2024 12 31
Becoming a Bar Owner in 2025
Today is New Years Eve ā who wouldnāt want to own a bar on New Years Eve?!$!$?
This is slight sarcasm. Iām not a huge fan of crowded gatherings, and am generally of mixed feelings on socializing generally, however, I love bars. I could spend every day in a bar (not necessarily drinking, I like the vibes and the human dynamic, mom!) and Iāve long wanted to own a bar, though had never made a serious effort to do so myself ā until this year. While itās true I did make an effort to re-open some kind of bar/restaurant concept in the former Orkenoy space inside the Kimball Arts Center (where my studio is located), the level of my effort was fairly minimal. It didnāt go far beyond talking to basically everyone I know about it. Thinking, talking, researching, talking, thinking. Enough time went by that the space got leased out to an office tenant and the dream diedā¦ sort of.
Now, thereās another bar on the market and available that checks most of my boxes and is already quite aligned on concept (at least one concept Iāve been stewing on). Still, this idea is quite a long shot at this point, but itās one Iām seriously considering. Much like the photobook shop dream and having a family member in that business, I also have family on both sides of the bar business (ownership and alcoholism). The latter reality causes both of my parents to think this is a terrible idea, and their perspective needs to be considered.
Of course, owning a bar introduces a slew of other new challenges and life adjustments. It would be a 180-degree career pivot and I would realistically need to give up most, if not all, of my photography ambitions. This is the main reason Iāve mostly been stewing on the idea rather than acting on it. But with the commercial photo landscape being quite down from where it once was and its future also very much in question, the idea started to sound like it might actually make some sense (and, possibly, cents).
One of my biggest takeaways from the last three years of running a studio is how much Iāve enjoyed curating and hosting events. Iām going to dig more into this topic in a few days, however, there are quite a lot of parallels to what Iām already doing today with owning and operating a bar; Iām just currently doing it without a liquor license.
My two biggest takeaways from investigating the bar idea further were:
First, that I bring more to the table than I had realized! It was an ego-boost of sorts, hearing confidence from a number of people, including a partner at a big restaurant group, that I should open a bar and that I have more to offer than I gave myself credit for. My self-deprecating style had initially caused me to doubt the whole endeavor strictly because I have no experience running a bar myself.
Second, and even more reassuringly, was the amount of help, openness, and enthusiasm I received from existing bar owners and operators that I reached out to for advice. Initially, I was hesitant to even do so, thinking they would see me more as future competition. In reality, I had people sending me complicated documents filled with projections and numbers I wouldāve never considered; I had people coming out to see the space and give me their honest, experienced opinions; I had people running numbers for me and giving me free consultation. It was a reassuring experience, and while I know running a bar would be wildly challenging and likely all-consuming, I love the idea that I wouldnāt be doing it alone.
On that note, back to stewing on it. Until then, if anyone wants to invest $20,000-$100,000 into an exciting new bar opportunity, you know where to find me!
-Clayton
One of my many bar inspirations: Sportsmanās Club. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Becoming a Bar Owner in 2025
Today is New Years Eve ā who wouldnāt want to own a bar on New Years Eve?!$!$?
This is slight sarcasm. Iām not a huge fan of crowded gatherings, and have mixed feelings on socializing generally, however, I love bars. I could spend every day in a bar (not necessarily drinking, I like the vibes and the human dynamic, mom!) and Iāve long wanted to own a bar, though had never made a serious effort to do so myself ā until this year. While itās true I did make an effort to re-open some kind of bar/restaurant concept in the former Orkenoy space inside the Kimball Arts Center (where my studio is located), the level of my effort was fairly minimal. It didnāt go far beyond talking to basically everyone I know about it. Thinking, talking, researching, talking, thinking. Enough time went by that the space got leased out to an office tenant and the dream diedā¦ sort of.
Now, thereās another bar on the market and available that checks most of my boxes and is already quite aligned on concept (at least one concept Iāve been stewing on). Still, this idea is quite a long shot at this point, but itās one Iām seriously considering. Much like the photobook shop dream and having a family member in that business, I also have family on both sides of the bar business (ownership and alcoholism). The latter reality causes both of my parents to think this is a terrible idea, and their perspective needs to be considered.
Of course, owning a bar introduces a slew of other new challenges and life adjustments. It would be a 180-degree career pivot and I would realistically need to give up most, if not all, of my photography ambitions. This is the main reason Iāve mostly been stewing on the idea rather than acting on it. But with the commercial photo landscape being quite down from where it once was and its future also very much in question, the idea started to sound like it might actually make some sense (and, possibly, cents).
One of my biggest takeaways from the last three years of running a studio is how much Iāve enjoyed curating and hosting events. Iām going to dig more into this topic in a few days, however, there are quite a lot of parallels to what Iām already doing today with owning and operating a bar; Iām just currently doing it without a liquor license.
My two biggest takeaways from investigating the bar idea further were:
First, that I bring more to the table than I had realized! It was an ego-boost of sorts, hearing confidence from a number of people, including a partner at a big restaurant group, that I should open a bar and that I have more to offer than I gave myself credit for. My self-deprecating style had initially caused me to doubt the whole endeavor strictly because I have no experience running a bar myself.
Second, and even more reassuringly, was the amount of help, openness, and enthusiasm I received from existing bar owners and operators that I reached out to for advice. Initially, I was hesitant to even do so, thinking they would see me more as future competition. In reality, I had people sending me complicated documents filled with projections and numbers I wouldāve never considered; I had people coming out to see the space and give me their honest, experienced opinions; I had people running numbers for me and giving me free consultation. It was a reassuring experience, and while I know running a bar would be wildly challenging and likely all-consuming, I love the idea that I wouldnāt be doing it alone.
On that note, back to stewing on it. Until then, if anyone wants to invest $10,000-$100,000 into an exciting new bar opportunity, you know where to find me!
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of posts, see 2024 12 25.
2024 12 30
Becoming a Portrait Studio Photographer in 2025
Iāve been quite humbled in the last few years by the difficulty in attracting people to give you money to take their portrait. Just because you have a photo studio doesnāt make you a professional portrait photographer. Itās been a re-learning experience to figure out what people want from me and what people are willing to pay me for it, when pursuing portrait clients. That said, being a portrait photographer has never been a focus of mine and Iāve sort of actively avoided this my entire photography career, as I didnāt have a studio and it always felt like more work than it was worth. To be honest, my insight is that people donāt have much money to put towards portraits and expectations are high for the little money they will pay (I realize my perspective is a bit warped as a commercial and editorial photographer). What mightāve been a no-brainer career pursuit a decade ago is now challenging and perhaps not advisable.
All that said, I think I finally got to a place where I have things a bit more figured out. My āKeep it 100ā portrait sessions, heavily inspired by a similar setup done down in Nashville by Jeremy Cowart, have been both a ton of fun and a bit more financially justified. I have a longer post in the works that goes into further detail on the backstory and process, however, I will say that providing an amazing service (on hundred fun and unique portraits for $150) does wonders for word of mouth and in more recent months, Iāve built up some real demand for this service. This has me wondering if I should make portraits a more regular offering at the studio.
Additionally, I recently saw some work from Ivan Weiss, a London-based studio portrait photographer, that further inspired me to want to focus more of my time on offering a more well-rounded portrait studio experience. While thereās a lot of potential to make really great work, there are also real expenses involved (backdrops, cameras and lenses, lighting) that make this approach less appealing to me. Then, thereās the even more challenging reality of finding higher end clients that are both willing to spend more appropriate amounts of money ($600 and up!) on great images, while also maintaining the creative approach that inspires me to want to do this. The challenges are so great that I will likely stick with the lower end approach. Keep it quick, easy, and affordable, while also making it low stakes enough for me to experiment, get weird, and have some fun along the way.
One other idea I hope to explore is to turn my more affordable āKeep it 100ā portrait model into a more of a social experience. In a previous life, I ran a website called everyoneisfamous.com, in which I would go out to parties and shows, take a bunch of candid pictures of people, and then post them to the photo blog. I like the idea of dusting off the website and making it more studio portrait approach, in which anyone who wants to participate will get their images on the public website for others to see. We could then offer the setup out in the wild at various events and perhaps even bring the whole thing on the road and do it in other cities. That all gets me excited and feels like a model that might make sense, as part of the payment then becomes exposure for myself and my portrait setup, thus allowing me to keep my rates low enough for anyone to participate.
-Clayton
āKeep it 100ā studio portrait featuring Serina. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Becoming a Portrait Studio Photographer in 2025
Iāve been quite humbled in the last few years by the difficulty in attracting people to give you money to take their portrait. Just because you have a photo studio doesnāt make you a professional portrait photographer. Itās been a re-learning experience to figure out what people want from me and what people are willing to pay me for it, when pursuing portrait clients. That said, being a portrait photographer has never been a focus of mine and Iāve sort of actively avoided this my entire photography career, as I didnāt have a studio and it always felt like more work than it was worth. To be honest, my insight is that people donāt have much money to put towards portraits and expectations are high for the little money they will pay (I realize my perspective is a bit warped as a commercial and editorial photographer). What mightāve been a no-brainer career pursuit a decade ago is now challenging and perhaps not advisable.
All that said, I think I finally got to a place where I have things a bit more figured out, in a way that works for me. My āKeep it 100ā portrait sessions, inspired by a similar setup done down in Nashville by Jeremy Cowart, have been both a ton of fun and a bit more financially justified. I have a longer post in the works that goes into further detail on the backstory and process, however, I will say that providing an amazing service (one hundred fun and unique portraits for [currently] $150) does wonders for word of mouth. In more recent months, Iāve built up some real demand for this service largely due to the affordability and simplicity (though the setup is quite detailed). This has me thinking I should make portraits a more consistent and regular offering at the studio next year.
Additionally, I recently saw some work from Ivan Weiss, a London-based studio portrait photographer, that further inspired me to want to focus more of my time on offering a more well-rounded portrait studio experience. While thereās a lot of potential to make really great work, there are also real expenses involved (backdrops, cameras and lenses, lighting) that make this approach less appealing to me. Then, thereās the even more challenging reality of finding higher end clients that are both willing to spend a more appropriate amount of money ($600 and up!) on great images, while also maintaining the creative approach that inspires me to want to do this. The challenges are so great that I will likely stick with the lower end approach. Keep it quick, easy, and affordable, while also making it low stakes enough for me to experiment, get weird, and have more fun along the way.
One other idea I hope to explore is to turn my more affordable āKeep it 100ā portrait model into more of a social experience. In a previous life, I ran a website called everyoneisfamous.com, in which I would go out to parties and shows, take a bunch of candid pictures of people, and then post them to the photo blog. I like the idea of dusting off the website and giving it more of a studio portrait approach, in which anyone who wants to participate will get their images on the public website for others to see. We could then offer the setup out in the world at various events, and perhaps even bring the whole thing on the road and do it in other cities! That all gets me excited and feels like a model that might make sense, as part of the payment then becomes exposure for myself and my portrait setup, thus allowing me to keep my rates low enough for anyone to participate.
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of posts, see 2024 12 25.
2024 12 28
Becoming a Photobook Shop Owner in 2025
Oh, man. The photobook store. Iāve been secretly obsessing over this idea for at least two years now. The immediate and obvious inspiration for opening a small (physical & web-based) shop dedicated to photobooks and photography shows/talks/meetups is Baltimore Photo Space. I already have a(n amazing) photo studio space, so it seems like somewhat of a no-brainer to expand the existing operation into something beyond what it is already.
Quick backstory for those not already familiar with what photobooks are: Photo books. Books featuring the work of one or multiple photographers. Monographs. Printed visual essays. Printed visual narratives. Art books. Photo zines. Itās a genre of book, featuring photography (obvs), that is sort of seeing a resurgence in popularity as photography becomes an increasingly popular hobby (and job!) for more and more people. Making photos is easier than ever. Printing books is easier than ever. Itās sort of an obvious connection that more people than ever are releasing photobooks, many of which are very good (and some of which that are not)!
Letās explore some pros and cons of this idea:
PRO: Will gain a ton of experience and understanding of what other photographers are up to. Endless inspiration (aka things to steal)!
CON: Will possibly have too much exposure to other peopleās work, to the point that it will affect my own work a bit too much, in a bad way, or burn out on photography.
PRO: Will gain a huge photobook library that will be impressive (to some people)!
CON: Will have a huge photobook library that I will need to put somewhere and transport somehow (hard!).
PRO: Will make a living and/or have a bit more consistent income through doing something that I love to do (assuming the business does work as I think it would!)
CON: Will spend a lot of my time working in the photobook store, sourcing inventory, packing and shipping (my local post office has 1.9 stars on google. I stopped in there yesterday and they were not accepting customers because āthe clerk was out,ā as told to us by the apparently-not clerk), and generally doing things that take away my time and opportunities for creating new work of my own vs sharing the work of others in exchange for money.
PRO: Will make many new connections in the photo industry and likely some new friends as well!
CON: Will be forced to do more things I dislike doing, such as legal paperwork, taxes, bureaucracy, responding to people on social media.
While doing this thought experiment, it became apparent why I have only so far taken baby steps towards making this idea a reality. It would be a ton of work and thereās no clear way of knowing how much I would enjoy doing it longer term without committing and giving it a go. It sort of feels like the chances of it being a net positive on my life are about equal to the chances of it being a net negative. All that said, I have this vague urge to just make it happen. Like itās a calling of sorts. Perhaps it runs in the family. Perhaps itās in my blood, as my uncle had an underground rare book shop a few decades back.
In my ideal, wave a magic wand and make it happen scenario, I would go for itā¦along with a tight core of one to three other people, so that none of us would be tied to the shop full-time should other opportunities arise (as they will). The trick is finding those people. I do feel oddly confident in the vision and think it could be a lot of funā¦in addition to being a lot of work. Work. Work. Shipping. Sourcing. Taxes. Documents. Fun. Work.
-Clayton
Thank you (for shopping at my imaginary photobook shop). Chicago, Illinois. June, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Becoming a Photobook Shop Owner in 2025
Oh, man. The photobook store. Iāve been secretly obsessing over this idea for at least two years now. The immediate and obvious inspiration for opening a small (physical & web-based) shop dedicated to photobooks and photography shows/talks/meetups is Baltimore Photo Space. I already have a(n amazing) photo studio space, so it seems like somewhat of a no-brainer to expand the existing operation into something beyond what it is already.
Quick backstory for those not already familiar with what photobooks are: Photo books. Books featuring the work of one or multiple photographers. Monographs. Printed visual essays. Printed visual narratives. Art books. Photo zines. Itās a genre of book, featuring photography (obvs), that is sort of seeing a resurgence in popularity as photography becomes an increasingly popular hobby (and job!) for more and more people. Making photos is easier than ever. Printing books is easier than ever. Itās sort of an obvious connection that more people than ever are releasing photobooks, many of which are very good (and some of which that are not)!
Letās explore some pros and cons of this idea:
PRO: Will gain a ton of experience and understanding of what other photographers are up to. Endless inspiration (aka things to steal)!
CON: Will possibly have too much exposure to other peopleās work, to the point that it will affect my own work a bit too much, in a bad way, or burn out on photography.
PRO: Will gain a huge photobook library that will be impressive (to some people)!
CON: Will have a huge photobook library that I will need to put somewhere and transport somehow (hard!).
PRO: Will make a living and/or have a bit more consistent income through doing something that I love to do (assuming the business does work as I think it would!)
CON: Will spend a lot of my time working in the photobook store, sourcing inventory, packing and shipping (my local post office has 1.9 stars on google. I stopped in there yesterday and they were not accepting customers because āthe clerk was out,ā as told to us by the apparently-not clerk), and generally doing things that take away my time and opportunities for creating new work of my own vs sharing the work of others in exchange for money.
PRO: Will make many new connections in the photo industry and likely some new friends as well!
CON: Will be forced to do more things I dislike doing, such as legal paperwork, taxes, bureaucracy, posting and responding to people on social media.
CON: lots and lots and lots of breaking down boxes.
While doing this thought experiment, it became apparent why I have only so far taken baby steps towards making this idea a reality. It would be a ton of work and thereās no clear way of knowing how much I would enjoy doing it longer term without committing and giving it a go. It sort of feels like the chances of it being a net positive on my life are about equal to the chances of it being a net negative. All that said, I have this vague urge to just make it happen. Like itās a calling of sorts. Perhaps it runs in the family. Perhaps itās in my blood, as my uncle had an underground rare book shop a few decades back.
In my ideal, wave a magic wand and make it happen scenario, I would go for itā¦along with a tight core of one to three other people, so that none of us would be tied to the shop full-time should other opportunities arise (as they will). The trick is finding those people. I do feel oddly confident in the vision and think it could be a lot of funā¦in addition to being a lot of work. Work. Work. Shipping. Sourcing. Taxes. Documents. Fun. Work.
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of posts, please see 2024 12 25.
2024 12 27
Becoming a Documentary Filmmaker in 2025
My slow and reluctant pivot back to video is underway, though admittedly much slower-paced than it should be. The move back to shooting video is both personally and professionally-driven. Before I became a photographer, I was a videographer. Itās my first artistic passion and one that I want to further explore before it gets too late in life. Beyond that, my industry of commercial photography is now demanding that all photographers are also motion directors, so itās basically required if I wish to continue making money in that field.
In the new year, I will obsess over video and dedicate a huge amount of my time to manning a video camera again. Part of why my video pitch has stalled is my instinct is to operate. I must be operating the camera to be fully engaged in the production process. And that requires a time-consuming re-learning process, familiarizing myself with new camera systems and methods that didnāt exist when I was running MiniDV cams in the early 2000ās.
Fortunately, a friend reached out to me a few months back with the idea of partnering on a doc project featuring a mutual artist friend of ours (Iām keeping all the specific details out of it for now as weāre in the super early stages of this and I donāt want to jinx anything). We have already begun production and are now seeking additional financing so that we can move full-steam ahead in the new year (hit me up and Iāll send you the pitch deck!). Iām excited because I think this project has a lot of potential to be something great, though I also know itās going to be a beast of a process and take up a huge amount of my time.
With so much content being made and shared these days, Iām very sensitive to making sure this project stands out and is elevated from the pack. I donāt want to make just another āfeature-length documentaryā that gets tossed onto YouTube for a few thousand people to passively watch and forget. There are themes I hope to explore that, I think, will resonate with lots of people; if we handle the project right, it has a chance to really become something that goes beyond Chicago and touches people worldwide. But again, I donāt want to jinx it, so letās keep it casual!
Semi-relatedly, Kartemquin Films is moving their office directly below my studio inside the Kimball Arts Center. Iāve very much been ālistening to the universeā lately, and this feels like a clear sign that I should pay attention to. I also aim to make a monthly screening night happen in our studio space, which weāve dubbed Cinema 606. While this wonāt be strictly doc-focused, I do want to make sure documentaries are a large part of the night.
With Ai blowing up and affecting lots of industries, including my own world of commercial photography, I love the idea of adding documentary filmmaking to my core competency of offerings. On top of that, I have no shortage of ideas for various subjects and people that I would love to explore in moving-visual form. Of course, time and money are always the main deterrents, so it will be very revealing to know just how much this project takes out of me before I make grand plans to become the next Werner Herzog.
Some themes weāre likely to explore in this project include: the business end of art; what it means to be an artist; the unwavering dedication to a city that doesnāt always love you back; substance abuse in relation to artist endeavor.
Iād consider it a huge win to complete the project, be proud of it, and have other people choose to watch it on their own accord. Perhaps, if things go well, a modest run of screenings around the country would be an amazing end cap. It will be interesting to look back at this post a year from now, as I realize thereās a lot of actual work to be done and this here talk is cheap. Itās time to get moving and make a damn movie!
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of posts, please see 2024 12 25.
Caught in the act of art. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Becoming a Documentary Filmmaker in 2025
My slow and reluctant pivot back to video is underway, though admittedly much slower-paced than it should be. The move back to shooting video is both personally and professionally-driven. Before I became a photographer, I was a videographer. Itās my first artistic passion and one that I want to further explore before it gets too late in life. Beyond that, my industry of commercial photography is now demanding that all photographers are also motion directors, so itās basically required if I wish to continue making money in that field.
In the new year, I will obsess over video and dedicate a huge amount of my time to manning a video camera again. Part of why my video pivot has stalled is my instinct is to operate. I must be operating the camera to be fully engaged in the production process. And that requires a time-consuming re-learning process, familiarizing myself with new camera systems and methods that didnāt exist when I was running MiniDV cams in the early 2000ās.
Fortunately, a friend reached out to me a few months back with the idea of partnering on a doc project featuring a mutual artist friend of ours (Iām keeping all the specific details out of it for now as weāre in the super early stages of this and I donāt want to jinx anything). We have already begun production and are now seeking additional financing so that we can move full-steam ahead in the new year (hit me up and Iāll send you the pitch deck!). Iām excited because I think this project has a lot of potential to be something great, though I also know itās going to be a beast of a process and take up a huge amount of my time.
With so much content being made and shared these days, Iām very sensitive to making sure this project stands out and is elevated from the pack. I donāt want to make just another āfeature-length documentaryā that gets tossed onto YouTube for a few thousand people to passively watch and forget. There are themes I hope to explore that, I think, will resonate with lots of people; if we handle the project right, it has a chance to really become something that goes beyond Chicago and touches people worldwide. But again, I donāt want to jinx it, so letās keep it casual!
Semi-relatedly, Kartemquin Films is moving their office directly below my studio inside the Kimball Arts Center. Iāve very much been ālistening to the universeā lately, and this feels like a clear sign that I should pay attention to. I also aim to make a monthly screening night happen in our studio space, which weāve dubbed Cinema 606. While this wonāt be strictly doc-focused, I do want to make sure documentaries are a large part of the night.
With Ai blowing up and affecting lots of industries, including my own world of commercial photography, I love the idea of adding documentary filmmaking to my core competency of offerings. On top of that, I have no shortage of ideas for various subjects and people that I would love to explore in moving-visual form. Of course, time and money are always the main deterrents, so it will be very revealing to know just how much this project takes out of me before I make grand plans to become the next Werner Herzog.
Some themes weāre likely to explore in this project include: the business end of art; what it means to be an artist; the unwavering dedication to a city that doesnāt always love you back; substance abuse in relation to artistic endeavor.
Iād consider it a huge win to complete the project, be proud of it, and have other people choose to watch it on their own accord. Perhaps, if things go well, a modest run of screenings around the country would be an amazing end cap. It will be interesting to look back at this post a year from now, as I realize thereās a lot of actual work to be done and this here talk is cheap. Itās time to get moving and make a damn movie!
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of posts, please see 2024 12 25.
2024 12 24
It hit me this morning that Iām a few days shy of a full year of posting daily to this here blog. Wild! I then thought I should spend some time contemplating the year ahead, and began writing up short blurs on the various things I am focusing on in the new year.
Today, we are celebrating Christmas. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your loved ones!
Iāll be back tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after, to discuss more thingsā¦
-Clayton
It me! Chicago, Illinois. November, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
It hit me this morning that Iām a few days shy of a full year of posting daily to this here blog. Wild! I then thought I should spend some time contemplating the year ahead, and began writing up short blurs on the various things I am focusing on in the new year.
Today, we are celebrating Christmas. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your loved ones!
Iāll be back tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after, to discuss more thingsā¦
-Clayton
2024 12 22
Yesterday it was announced that the CTA was awarded federal funds to expand the red line further south to reach the edge of the city. The project will be wildly expensive and is not without its critics as to how the money could be better spent. Personally, I love to see the addition of new rail despite the high price tag and hope this trend, slow as it is, will continue.
That steel beam in the above image used to support an entire damn elevated train line that ran through Chicagoās Humboldt Park some five decades ago or so. Adjacent to North Avenue, down the street from where I live, was a CTA rail line that connected my neighborhood into the rest of the cityās network. Of course, that line is long dead and gone, with no remnants of its existence beyond some internet images and this one steel column that survived the purge to profitability and consolidation the system undertook during the years of urban decay and suburbanization. We lost many train lines (and an entire amusement park!) as cars became the prioritized method of transportation.
Iāve been dreaming of an automated light rail āBoulevard Lineā running between and connecting the Logan Square Blue Line with the Garfield Park Conservatory Green Line. Itās fun to think about but I doubt this will ever happen. If I find myself bored one day, perhaps I will write up a more formal plan and put it out there for people to look at, along with my much hyped and mysterious Plan For a New Illinois.
-Clayton
A steel column embedded into a brick wall. Thatās it! Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Yesterday it was announced that the CTA was awarded federal funds to expand the red line further south to reach the edge of the city. The project will be wildly expensive and is not without its critics as to how the money could be better spent. Personally, I love to see the addition of new rail despite the high price tag and hope this trend, slow as it is, will continue.
That steel beam in the above image used to support an entire damn elevated train line that ran through Chicagoās Humboldt Park some five decades ago or so. Adjacent to North Avenue, down the street from where I live, was a CTA rail line that connected my neighborhood into the rest of the cityās network. Of course, that line is long dead and gone, with no remnants of its existence beyond some internet images and this one steel column that survived the purge to profitability and consolidation the system undertook during the years of urban decay and suburbanization. We lost many train lines (and an entire amusement park!) as cars became the prioritized method of transportation.
Iāve been dreaming of an automated light rail āBoulevard Lineā running between and connecting the Logan Square Blue Line with the Garfield Park Conservatory Green Line. Itās fun to think about but I doubt this will ever happen. If I find myself bored one day, perhaps I will write up a more formal plan and put it out there for people to look at, along with my much hyped and mysterious Plan For a New Illinois.
-Clayton
2024 12 20
Photography isnāt art. Itās too easy to make a photo. Thereās no skill involved, therefore no artistic value.
I disagree with this, of course, however completely understand and agree with the logic behind it. Seeing photography as art will never be something everyone can do, I donāt think. Anyone can make a good photo (good is relative in any art form, of course). Anyone can also make a good painting (good to someone, at least!), even if theyāve never painted once in their life, but the ābarrier to entryā is far more difficult. To make a photo, you just take the phone of our your pocket and push a button. To make a paining, youāll at least need to find a store that sells the necessary supplies, or place an order on Amazon and wait a few days.
In my younger years as a photographer, I would often scoff at fine art photography, mostly because I didnāt understand the thought process or put in the time necessary to understand what the photographers were trying to do or say. Iād see them using a giant large format film camera to make some images I often found boring and label the whole process unnecessary and self important. Sure, I still dislike plenty of photography that is overwhelmingly embraced by the more formal art world, however, I do now have a far larger appreciation for, and valuing of, photographic art that is challenging to make. Using 4x5 film instead of a 100mp digital medium format camera, for example, should earn you some respect, even though at the end of the day itās the work (and the person doing the work, but thatās another topic for another day) that most matters.
Yesterday, this video popped into my feed which I found fascinating in many ways. While the clickbait headline is off topic for this blog post, his sentiment at the end is spot on. The guy makes a technologically-impressive camera that produces terrible images, however, the process is what makes the images incredible, and therefore, in his opinion, art.
āI know this thing makes worse pictures than a camera that costs $2ā¦ but when I use this thing, I fee like Iām making actual art, which I do not feel when Iām using a digital camera.ā
As always, art is in the eye of the beholder, but it is also made in the decisions of the person making the art.
That toilet image would be much better art if I made it on 4x5 film instead of a film-emulating smartphone camera.
-Clayton
Channelling Duchamp. Chicago, Illinois. November, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Photography isnāt art. Itās too easy to make a photo. Thereās no skill involved, therefore no artistic value.
I disagree with this, of course, however completely understand and agree with the logic behind it. Seeing photography as art will never be something everyone can do, I donāt think. Anyone can make a good photo (good is relative in any art form, of course). Anyone can also make a good painting (good to someone, at least!), even if theyāve never painted once in their life, but the ābarrier to entryā is far more difficult. To make a photo, you just take the phone of our your pocket and push a button. To make a painting, youāll at least need to find a store that sells the necessary supplies, or place an order on Amazon and wait a few days.
In my younger years as a photographer, I would often scoff at fine art photography, mostly because I didnāt understand the thought process or put in the time necessary to understand what the photographers were trying to do or say. Iād see them using a giant large format film camera to make some images I often found boring and label the whole process unnecessary and self important. Sure, I still dislike plenty of photography that is overwhelmingly embraced by the more formal art world, however, I do now have a far larger appreciation for, and valuing of, photographic art that is challenging to make. Using 4x5 film instead of a 100mp digital medium format camera, for example, should earn you some respect, even though at the end of the day itās the work (and the person doing the work, but thatās another topic for another day) that most matters.
Yesterday, this video popped into my feed which I found fascinating in many ways. While the clickbait headline is off topic for this blog post, his sentiment at the end is spot on. The guy makes a technologically-impressive camera that produces terrible images, however, the process is what makes the images incredible, and therefore, in his opinion, art.
āI know this thing makes worse pictures than a camera that costs $2ā¦ but when I use this thing, I fee like Iām making actual art, which I do not feel when Iām using a digital camera.ā
As always, art is in the eye of the beholder, but it is also made in the decisions of the person making the art.
That toilet image would be much better art if I made it on 4x5 film instead of a film-emulating smartphone camera.
-Clayton
2024 12 17
Last week, I realized I posted almost an identical image twice without realizing it. Getting better at editing my images has been one of the main goals of this here blog and clearly I still have some work to do. Being super busy of late hasnāt helped.
Today, another near duplicate but this time on purpose. I also enjoy visiting the same scene repeatedly over time, and this shot of a couple dogs in the window is one that has been posted here previously (see: 2024 07 29), only this time he has a friend.
Anyway, back to work. The day job is called and weāre shooting hot dogs this morning at the studio.
-Clayton
Two Mr Peepers in the window. Chicago, Illinois. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Last week, I realized I posted almost an identical image twice without realizing it. Getting better at editing my images has been one of the main goals of this here blog and clearly I still have some work to do. Being super busy of late hasnāt helped.
Today, another near duplicate but this time on purpose. I also enjoy visiting the same scene repeatedly over time, and this shot of a couple dogs in the window is one that has been posted here previously (see: 2024 07 29), only this time he has a friend.
Anyway, back to work. The day job is called and weāre shooting hot dogs this morning at the studio.
-Clayton
2024 12 14
I havenāt been meeting enough cats lately. I miss having a cat.
Yesterday I realized I posted basically the same photo to the blog twice. Iāve been too busy to catch details like this.
Itās been a while since Iāve had a good cheeseburger. Maybe Iāll get a cheeseburger tonight.
Thereās a dinner at my studio tonight. There was a dinner at my studio last night. I didnāt eat at either of them.
Yesterday we did a food shoot and we also didnāt eat any of the food we photographed.
Itās odd being around food so much and not eating any of it. I had a great breakfast burrito this morning, though.
Iām not meeting enough cats lately. I miss having a cat.
Thereās a book of poetry Iām currently reading, which is clearly rubbing off on me today.
His (Kevin) poems are far more interesting than whatever this is, however.
One thing it made me realize is that as we get older we long for our youth. Nostalgia is a powerful drug.
I met Kevinās mom last night at the dinner I hosted in my space.
I was afraid of dogs when I was a kid, which is probably why Iām more of a cat person.
Iām not meeting enough cats lately. Maybe Iāll find a new street cat friend tonight, take his picture, and add it to this here collection.
-Clayton
Meeting a street cat. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I havenāt been meeting enough cats lately. I miss having a cat.
Yesterday I realized I posted basically the same photo to the blog twice. Iāve been too busy to catch details like this.
Itās been a while since Iāve had a good cheeseburger. Maybe Iāll get a cheeseburger tonight.
Thereās a dinner at my studio tonight. There was a dinner at my studio last night. I didnāt eat at either of them.
Yesterday we did a food shoot and we also didnāt eat any of the food we photographed.
Itās odd being around food so much and not eating any of it. I had a great breakfast burrito this morning, though.
Iām not meeting enough cats lately. I miss having a cat.
Thereās a book of poetry Iām currently reading, which is clearly rubbing off on me today.
His (Kevin) poems are far more interesting than whatever this is, however.
One thing it made me realize is that as we get older we long for our youth. Nostalgia is a powerful drug.
I met Kevinās mom last night at the dinner I hosted in my space (that I did not eat at).
I was afraid of dogs when I was a kid, which is probably why Iām more of a cat person.
Iām not meeting enough cats lately. Maybe Iāll find a new street cat friend tonight, take his picture, and add it to this here collection.
-Clayton
2024 12 11
Today, a dad joke, because thatās all I have time for at the moment, as the world spirals towards wherever itās heading and this dog meekly looks on.
A man walks into a zoo. The only animal in there is a dog.
It's a shitzu.
-Clayton
Dog on leash at night. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Today, a dad joke, because thatās all I have time for at the moment, as the world spirals towards wherever itās heading and this dog meekly looks on.
A man walks into a zoo. The only animal in there is a dog.
It's a shitzu.
-Clayton
2024 12 10
This selection of crapy movies (and an uneaten Taco Bell burrito) appeared outside my studio recently as if attempting to lure a lonely man into its web of wasted time. I looked up in search of an anvil or large rope-tie mechanism but none were to be found. Apparently, it was merely a pile of discarded dreams. Perhaps an inspired attempt by a man with a new-found female companion to appear a bit less like a college student.
Today, I photographed a scene that is set to be next monthās cover of Chicagoās biggest (and last?) remaining glossy mag. While not quite the honor it mightāve been even a few years ago, I was still up much of the night stress-dreaming about lighting schemes. The shoot location was a bit complicated and challenging, and I was unable to secure an assistant on last minute notice, so my nerves were high. Fortunately, things went smoothly and Iām optimistic weāll have a solid cover on our hands; but no matter how good your cover image, or how much you prepare or stress over your cover shoot, itās likely to be soon forgotten just like this scrap heap of yesterdayās covers.
-Clayton
Pile of crappy movies.. and a burrito, apparently. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
This selection of crapy movies (and an uneaten Taco Bell burrito) appeared outside my studio recently as if attempting to lure a lonely man into its web of wasted time. I looked up in search of an anvil or large rope-tie mechanism but none were to be found. Apparently, it was merely a pile of discarded dreams. Perhaps an inspired attempt by a man with a new-found female companion to appear a bit less like a college student.
Today, I photographed a scene that is set to be next monthās cover of Chicagoās biggest (and last?) remaining glossy mag. While not quite the honor it mightāve been even a few years ago, I was still up much of the night stress-dreaming about lighting schemes. The shoot location was a bit complicated and challenging, and I was unable to secure an assistant on last minute notice, so my nerves were high. Fortunately, things went smoothly and Iām optimistic weāll have a solid cover on our hands; but no matter how good your cover image, or how much you prepare or stress over your cover shoot, itās likely to be soon forgotten just like this scrap heap of yesterdayās covers.
-Clayton
2024 12 09
Now that weāre almost a year into this daily blogging, Iāve been thinking a lot about what I want to focus on next year. My current aim is to keep this thing going, although if I miss a day here and there Iām not going to stress about it. Weāll see if that leads to a total unraveling or not. Iām kind of an all-or-nothing guy.
One consideration is attempting a weekly street photo session. Iāve really been missing doing more of that kind of shooting. Getting back to my roots, yet again, but in a different sort of way. Weāll see.
Another strong consideration is finally opening that photobook shop for real this time. I have an ongoing vision that I will do so, and weāll also sell Allisonās baked goods, which will end up being far more popular than photobooks, so weāll end up with a bakery. I guess that wouldnāt be a bad thing if thatās how it plays out. You donāt know til you try, so they say.
-Clayton
Allison has something in her eye. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Now that weāre almost a year into this daily blogging, Iāve been thinking a lot about what I want to focus on next year. My current aim is to keep this thing going, although if I miss a day here and there Iām not going to stress about it. Weāll see if that leads to a total unraveling or not. Iām kind of an all-or-nothing guy.
One consideration is attempting a weekly street photo session. Iāve really been missing doing more of that kind of shooting. Getting back to my roots, yet again, but in a different sort of way. Weāll see.
Another strong consideration is finally opening that photobook shop for real this time. I have an ongoing vision that I will do so, and weāll also sell Allisonās baked goods, which will end up being far more popular than photobooks, so weāll end up with a bakery. I guess that wouldnāt be a bad thing if thatās how it plays out. You donāt know til you try, so they say.
-Clayton
2024 12 08
Off day! Hereās a photo from work; behind the scenes on a portrait shoot at the studio. See you tomorrow when Iām hopefully recovered from my crazy self-imposed work schedule the last few weeks.
-Clayton
Behind the scenes on a portrait shoot at my See You Soon studio space. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Off day! Hereās a photo from work; behind the scenes on a portrait shoot at the studio. See you tomorrow when Iām hopefully recovered from my crazy self-imposed work schedule the last few weeks.
-Clayton
2024 12 06
āAll department stores will become museums, and all museums will become department storesā -Warhol
This amazing quote was revealed to me during a great podcast episode with photographer Christian Patterson and host Sasha Wolf. Christian mentioned it in referece to his new photobook project Gong Co, in which he documented a rural, ailing store over the course of many years. I loved hearing about the project and how he originally discovered this store by chance while driving from Memphis to New Orleans. It reminded me of some of the places Iāve stumbled upon on my brief stints in rural Illinois this year.
Excited to see this book once it hits my doorstep, as I just ordered it from BPS. Anyway, back to workā¦ setting up a market in my photo studio (lol).
-Clayton
Empty table. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
āAll department stores will become museums, and all museums will become department storesā -Warhol
This amazing quote was revealed to me during a great podcast episode with photographer Christian Patterson and host Sasha Wolf. Christian mentioned it in referece to his new photobook project Gong Co, in which he documented a rural, ailing store over the course of many years. I loved hearing about the project and how he originally discovered this store by chance while driving from Memphis to New Orleans. It reminded me of some of the places Iāve stumbled upon on my brief stints in rural Illinois this year.
Excited to see this book once it hits my doorstep, as I just ordered it from BPS. Anyway, back to workā¦ setting up a market in my photo studio (lol).
-Clayton
2024 12 05
The most incredible thing happened today! I awoke to a message from a buddy. He was wondering if I knew the meaning behind a message scrawled on the dumpster next to Bang Bang pie shop.
āIsuzu is good for the brown paint industry,ā it reads.
My buddy was so curious about this message that he decided to google it. Incredibly, the search brought him to this here blog, as I previously wrote about the dumpster (see: 2024_10_12). Itās amazing that a not-insignificant portion of the traffic this blog sees is directed by a dumpster.
-Clayton
I want to start a family so I can use these car decals. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
The most incredible thing happened today! I awoke to a message from a buddy. He was wondering if I knew the meaning behind a message scrawled on the dumpster next to Bang Bang pie shop.
āIsuzu is good for the brown paint industry,ā it reads.
My buddy was so curious about this message that he decided to google it. Incredibly, the search brought him to this here blog, as I previously wrote about the dumpster (see: 2024_10_12). Itās amazing that a not-insignificant portion of the traffic this blog sees is directed by a dumpster.
-Clayton
2024 12 04
Prepping a market, printing, framing, prepping a market, printing framingā¦
I think it was Warhol that once said: eventually every photo studio will become a mall and every mall will become dead/a location to film music videos.
Or maybe it was Bukowski.
Anyway.
Back to framing and printing and prepping a market and possibly sleeping.
-Clayton
Armitage Produce. Birds love it! Chicago, Illinois. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Prepping a market, printing, framing, prepping a market, printing framingā¦
I think it was Warhol that once said: eventually every photo studio will become a mall and every mall will become dead/a location to film music videos.
Or maybe it was Bukowski.
Anyway.
Back to framing and printing and prepping a market and possibly sleeping.
-Clayton
2024 12 03
One low-key highlight during our incredible wedding weekend this September was staying at The Robey. You know, that tall building in The Crotch of Wicker Park that used to be abandoned and is now a boutique hotel. We splurged on a corner suite on a high floor and, while expensive, I loved it so much it had me wanting to live there.
āHow long will you be staying with us, sir?ā
āIndefinitely, Iām being sued for divorce,ā I joked with myself in my head, hours before getting married (itās a Rushmore reference, for those confused).
In the early-morning hours, the sun creeps up over the skyline before blasting you in the face with a nice natural wake-up call. Surely, if I lived here, Iād get comfortable with the blackout blinds, but seeing as I only had two morning to enjoy the views, I was up early snapping photos while I shouldāve been catching some beauty Zās.
It has been interesting to see the cityās downtown creep westward in recent years, as the West Loop and Fulton Market continue to be hot. Part of me regrets not grabbing a loft back when they were somewhat affordable, but I still love our home in the more modest and somewhat chill westside neighborhood off The 606, which has shaped my life quite dramatically in the last decade, though I still long for those million dollar city views. One day, perhaps.
-Clayton
Skyline views from The Robey Hotel. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
One low-key highlight during our incredible wedding weekend this September was staying at The Robey. You know, that tall building in The Crotch of Wicker Park that used to be abandoned and is now a boutique hotel. We splurged on a corner suite on a high floor and, while expensive, I loved it so much it had me wanting to live there.
āHow long will you be staying with us, sir?ā
āIndefinitely, Iām being sued for divorce,ā I joked with myself in my head, hours before getting married (itās a Rushmore reference, for those confused).
In the early-morning hours, the sun creeps up over the skyline before blasting you in the face with a nice natural wake-up call. Surely, if I lived here, Iād get comfortable with the blackout blinds, but seeing as I only had two morning to enjoy the views, I was up early snapping photos while I shouldāve been catching some beauty Zās.
It has been interesting to see the cityās downtown creep westward in recent years, as the West Loop and Fulton Market continue to be hot. Part of me regrets not grabbing a loft back when they were somewhat affordable, but I still love our home in the more modest and somewhat chill westside neighborhood off The 606, which has shaped my life quite dramatically in the last decade. I still long for those million dollar city views, though. One day, perhaps.
-Clayton
2024 11 29
This year has been an eventful one for me in so many ways. One event I was proud of was the photo show and discussion I hosted at my space with photographer Nathan Pearce and photographer/photobook publisher Clint Woodside of Deadbeat Club. Iām aiming to do more events and shows of this nature, but running an event space mostly by myself, on top of all my other jobs and the āday jobā of the space, makes ambitious regular programing not quite possible. This is further complicated by the building Iām in being in a bit of a defining phase. Is it an arts building or is it a professionalās office building? Time will tell and money talks.
Much like the building, I myself am in a transitional phase, and Iām not quite sure which direction I will be heading in a few years. I write about it quite a lot on this here blog, but my core business of commercial photography is quite turbulent lately and the longer-term outlook is hazy. There are so many challenges facing photographers like myself, and I think weāre all sort of wondering what we should be focusing on.
Just now, I hung sixteen prints in the lobby of my building, the Kimball Arts Center. Learning to print, learning to frame, learning to hang. These are all skills Iāve neglected as a photographer and I feel like this, in addition to a bunch of other stuff Iām spending time on lately, is myself revisiting fundamentals that I largely skipped in my younger years. Itās really the little wins that keep me going, as hard as it has been. While being enthusiastic and excited about printing your work is nice, making it sustainable financially is a completely different scenario. I was joking with a fellow photographer/director, who is also going through a slow patch, that booking commercial projects is far easier than selling fine art photo prints. Itās hard to even give these things away! I get it, though. This is not a get rich quick scheme. Itās hardly even a business endeavor. Itās fundamentals. Hard hat, lunch pail. Put in the reps. Put in the work. It leads somewhere. Where, exactly, Iām not sure, but Iām doing my best to make sure Iām enjoying the path and learning while I go.
-Clayton
Hanging a photo show with Nathan Pearce at my See You Soon studio. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
This year has been an eventful one for me in so many ways. One event I was proud of was the photo show and discussion I hosted at my space with photographer Nathan Pearce and photographer/photobook publisher Clint Woodside of Deadbeat Club. Iām aiming to do more events and shows of this nature, but running an event space mostly by myself, on top of all my other jobs and the āday jobā of the space, makes ambitious regular programing not quite possible. This is further complicated by the building Iām in being in a bit of a defining phase. Is it an arts building or is it a professionalās office building? Time will tell and money talks.
Much like the building, I myself am in a transitional phase, and Iām not quite sure which direction I will be heading in a few years. I write about it quite a lot on this here blog, but my core business of commercial photography is quite turbulent lately and the longer-term outlook is hazy. There are so many challenges facing photographers like myself, and I think weāre all sort of wondering what we should be focusing on.
Just now, I hung sixteen prints in the lobby of my building, the Kimball Arts Center, as a homeless man dozed off on the coffee shop bench. Learning to print, learning to frame, learning to hang. These are all skills Iāve neglected as a photographer and I feel like this, in addition to a bunch of other stuff Iām spending time on lately, is myself revisiting fundamentals that I largely skipped in my younger years. Itās really the little wins that keep me going, as hard as it has been. While being enthusiastic and excited about printing your work is nice, making it sustainable financially is a completely different scenario. I was joking with a fellow photographer/director, who is also going through a slow patch, that booking commercial projects is far easier than selling fine art photo prints.
Itās hard to even give these things away!
I get it, though. This is not a get rich quick scheme. Itās hardly even a business endeavor. Itās fundamentals. Hard hat, lunch pail. Put in the reps. Put in the work. It leads somewhere. Where, exactly, Iām not sure, but Iām doing my best to make sure Iām enjoying the path and learning while I go, while doing my best at not also becoming a homeless person myself.
-Clayton
2024 11 28
Happy Thanksgiving!
-Clayton
Art in the wild. Donāt Fret. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Happy Thanksgiving!
-Clayton
2024 11 26
Only half a post today because I am so behind onā¦ everything. This image has always jumped out to me for some reason and I finally figured out why I (and likely only I) like it. Back in my college years, I had a big old boat Oldsmobile. It looked very much like this car, only much longer. This car, pictured here, is interesting as I canāt recall seeing many cars like it. A baby boat.
-Clayton
Big old car, but smaller. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Only half a post today because I am so behind onā¦ everything. This image has always jumped out to me for some reason and I finally figured out why I (and likely only I) like it. Back in my college years, I had a big old boat Oldsmobile. It looked very much like this car, only much longer. This car, pictured here, is interesting as I canāt recall seeing many cars like it. A baby boat.
-Clayton