place in our lifetime, if you act as the bully you should expect the bruise to your reputation. What worries me most about this conflict, which gets largely ignored, is that itās not as one-sided as most people realize. Iran is an active participant. That is where things can snowball, quickly. That is where I now fear Israel sees an āopportunityā to act, now, swiftly and dramatically, in order to cease the moment, regardless the consequences.
Weāll eventually reach a tipping point and opinions will change. Possibly after millions of people are dead ā but letās pray it doesnāt come to that. Itās ironic that religion is so much at the core of these issues because praying is really the only option for most of us looking on in horror at what is now playing out. Praying, and hopefully, despite the darkness, a bit of understanding.
-Clayton
2024 07 19
Having just returned from some restful days up in Wisconsinās Northwoods (we stay in St Germain each summer), I was thinking on what it is I like most about being up there. Yes, the lake it nice; taking the boat out for a leisurely ride. Yes, the nature and trees and fire pit and beach are all great. Viewing the starts on a clear night sky is incredible. Perhaps itās the city slicker in me, but my favorite thing about visiting up north is exploring the bars and restaurants.
Iām not entirely sure why Iām drawn to bars so much. This would be a topic worth pondering in a longer post, for sure. But I think largely itās a combination of my introverted nature and need for observation. While this may sound contradictory, the bar offers me a space I can let my imagination work and provides my mind with stimulation: people talking and moving, music and clinking glassware, interesting sunlight and backlit bar shelves. When you mix in some alcohol to the equation, it allows me to let my guard down just enough to engage in the setting and participate in the action.
This may all sound like common sense to a normal fella, but for someone with an endless supply of social anxieties, the bar provides an understanding that weāre all hanging out there for more or less the same reason. Itās okay to engage and explore. Saddle up and order me a round and letās find some common ground. Iām not sure why Iām dipping into cowboy slang but thatās just the kind of thing the bar does to a guy.
-Clayton
The scene inside Electric Funeral, a new bar in Chicagoās Bridgeport neighborhood. June, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Having just returned from some restful days up in Wisconsinās Northwoods (we stay in St Germain each summer), I was thinking on what it is I like most about being up there. Yes, the lake it nice; taking the boat out for a leisurely ride. Yes, the nature and trees and fire pit and beach are all great. Viewing the starts on a clear night sky is incredible. Perhaps itās the city slicker in me, but my favorite thing about visiting up north is exploring the bars and restaurants.
Iām not entirely sure why Iām drawn to bars so much. This would be a topic worth pondering in a longer post, for sure. But I think largely itās a combination of my introverted nature and need for observation. While this may sound contradictory, the bar offers me a space I can let my imagination work and provides my mind with stimulation: people talking and moving, music and clinking glassware, interesting sunlight and backlit bar shelves. When you mix in some alcohol to the equation, it allows me to let my guard down just enough to engage in the setting and participate in the action.
This may all sound like common sense to a normal fella, but for someone with an endless supply of social anxieties, the bar provides an understanding that weāre all hanging out there for more or less the same reason. Itās okay to engage and explore. Saddle up and order me a round and letās find some common ground. Iām not sure why Iām dipping into cowboy slang but thatās just the kind of thing the bar does to a guy.
-Clayton
2024 05 17
Putting yourself out there as an artist is rather daunting. Iāve long preferred the more transactional method of calling myself an editorial and commercial photographer. I have what someone wants (a skill in making nice images) and they have something I want (money, and sometimes exposure). Itās a deal! Although, the money side of the deal is proving to be increasingly challenging these days, which is a topic for another day. In part because of the increasingly changing photography landscape (more supply, less demand) and in part because Iām getting older and wanting to focus more on things I want to focus on, Iāve been turning a bit more towards calling myself, and acting like, an artist.
While this artful pivot is still a slow-moving work-in-progress, Iām finding my brain is becoming a bit more in tune with the things needed to move down the path towards art. Things that a younger me would decide are deal-breakers, an older me sees more as fun challenges and absurd realities that can further fuel my drive to create things. I realize Iām being quite vague here, however, most of what Iām referencing boils down to sales. Things I rather dislike about my current reality in the commercial photography world (selling yourself by any means possible) are also things that successful (not always good) artists also understand and excel at. Always Be Closing.
I have no idea if Iāll ever become a successful artist, as taking myself seriously enough is a challenge I may never overcome. Pricing an image or art piece at $10,000 because itās worth it is something I find much harder to do when the prospective buyer is the general public, as it immediately rules out 99% of the population and means your buyer will be a rich collector or investor type, and I fancy myself more a man of the people. Defense Mechanism Alert!
But who am I kidding, really? I currently sell my images for $10,000 to corporations, who can afford it, while thinking this is a more justified and acceptable path. Is it?
via Allison Schragerās Known Unknowns substack:
Becoming a successful artist these days takes jumping through a series of hoops: the Yale MFA, showing at the right galleries, andāif you are luckyābeing featured at events like the Biennial. It is hard to imagine that anyone who works at any of these places would indulge an artist who doesnāt adhere to the doctrine.
But that is also the case for many of our most elite institutions, in consulting, media, academiaā¦āpretty much everywhere. And the result is more predictability and less creativity. Donāt take this as an anti-woke rant. Some of the institutions I have in mind are not woke by any stretch, but they still demand a certain type of employee who went to a certain type of school and is conformist in nature. And this really matters in a winner-take-all economy, because climbing to the top of these institutions, or affiliation with them, is important, at least more important than it used to be. No wonder productivity is down.
I liked this quote above from Allison because it showcases how the art world is largely structured and guarded just like any other line of work. This idea is originally what kept away from the art world but these days is more so pushing me towards it.
My 40ās will be interesting as I have no idea where I will be in another ten years. The landscape may change so much Iāll be forced to move to a trade (certified arborist, here I come!) and leave photography altogether; or perhaps weāll all be living easy off our universal basic income checks. But for now: Fine, art.
-Clayton
Parking lot cat. Rockford, Illinois. March, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Putting yourself out there as an artist is rather daunting. Iāve long preferred the more transactional method of calling myself an editorial and commercial photographer. I have what someone wants (a skill in making nice images) and they have something I want (money, and sometimes exposure). Itās a deal! Although, the money side of the deal is proving to be increasingly challenging these days, which is a topic for another day. In part because of the increasingly changing photography landscape (more supply, less demand) and in part because Iām getting older and wanting to focus more on things I want to focus on, Iāve been turning a bit more towards calling myself, and acting like, an artist.
While this artful pivot is still a slow-moving work-in-progress, Iām finding my brain is becoming a bit more in tune with the things needed to move down the path towards art. Things that a younger me would decide are deal-breakers, an older me sees more as fun challenges and absurd realities that can further fuel my drive to create things. I realize Iām being quite vague here, however, most of what Iām referencing boils down to sales. Things I rather dislike about my current reality in the commercial photography world (selling yourself by any means possible) are also things that successful (not always good) artists also understand and excel at. Always Be Closing.
I have no idea if Iāll ever become a successful artist, as taking myself seriously enough is a challenge I may never overcome. Pricing an image or art piece at $10,000 because itās worth it is something I find much harder to do when the prospective buyer is the general public, as it immediately rules out 99% of the population and means your buyer will be a rich collector or investor type, and I fancy myself more a man of the people. Defense Mechanism Alert!
But who am I kidding, really? I currently sell my images for $10,000 to corporations, who can afford it, while thinking this is a more justified and acceptable path. Is it?
via Allison Schragerās Known Unknowns substack:
Becoming a successful artist these days takes jumping through a series of hoops: the Yale MFA, showing at the right galleries, andāif you are luckyābeing featured at events like the Biennial. It is hard to imagine that anyone who works at any of these places would indulge an artist who doesnāt adhere to the doctrine.
But that is also the case for many of our most elite institutions, in consulting, media, academiaā¦āpretty much everywhere. And the result is more predictability and less creativity. Donāt take this as an anti-woke rant. Some of the institutions I have in mind are not woke by any stretch, but they still demand a certain type of employee who went to a certain type of school and is conformist in nature. And this really matters in a winner-take-all economy, because climbing to the top of these institutions, or affiliation with them, is important, at least more important than it used to be. No wonder productivity is down.
I liked this quote above from Allison because it showcases how the art world is largely structured and guarded just like any other line of work. This idea is originally what kept away from the art world but these days is more so pushing me towards it.
My 40ās will be interesting as I have no idea where I will be in another ten years. The landscape may change so much Iāll be forced to move to a trade (certified arborist, here I come!) and leave photography altogether; or perhaps weāll all be living easy off our universal basic income checks. But for now: Fine, art.
-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. Iām not going to dive deep into my take on what they discussed in this blog (maybe another day? Definitely a topic Iāve been stewing on a lot lately), but I did want to pass it along in case any of yāall 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 itās 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. Ā© 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. Iām not going to dive deep into my take on what they discussed in this blog (maybe another day? Definitely a topic Iāve 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 yāall 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 itās 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 02 26
Video gets most of the attention these days, however, a well done project using still photography and words is way more impactful in my humble opinion. Video allows the viewer to become passive, while static words and imagery sets the scene and forces the viewer to stay engaged ā allowing their own brain, filled with memories and emotions, to fill in gaps and build a more dense narrative.
Again, in my humble opinion. It takes more effort, though, and distractions are a dime a dozen these days, so we mostly want our content served up to us in video format.
This ProPublica story which popped into my inbox this morning had me floored by its brilliance and tragedy. Such a masterfully done example of the power photojournalism still has when time and energy is dedicated to it. Photographer Stacy Kranitz is forever a favorite of mine and this story is why. Powerful images paired with unvarnished truth, moving us to better understand the world we live in and are a part of.
Please take a moment to take in this project! https://projects.propublica.org/the-year-after-a-denied-abortion/
From the Editorās Note: Mayron said she let journalists document her life in intimate detail because she wanted people to āsee for themselves and feel it in their own livesā her familyās struggles in raising two babies after a traumatic pregnancy and while recovering from a history of addiction.
-Clayton
A High Life bottle sits atop a bar table at Reedās Local, Chicago, Illinois. January, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Video gets most of the attention these days, however, a well done project using still photography and words is way more impactful in my humble opinion. Video allows the viewer to become passive, while static words and imagery sets the scene and forces the viewer to stay engaged ā allowing their own brain, filled with memories and emotions, to fill in gaps and build a more dense narrative.
Again, in my humble opinion. It takes more effort, though, and distractions are a dime a dozen these days, so we mostly want our content served up to us in video format.
This ProPublica story which popped into my inbox this morning had me floored by its brilliance and tragedy. Such a masterfully done example of the power photojournalism still has when time and energy is dedicated to it. Photographer Stacy Kranitz is forever a favorite of mine and this story is why. Powerful images paired with unvarnished truth, moving us to better understand the world we live in and are a part of.
Please take a moment to take in this project! https://projects.propublica.org/the-year-after-a-denied-abortion/
From the Editorās Note: Mayron said she let journalists document her life in intimate detail because she wanted people to āsee for themselves and feel it in their own livesā her familyās struggles in raising two babies after a traumatic pregnancy and while recovering from a history of addiction.
-Clayton
2024 02 16
I donāt have kids, I have a daily photo blogā¦
Also, nobody seems to be having kids these days, which I think goes a long way in explaining why things have gotten so weird. Without kids, people have time to stew on things, discuss vibes in comment sections and on Reddit. Without kids, people turn civil unrest into a hobby and start voting for whoever fans the flames of chaos. Kids are hectic and require massive amounts of attention and, in that, they are also a stabilizing force for society.
But I donāt have a farm to plow and child labor laws are pretty tough these days, so putting little Jimmy to work at the photo studio might be frowned upon, so what does a kid get me other than yet another unpaid-full-time job? Am I being selfish not having kids while my friends who do have children to, you know, keep humanity moving forward, are stuck raising theirs? Honestly, yeah I think we, the childless folks, are being a bit selfish. But are we also being selfish in exploding the global population from a few billion people one hundred years ago to eight billion people today? Also, yes! Elon yells about demographics because itās going to fuck the rich and powerful more than anyone once population growth reverses course and there are fewer people to buy the trinkets being pumped out in Chinese factories (also losing population, so increasingly made by robots).
The takeaway? Shit will continue to be weird for as long as weāre alive. Not having kids is both selfish and thoughtful from an environmental perspective.
They are pretty damn cute, though. I think I might have a few.
-Clayton
The California Clipper, one of Chicagoās great watering holes and where I personally picked up a drinking habit a few decades back, as seen on a cold winterās night. December, 2023. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I donāt have kids, I have a daily photo blogā¦
Also, nobody seems to be having kids these days, which I think goes a long way in explaining why things have gotten so weird. Without kids, people have time to stew on things, discuss vibes in comment sections and on Reddit. Without kids, people turn civil unrest into a hobby and start voting for whoever fans the flames of chaos. Kids are hectic and require massive amounts of attention and, in that, they are also a stabilizing force for society.
But I donāt have a farm to plow and child labor laws are pretty tough these days, so putting little Jimmy to work at the photo studio might be frowned upon, so what does a kid get me other than yet another unpaid-full-time job? Am I being selfish not having kids while my friends who do have children to, you know, keep humanity moving forward, are stuck raising theirs? Honestly, yeah I think we, the childless folks, are being a bit selfish. But are we also being selfish in exploding the global population from a few billion people one hundred years ago to eight billion people today? Also, yes! Elon yells about demographics because itās going to fuck the rich and powerful more than anyone once population growth reverses course and there are fewer people to buy the trinkets being pumped out in Chinese factories (also losing population, so increasingly made by robots).
The takeaway? Shit will continue to be weird for as long as weāre alive. Not having kids is both selfish and thoughtful from an environmental perspective.
They are pretty damn cute, though. I think I might have a few.
-Clayton