2024 08 30
I’m standing in a cheap motel room outside of Pittsburgh with the clock ticking yet again dangerously close to missing a day of posting to this here blog. I’m amazed by how economic we’ll call it American hotel designs have become in a never-ending race towards maximizing profitability. Floors and walls seemingly made of cardboard and shower towels becoming so small they have nearly disappeared completely. But for simply sleeping eight or so hours, I’ll put up with all of this as long as the room is cheap, clean, and the bed is somewhat comfortable.
On my drive out here from Baltimore, I was reminded of a photo project I’d been wanting to do, which I never will do, due to it requiring a ridiculous amount of time to execute with likely underwhelming results. The idea is cute, though! While driving, my car’s navigation will often show me businesses that are located within residential neighborhoods. Usually they are expected (Haircuts by Jenn, Remarkable Wedding DJ Stan, etc), however, sometimes they are hilariously grand (International Shipping Inc, Global Finance Consulting, etc). I thought it would be fun to photograph these wildly ambitious corporate headquarters to create a series of images of mostly modest houses juxtaposed with the grand legal names. But the years of time it would take to compile this project is depressing when you consider Ai could build you similar-looking results in approximately ten seconds.
Side note: I drove past Baltimore Photo Space on my way out of town after an amazing taco dinner at Clavel and peered into the window with lustful eyes. Sadly, an actual visit to BPS will need to wait until who-knows-whenever I can get my ass back to Baltimore and be there on a Saturday morning.
-Clayton
Another day. Another ordinary house photo. Or is it? Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
I’m standing in a cheap motel room outside of Pittsburgh with the clock ticking yet again dangerously close to missing a day of posting to this here blog. I’m amazed by how economic we’ll call it American hotel designs have become in a never-ending race towards maximizing profitability. Floors and walls seemingly made of cardboard and shower towels becoming so small they have nearly disappeared completely. But for simply sleeping eight or so hours, I’ll put up with all of this as long as the room is cheap, clean, and the bed is somewhat comfortable.
On my drive out here from Baltimore, I was reminded of a photo project I’d been wanting to do, which I never will do, due to it requiring a ridiculous amount of time to execute with likely underwhelming results. The idea is cute, though! While driving, my car’s navigation will often show me businesses that are located within residential neighborhoods. Usually they are expected (Haircuts by Jenn, Remarkable Wedding DJ Stan, etc), however, sometimes they are hilariously grand (International Shipping Inc, Global Finance Consulting, etc). I thought it would be fun to photograph these wildly ambitious corporate headquarters to create a series of images of mostly modest houses juxtaposed with the grand legal names. But the years of time it would take to compile this project is depressing when you consider Ai could build you similar-looking results in approximately ten seconds.
Side note: I drove past Baltimore Photo Space on my way out of town after an amazing taco dinner at Clavel and peered into the window with lustful eyes. Sadly, an actual visit to BPS will need to wait until who-knows-whenever I can get my ass back to Baltimore and be there on a Saturday morning.
-Clayton
2024 07 19
Having just returned from some restful days up in Wisconsin’s 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 it’s the city slicker in me, but my favorite thing about visiting up north is exploring the bars and restaurants.
I’m not entirely sure why I’m drawn to bars so much. This would be a topic worth pondering in a longer post, for sure. But I think largely it’s 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 we’re all hanging out there for more or less the same reason. It’s okay to engage and explore. Saddle up and order me a round and let’s find some common ground. I’m not sure why I’m dipping into cowboy slang but that’s just the kind of thing the bar does to a guy.
-Clayton
The scene inside Electric Funeral, a new bar in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. June, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Having just returned from some restful days up in Wisconsin’s 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 it’s the city slicker in me, but my favorite thing about visiting up north is exploring the bars and restaurants.
I’m not entirely sure why I’m drawn to bars so much. This would be a topic worth pondering in a longer post, for sure. But I think largely it’s 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 we’re all hanging out there for more or less the same reason. It’s okay to engage and explore. Saddle up and order me a round and let’s find some common ground. I’m not sure why I’m dipping into cowboy slang but that’s just the kind of thing the bar does to a guy.
-Clayton