2024 11 11
Itās been a minute since Iāve done a proper Life Update and this week will be no different, however, the topic loosely applies. Iām in the early phase of a Pivot to Video, largely spurred by a collapse in demand for commercial photography, but also aided by a lifelong love of video and filmmaking (itās complicated why Iām not already more focused on it). In this phase, Iām spending a lot of time watching youtube videos. I swear, itās productiveā¦ at least to an extent. Film school is what I keep calling it. Realistically, thereās just a lot of new shit that I need to get up to speed on. Of course, Iām well aware that the only way to be successful at this new venture is not by watching videos but by doing it. Every damn day.
Most, if not all, of the credit to my success in commercial photography can be summed up by putting in the work. Spending the time. Consistent focus and dedication.
In my recent film schooling sessions, I came across a channel by DP Luc Forsyth because he did some camera tests I was curious about. Digging deeper into his channel, I watched this video linked below, which so brilliantly summed up these ideas on success within the industry, ideas I already fully agree with and believe in, but ideas I found interesting specifically because he put them in terms of growing his youtube channel as a working DP. This idea of starting a channel is one Iāve been dwelling on for years now, without taking the leap, mostly because I fully understand the challenges involved. Itās frustrating when I post some photos on Threads and they get zero likes. Itās frustrating when I post a blog to give away a print and get zero engagement. Itās likely far more frustrating to spend hours or your life painstakingly crafting and posting videos for them to go completely ignored by the eight or so billion people living in this world.
Luc summed up his growth projections so well and accurately:
1 year of weekly posting = 1,000 subscribers
2 years of weekly posting = 10,000 subscribers
3 years of weekly posting = 100,000 subscribers
This chart is the sole reason I donāt yet have a youtube channel. I know in my bones itās accurate, if not optimistic, and the sheer amount of time, energy, effort and focus required to put towards making a new video each and every week, without fail, is daunting. The idea that committing to this for a full year, after which you may get you a thousand subs is almost comical. But thatās not the reason to do it. Itās for year three. Year ten. Year twenty.
Iām already in my forties so the feeling that itās now or never, the feeling that Iām running short on time is very real and the biggest thing holding me back from going all-in on video. I still love still photography as well and not yet fully convinced I canāt make it work for another twenty years. Anyway, these are the things I am spending a lot of time thinking about lately.
-Clayton
To be great it takes years of consistent dedication. Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga photographed during a portrait shoot for Chicago Magazine at Wrigley Field. Chicago, Illinois. June, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Itās been a minute since Iāve done a proper Life Update and this week will be no different, however, the topic loosely applies. Iām in the early phase of a Pivot to Video, largely spurred by a collapse in demand for commercial photography, but also aided by a lifelong love of video and filmmaking (itās complicated why Iām not already more focused on it). In this phase, Iām spending a lot of time watching youtube videos. I swear, itās productiveā¦ at least to an extent. Film school is what I keep calling it. Realistically, thereās just a lot of new shit that I need to get up to speed on. Of course, Iām well aware that the only way to be successful at this new venture is not by watching videos but by doing it. Every damn day.
Most, if not all, of the credit to my success in commercial photography can be summed up by putting in the work. Spending the time. Consistent focus and dedication.
In my recent film schooling sessions, I came across a channel by DP Luc Forsyth because he did some camera tests I was curious about. Digging deeper into his channel, I watched this video linked below, which so brilliantly summed up these ideas on success within the industry, ideas I already fully agree with and believe in, but ideas I found interesting specifically because he put them in terms of growing his youtube channel as a working DP. This idea of starting a channel is one Iāve been dwelling on for years now, without taking the leap, mostly because I fully understand the challenges involved. Itās frustrating when I post some photos on Threads and they get zero likes. Itās frustrating when I post a blog to give away a print and get zero engagement. Itās likely far more frustrating to spend hours or your life painstakingly crafting and posting videos for them to go completely ignored by the eight or so billion people living in this world.
Luc summed up his growth projections so well and accurately:
1 year of weekly posting = 1,000 subscribers
2 years of weekly posting = 10,000 subscribers
3 years of weekly posting = 100,000 subscribers
This chart is the sole reason I donāt yet have a youtube channel. I know in my bones itās accurate, if not optimistic, and the sheer amount of time, energy, effort and focus required to put towards making a new video each and every week, without fail, is daunting. The idea that committing to this for a full year, after which you may get you a thousand subs is almost comical. But thatās not the reason to do it. Itās for year three. Year ten. Year twenty.
Iām already in my forties so the feeling that itās now or never, the feeling that Iām running short on time is very real and the biggest thing holding me back from going all-in on video. I still love still photography as well and not yet fully convinced I canāt make it work for another twenty years. Anyway, these are the things I am spending a lot of time thinking about lately.
-Clayton
2024 10 27
Proof of life. Should I become a self-portrait photographer? Probably not. Nice to document the addition of grey hairs, though. Surely I will cherish these moments when all of my hairs are grey. Happy Sunday! Back soon with moreā¦ content.
-Clayton
Itās me. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Proof of life. Should I become a self-portrait photographer? Probably not. Nice to document the addition of grey hairs, though. Surely I will cherish these moments when all of my hairs are grey. Happy Sunday! Back soon with moreā¦ content.
-Clayton
2024 10 26
This weekend, at my studio we:
Hosted a Creative Mornings event with 80 people in attendance
Hosted a honky tonk show for The Bobcat Boys with fifty or so people in attendance
Hosted a party for Show & Tell Me More, an early childhood development online course which films in our space.
Hosted a party for our neighbors to celebrate their childās one-year birthday
I am tired. Good thing itās almost Monday and Iām definitely not posting this a day late after just having watched the Bears lose an otherwise great game (second half, at least) on a bonehead hail mary defense. Having so much programming at the studio is fun but itās very much a full-time job.
-Clayton
Behind the camera during a portrait session at my See You Soon studio. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
This weekend, at my studio we:
Hosted a Creative Mornings event with 80 people in attendance
Hosted a honky tonk show for The Bobcat Boys with fifty or so people in attendance
Hosted a party for Show & Tell Me More, an early childhood development online course which films in our space
Hosted a party for our neighbors to celebrate their childās one-year birthday
I am tired. Good thing itās almost Monday and Iām definitely not posting this a day late after just having watched the Bears lose an otherwise great game (second half, at least) on a bonehead hail mary defense. Having so much programming at the studio is fun but itās very much a full-time job.
-Clayton
2024 10 21
Lately Iāve been doing too much. Or, better put, Iāve been trying to do too much. Spreading myself too thin. The blog has suffered as a result, nearly missing some days and putting in bare minimum effort others. Iāve missed writing my Morning Pages more days than not. I find Iām most successful in life when I focus my attention into one or two things. This blog isnāt a thing because Iām trying to make it into a business, but it is a thing because Iām using it to focus my attention on something. Get my thoughts down onto digital paper. And to keep me motivated to make and share new images. It has been successful at times and less so at others.
There are a few more in-depth posts I will make a priority to share this week when Iām not busy doing my ārealā jobs. Today, we are filming a documentary project as part of my slow and reluctant pivot towards video. Wednesday I am photographing a different project. Otherwise I am printing, working on art, working on a book shop, studio managing, event planning, life planning, invoicing, catching up on my personal life. Itās all too much, really. Iām starting to get the sense that if I continue to try and carry all of these bags, Iām going to drop them.
We recently lost a few photography jobs because we were too expensive. Today, we took a call with a prospective client who is looking for someone cheaper then their existing photographer partner. It all feels a bit too on the nose. Itās like life is delivering me a clear choice and I need to decide which path I will go down. Work for less or work less.
-Clayton
Eve of Funeral Potatoes in the kitchen at Moonflower. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Lately Iāve been doing too much. Or, better put, Iāve been trying to do too much. Spreading myself too thin. The blog has suffered as a result, nearly missing some days and putting in bare minimum effort others. Iāve missed writing my Morning Pages more days than not. I find Iām most successful in life when I focus my attention into one or two things. This blog isnāt a thing because Iām trying to make it into a business, but it is a thing because Iām using it to focus my attention on something. Get my thoughts down onto digital paper. And to keep me motivated to make and share new images. It has been successful at times and less so at others.
There are a few more in-depth posts I will make a priority to share this week when Iām not busy doing my ārealā jobs. Today, we are filming a documentary project as part of my slow and reluctant pivot towards video. Wednesday I am photographing a different project. Otherwise I am printing, working on art, working on a book shop, a bar, a creative studio, studio managing, event planning, life planning, invoicing, catching up on my personal life. Itās all too much, really. Iām starting to get the sense that if I continue to try and carry all of these bags, Iām going to drop them.
We recently lost a few photography jobs because we were too expensive. Today, we took a call with a prospective client who is looking for someone cheaper than their existing long-term photographer partner. It all feels a bit too on the nose. Itās like life is delivering me a clear choice and I need to decide which path I will go down. Work for less or work less.
Allison & I had a very nice dinner at Houndstooth last week. While the food was delicious, my biggest takeaway was how calm and orderly the kitchen prepared our food while we sat and watched at the chefās counter. It was inspiring! It made me dream of a life so structured and orderlyā¦ being able to do something youāre passionate about in a calm and sustaining manner. But as is always the case in life, thereās so much more going on behind the scenes, for the better and for the worse, in order to be able to get to a place of such stability.
-Clayton
2024 10 17
I like this image but hadnāt posted it, mostly because there was a sliver of a personās head poking out behind the woman and it really annoyed me. Figuring I would scrap it, I gave Photoshopās generative fill a chance to remove the face, thinking it wouldnāt do a great job because of all the hair and building texture involved. It was nearly perfectly removed on the first try.
I continue to have complicated feelings towards Ai, however, it is clear itās not going away. Itās also clear many jobs will be going away as a result (I still think, while the creative job losses are most obvious now, it will be the non-creative job losses that will really change society in ways we canāt yet imagine). Iām not making any profound statements here. Everyone knows this, but figured Iād post it as a quiet little reminder that I need to get my ass some better Ai training to help me āfixā my commercial photos.
-Clayton
Two people pose for a portrait in Pilsen. Chicago, Illinois. June, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I like this image but hadnāt posted it, mostly because there was a sliver of a personās head poking out behind the woman and it really annoyed me. Figuring I would scrap it, I gave Photoshopās generative fill a chance to remove the face, thinking it wouldnāt do a great job because of all the hair and building texture involved. It was nearly perfectly removed on the first try.
I continue to have complicated feelings towards Ai, however, it is clear itās not going away. Itās also clear many jobs will be going away as a result (I still think, while the creative job losses are most obvious now, it will be the non-creative job losses that will really change society in ways we canāt yet imagine). Iām not making any profound statements here. Everyone knows this, but figured Iād post it as a quiet little reminder that I need to get my ass some better Ai training to help me āfixā my commercial photos.
-Clayton
2024 10 02
Self-promotional Wednesday! Today, through next Wednesday, I am doing my āKeep it 100ā portrait setup at my See You Soon studio. If youāre in the Chicagoland area, check it out and come shoot with me! Itās a ton of fun, super affordable, the images are great, and Iām having a hell of a time getting people to come out for it!
Seriously, though, Iām being a bit hard on myself. Iāve already done at least fifty of these sessions if not many more (brain blur) but in my head the deal is so good there should be a line down the block. Iāll get up some more thoughts about all this later this week, I think.
In the meantime, click this link, book a session, and come shoot with me why donāt you?!
-Clayton
Portrait of Anne. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Self-promotional Wednesday! Today, through next Wednesday, I am doing my āKeep it 100ā portrait setup at my See You Soon studio. If youāre in the Chicagoland area, check it out and come shoot with me! Itās a ton of fun, super affordable, the images are great, and Iām having a hell of a time getting people to come out for it!
Seriously, though, Iām being a bit hard on myself. Iāve already done at least fifty of these sessions if not many more (brain blur) but in my head the deal is so good there should be a line down the block. Iāll get up some more thoughts about all this later this week, I think.
In the meantime, click this link, book a session, and come shoot with me why donāt you?!
-Clayton
2024 09 30
Finally made it to a Cubs game this year. The last game of the season. During a lull (0-0 game into the 10th) I saw Shota Imanaga, their star pitcher from Japan, hanging out in the dugout and made a run for it, dodging the ever-present ushers.
I got down real close and shouted his name and his interpreterās name, hoping theyād turn around and recognize me from our cover shoot a few months back. I wanted to ask if he liked the image!
They did not recognize me. Turns out Iām still just an obnoxious fan who the Wrigley ushers do not like š
-Clayton
ShÅta Imanaga photographed for the cover of Chicago Magazine. Chicago, Illinois. June, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Finally made it to a Cubs game this year. The last game of the season. During a lull (0-0 game into the 10th) I saw Shota Imanaga, their star pitcher from Japan, hanging out in the dugout and made a run for it, dodging the ever-present ushers.
I got down real close and shouted his name and his interpreterās name, hoping theyād turn around and recognize me from our cover shoot a few months back. I wanted to ask if he liked the image!
They did not recognize me. Turns out Iām still just an obnoxious fan who the Wrigley ushers do not like.
See you next season.
-Clayton
2024 09 01
I took an afternoon off to wander Atlanta and make some photos. Really, I wanted to explore a bit and see some new sights. Take in the scenery. I hopped a Lime-brand scooter and ended up in a cute neighborhood off the Belt Line, filled with charming streets and proud houses with character. Being a photographer out hunting for details, my senses were alerted to a strange man who seemed to be following me. Clearly this man wanted to steal my backpack full of expensive electronics. I zigged and I zagged and I detoured away from the man so I didnāt have to continually look over my shoulder and be on guard.
The scooter took me up and down Atlantaās hills at a rapid rate. One thing I dislike about driving in a car is all of the photos you catch a glimpse of but are forced to miss. One thing I dislike about driving in car is all the fine details that canāt be observed like they can while walking. Utilizing a scooter is sort of a compromised approach to both maximizing your exploration time when youāre on a tight schedule and want to fit it all in, while also having the ability to hop off at a momentās notice to grab some photos.
Rounding a corner of this charming neighborhood, the strange man from earlier came into view up ahead. Now I was stalking him. As I gained a better perspective, it became clear that this strange man was being so strange because he was just like me! He was out wandering and exploring the neighborhood. He held a film camera in his hand and was making photos. An immediate sense of shame washed over my body which could only be alleviated by stopping the scooter to say hello.
āIām Little Egg Boy,ā he informed me. He was out making photos. We swapped instagram handles and became digital friends, forever bonded by beautiful images we both made of a dusty old red car parked across the street. Those images have twice made appearances on this here blog (2024 08 17, 2024 06 23) and today, the third time is the charm. Little Egg Boy is an interesting man, not a strange man, and that day he was a nice reminder to me that itās usually best to keep an open mind and allow yourself to have the mysterious encounters that all too often tend to shut us down and make us afraid.
-Clayton
Little Egg Boy in Atlanta, Georgia. May, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I took an afternoon off to wander Atlanta and make some photos. Really, I wanted to explore a bit and see some new sights. Take in the scenery. I hopped on a Lime-brand scooter and ended up in a cute neighborhood off the Belt Line, filled with charming streets and proud houses with character. Being a photographer out hunting for details, my senses were alerted to a strange man who seemed to be following me. Clearly this man wanted to steal my backpack full of expensive electronics. I zigged and I zagged and I detoured away from the man so I didnāt have to continually look over my shoulder and be on guard.
The scooter took me up and down Atlantaās hills at a rapid rate. One thing I dislike about driving in a car is all of the photos you catch a glimpse of but are forced to miss. One thing I dislike about driving in car is all the fine details that canāt be observed like they can while walking. Utilizing a scooter is sort of a compromised approach to both maximizing your exploration time when youāre on a tight schedule and want to fit it all in, while also having the ability to hop off at a momentās notice to grab some photos.
Rounding a corner of this charming neighborhood, the strange man from earlier suddenly came into view up ahead. Now I was stalking him. As I gained a better perspective, it became clear that this strange man was being so strange because he was just like me! He was out wandering and exploring the neighborhood. He held a film camera in his hand and was making photos. An immediate sense of shame washed over my body which could only be alleviated by stopping the scooter to say hello.
āIām Little Egg Boy,ā he informed me. He was out making photos. We swapped instagram handles and became digital friends, forever bonded by beautiful images we both made of a dusty old red car parked across the street. Those images have twice made appearances on this here blog (2024 08 17, 2024 06 23) and today, the third time is the charm. Little Egg Boy is an interesting man, not a strange man, and that day he was a nice reminder to me that itās usually best to keep an open mind and allow yourself to have the mysterious encounters that all too often tend to shut us down and make us afraid.
-Clayton
2024 08 23
I woke up this morning after an exhausting day of photography yesterday. My 5:30am call-time to location an hour away without traffic meant a 3:30am wake up and only a few hours of non-consecutive sleep. This sort of approach works once in a while but is impossible to sustain. I woke up this morning (luckily today is an off day which I will use to catch up on everything before leaving town tomorrow morning for another gig out east) and my phone showed me some interesting thoughts from Haruki Murakami on writing:
I get up early and focus solely on writing for five to six hours every single day. Thinking that hard and long about things, your brain gets overheated (with my scalp literally getting hot at times), so after that I need to give my head a rest. That's why I spend my afternoons napping, enjoying music, reading innocuous books. That kind of life, though, gets you out of shape physically, so every day I spend about an hour outdoors exercising. That sets me up for the next day's work. Day after day, without exception, I repeat this cycle.
Murakami is clearly dedicated to his craft and committed enough to stick to such a rigid routine. Comparing this to myself, I do agree that a large part of why Iāve been relatively successful as a photographer is because Iāve allocated a huge amount of my time to the craft. Day after day, year after year, relentless taking, making, editing, and looking at photos. I am not as focused as Murakami, though, and have an endless succession of new hobbies and side projects to distract me. These things likely also keep me sane and able to continue making photography my main career, but I do also wonder if they restrict me from getting to an ultimately higher place within the filed. While itās nice to make a living from the craft, my real end goal is to achieve something more, and previously I was not on any sort of path to do this. Iām not sure I am now either but am, at least, considering this.
He went on:
I'm a very patient type of person, I think, when it comes to that kind of process. Still, at times I do get fed up with it and hate it. But as I work away, persevering day after dayālike a bricklayer carefully laying one brick on top of anotherāI reach a certain point where I get the definite feeling that when all is said and done, a writer is exactly what I am. And I accept that feeling as something good, something to be celebrated. The slogan of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) in the US is "One day at a time," and that's exactly what this is like. Maintaining a set rhythm, steadily hauling in one day after the other and sending them on their way. Silently continue to do this and at a certain point something happens inside you. But it takes time to reach this point.
One day at a time, Clayton. One day at a time. I am a photographer. Who also wants to be a writer, and a bar owner, and a director, and a venue manager, and a youtuber, and a podcaster, and a blogger, and a journalist, and a musician, and an arborist. I am a photographer. One day at a time.
-Clayton
Chef Christian Hunter of Atelier. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I woke up early yesterday morning for an exhausting day of photography. My 5:30am call-time to location an hour away without traffic meant a 3:30am wake up and only a few hours of non-consecutive sleep. This sort of approach works once in a while but is impossible to sustain. I woke up this morning (luckily today is an off day which I will use to catch up on everything before leaving town tomorrow morning for another gig out east) and my phone showed me some interesting thoughts from Haruki Murakami on writing:
I get up early and focus solely on writing for five to six hours every single day. Thinking that hard and long about things, your brain gets overheated (with my scalp literally getting hot at times), so after that I need to give my head a rest. That's why I spend my afternoons napping, enjoying music, reading innocuous books. That kind of life, though, gets you out of shape physically, so every day I spend about an hour outdoors exercising. That sets me up for the next day's work. Day after day, without exception, I repeat this cycle.
Murakami is clearly dedicated to his craft and committed enough to stick to such a rigid routine. Comparing this to myself, I do agree that a large part of why Iāve been relatively successful as a photographer is because Iāve allocated a huge amount of my time to the craft. Day after day, year after year, relentless taking, making, editing, and looking at photos. I am not as focused as Murakami, though, and have an endless succession of new hobbies and side projects to distract me. These things likely also keep me sane and able to continue making photography my main career, but I do also wonder if they restrict me from getting to an ultimately higher place within the filed. While itās nice to make a living from the craft, my real end goal is to achieve something more, and previously I was not on any sort of path to do this. Iām not sure I am now either but am, at least, considering this.
He went on:
I'm a very patient type of person, I think, when it comes to that kind of process. Still, at times I do get fed up with it and hate it. But as I work away, persevering day after dayālike a bricklayer carefully laying one brick on top of anotherāI reach a certain point where I get the definite feeling that when all is said and done, a writer is exactly what I am. And I accept that feeling as something good, something to be celebrated. The slogan of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) in the US is "One day at a time," and that's exactly what this is like. Maintaining a set rhythm, steadily hauling in one day after the other and sending them on their way. Silently continue to do this and at a certain point something happens inside you. But it takes time to reach this point.
One day at a time, Clayton. One day at a time. I am a photographer. Who also wants to be a writer, and a bar owner, and a director, and a venue manager, and a youtuber, and a podcaster, and a blogger, and a journalist, and a musician, and an arborist. I am a photographer. One day at a time.
-Clayton
2024 07 21
Itās Sunday. Nobody is here on Sunday. Itās a ghost town. That said, the internet is forever so I canāt just say whatever I want to say without eventually hearing about it from someone. A big part of why Iām doing this blog is to push myself more out of my comfort zone. To not hold back. To re-acquaint myself with the feeling of putting my art out into the world for everyone to judge. Sure, itās not going to be a banger photo every day. Sure, Iām going to sound like a maniac on occasion. Iām not perfect.
I scroll through the gallery page and what stands out to me is that thereās not enough people in my images. Likely, Iām holding back when Iām out making photos. Iāve got a bigger post with further elaboration on all of this hopefully in the works.
If you want some distraction this Sunday and are at all interested in Chicago music history, check out the video below which just popped into my feed. Itās a tour of the city with DJ Terry Hunter stopping by all the historic locations in town. Youtube is incredibleā¦ still donāt fully understand why Iām blogging and not youtubing. One of these days.
-Clayton
Allison at Maplewood, modelling for my first roll of film in a decade. Chicago, Illinois. March, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Itās Sunday. Nobody is here on Sunday. Itās a ghost town. That said, the internet is forever so I canāt just say whatever I want to say without eventually hearing about it from someone. A big part of why Iām doing this blog is to push myself more out of my comfort zone. To not hold back. To re-acquaint myself with the feeling of putting my art out into the world for everyone to judge. Sure, itās not going to be a banger photo every day. Sure, Iām going to sound like a maniac on occasion. Iām not perfect.
I scroll through the gallery page and what stands out to me is that thereās not enough people in my images. Likely, Iām holding back when Iām out making photos. Iāve got a bigger post with further elaboration on all of this hopefully in the works.
If you want some distraction this Sunday and are at all interested in Chicago music history, check out the video below which just popped into my feed. Itās a tour of the city with DJ Terry Hunter stopping by all the historic locations in town. Youtube is incredibleā¦ still donāt fully understand why Iām blogging and not youtubing. One of these days.
-Clayton
2024 06 22
Hello loyal daily photo blog readers (mom & dad)! This coming week, and the week thereafter, I will be offering my insanely-priced $100 portrait sessions at the studio. If youāre in need of one-hundred unique new images of yourself, book a session and come shoot with me! Itās a ton of fun and Iāll soon be raising the price because this deal is going to lead me to financial ruin if I keep it up much longer.
Anyway, hope to see you soon!
-Clayton
Dinah, photographed in my āKeep It 100ā setup at my See You Soon studio. Chicago, Illinois. December, 2023. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Hello loyal daily photo blog readers (mom & dad)! This coming week, and the week thereafter, I will be offering my insanely-priced $100 portrait sessions at the studio. If youāre in need of one-hundred unique new images of yourself, book a session and come shoot with me! Itās a ton of fun and Iāll soon be raising the price because this deal is going to lead me to financial ruin if I keep it up much longer.
Anyway, hope to see you soon!
-Clayton
2024 06 09
One of the dozens of silly ideas Iāve had lately is to open a photobook shop out of my studio. While this idea is one that still gets me excited and, I think, might be successful, itās also one that I have yet to fully commit to. That said, I do have a few titles in my shop library currently available for purchase. Maybe sometime soon I will have more books available. Maybe not. Anyway, Iām exhausted from shooting day one of a future doc project today, and itās Sunday and nobody comes here much on Sundays, so I will leave it at that. Perhaps weāll get back into the writing of things next week.
-Clayton
Photographer Mariah Karson posing in her home just before departing for Portugal. Chicago, Illinois. March, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
One of the dozens of silly ideas Iāve had lately is to open a photobook shop out of my studio. While this idea is one that still gets me excited and, I think, might be successful, itās also one that I have yet to fully commit to. That said, I do have a few titles in my shop library currently available for purchase. Maybe sometime soon I will have more books available. Maybe not. Anyway, Iām exhausted from shooting day one of a future doc project today, and itās Sunday and nobody comes here much on Sundays, so I will leave it at that. Perhaps weāll get back into the writing of things next week.
-Clayton
2024 05 15
Just a quick update today as Iām still buried in work with no time for blogginā
Iām offering my Keep it 100 $100 portrait sessions at the studio this week. If youāre in town and need some new photos of yourself, book a session and come see me!
-Clayton
Charlie poses during one of my Keep it 100 sessions at the studio. December, 2023. Chicago, Illinois. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Just a quick update today as Iām still buried in work with no time for blogginā
Iām offering my Keep it 100 $100 portrait sessions at the studio this week. If youāre in town and need some new photos of yourself, book a session and come see me!
-Clayton
2024 05 07
Following my own advice from yesterdayās entry, I checked out another from Paulie Bās amazing Walkie Talkie series, this time featuring another photographer I was not previously familiar with by the name of Sara Messinger. I think the kids are alright! Beyond being introduced to another talented name, I loved the contrasting styles, approaches, and philosophies between Sara and Trevor, who was the previous subject of yesterdayās post. Throughout the entire forty-minute video, Iām not sure Sara made a single image, while Trevor finished like a dozen rolls and got into a few heated moments with strangers-who-became-subjects.
Partly why I loved this video with Sara is because she constantly reminded me of my own partner Allison, whereas Iām probably a bit more like Trevor. We all see the world a bit different and approach photography in our own ways. Itās also rather fascinating to contemplate how street photography has changed since I was their age wandering the streets with a camera. People these days are far more sensitive and aware about what might happen when a stranger makes a photo of them on the street without their consent.
Thatās a deeper debate for another day, but letās leave it there for now. Compete less; put yourself out there more; open yourself up to connect with your subjects as thatās how the magical moments are made. Thanks for your positive energy, Sara.
-Clayton
Dinah in front of the camera for my Keep it 100 portrait session. Chicago, Illinois. December, 2023. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Following my own advice from yesterdayās entry, I checked out another from Paulie Bās amazing Walkie Talkie series, this time featuring another photographer I was not previously familiar with by the name of Sara Messinger. I think the kids are alright! Beyond being introduced to another talented name, I loved the contrasting styles, approaches, and philosophies between Sara and Trevor, who was the previous subject of yesterdayās post. Throughout the entire forty-minute video, Iām not sure Sara made a single image, while Trevor finished like a dozen rolls and got into a few heated moments with strangers-who-became-subjects.
Partly why I loved this video with Sara is because she constantly reminded me of my own partner Allison, whereas Iām probably a bit more like Trevor. We all see the world a bit different and approach photography in our own ways. Itās also rather fascinating to contemplate how street photography has changed since I was their age wandering the streets with a camera. People these days are far more sensitive and aware about what might happen when a stranger makes a photo of them on the street without their consent.
Thatās a deeper debate for another day, but letās leave it there for now. Compete less; put yourself out there more; open yourself up to connect deeply with your subjects, as thatās how the magical moments are made. Thanks for your positive energy, Sara.
-Clayton
2024 04 10
Today is the birthday of my favorite person, my partner, my soon-to-be wife, Allison! it is your birthday. Hope itās a good one!
Allison Ziemba in our backyard. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Today is the birthday of my favorite person, my partner, my soon-to-be wife, Allison! it is your birthday. Hope itās a good one!
Love you so much!
-Clayton
2024 04 09
After roughly twenty years in the business, itās rare I get to photograph a magazine cover (partly because magazines donāt really exist anymore) so it was an honor when my semi-regular client Chicago allowed me to do a cover shoot. My photography style tends to be a bit more gritty, dark, and authentic (agency buzz word alert!ā¦are you listening, SEO?), which doesnāt always fit well in the glossy world of heavily-retouched magazine rack images. Or at least thatās what I tell myself.
This image was made as part of a Best New Restaurants feature, which was a blast to be a part of and resulted in some great images.
While Iām still sort of feeling out what this particular website even is, Iām shying away from making it another commercial photography portfolio, so even sharing editorial images like this one doesnāt feel completely right. But weāll see!
Chef Christian Hunter of Atelier photographed for Chicago Magazine (and used as the cover image!). Chicago, Illinois. February, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
After roughly twenty years in the business, itās rare I get to photograph a magazine cover (partly because magazines donāt really exist anymore) so it was an honor when my semi-regular client Chicago allowed me to do a cover shoot. My photography style tends to be a bit more gritty, dark, and authentic (agency buzz word alert!ā¦are you listening, SEO?), which doesnāt always fit well in the glossy world of heavily-retouched magazine rack images. Or at least thatās what I tell myself.
This image was made as part of a Best New Restaurants feature, which was a blast to be a part of and resulted in some great images.
While Iām still sort of feeling out what this particular website even is, Iām shying away from making it another commercial photography portfolio, so even sharing editorial images like this one doesnāt feel completely right. But weāll see!
On the topic of myself, one other idea I had was to do a series on Instagram reels going into a bit more detail on how I made specific images. Tips, tricks, and observations. That sort of thing. Is this something people want or am I merely stroking my ego and hunting for social engagement? I donāt know! Sorting out how to exist within the current digital media landscape is endlessly confusing and largely frustrating. I guess at the end of the day you should just do things that feel right to you and not like a blatant grab for internet fame.
What do you think? Is anyone reading this? Blogging is the future so surely there will soon be tens of dozens of people interested in leaving their opinions in the comment section below.
-Clayton
2024 03 23
Imagine: youāre a dopey teenager in a band and luck into making an album that becomes a global phenomenon. Then, five decades later, youāre still a musician but nobody wants to hear anything you have to say if itās not a song off that one album that went global when you were sixteen years old and didnāt know shit about nothinā. Itās like being caught in a moment of time with no escape. Sure, you can do your best to ignore the chanting from the masses to āplay something we know!ā as Bob Dylan constantly has to do, but even someone as monumental as Bob Dylan canāt escape the chanting and is forced to hear it for the rest of his life.
Anyway. 311 did a Tiny Desk concert which got me thinking about time, music, art, and how sometimes when you make something that becomes big, it evolves and is no longer really yours, regardless of what US copyright law may have to say about it.
āStay positive! Love your life!ā -311, avid readers of Pointing at Stuff dot com.
-Clayton
Stylish woman hands me my new iPhone before I ask if I can make a photo of her. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2023. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Imagine: youāre a dopey teenager in a band and luck into making an album that becomes a global phenomenon. Then, five decades later, youāre still a musician but nobody wants to hear anything you have to say if itās not a song off that one album that went global when you were sixteen years old and didnāt know shit about nothinā (also: thatās possibly how you were able to make music everyone wanted to hear but more on this idea another day). Itās like being caught in a moment of time with no escape. Sure, you can do your best to ignore the chanting from the masses to āplay something we know!ā as Bob Dylan constantly has to do, but even someone as monumental as Bob Dylan canāt escape the chanting and is forced to hear it for the rest of his life.
Anyway. 311 did a Tiny Desk concert which got me thinking about time, music, art, and how sometimes when you make something that becomes big, it evolves and is no longer really yours, regardless of what US copyright law may have to say about it.
āStay positive! Love your life!ā -311, avid readers of Pointing at Stuff dot com.
-Clayton
2024 03 18
Itās Monday. Back to workā¦
Hereās a little self promotion. I do a really fun portrait setup in my studio where I offer $100 portrait sessions in which participants get 100 unique photos of themselves. No AI, no fancy Photoshop tricks, just a unique approach to good old fashioned portrait photography.
ā”ļø You can check out more about the process, or book a session next time Iām offering it, here on the studio page.
-Clayton
Filmmaker & educator Anu Rana in my See You Soon studio as a subject in my Keep it 100 portrait setup. February, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Itās Monday. Back to workā¦
Hereās a little self promotion. I do a really fun portrait setup in my studio where I offer $100 portrait sessions in which participants get 100 unique photos of themselves. No AI, no fancy Photoshop tricks, just a unique approach to good old fashioned portrait photography.
-Clayton
2024 03 02
AI sources its āinspirationā from existing imagery. They grab millions, if not billions, of images and feed them into a massive neural computer network. Many, if not most, of the images are made by artists with no interest in training a computer model. Some of the images are illegal. Child pornography that got sucked into the system in the corporate drive to automate systems to train other systems on the biggest pool of imagery possible.
What interests me is what happens in 5-10 years when (if?) most content is AI generated. It will become a Digital Doom Loop of artificial reality. AI systems training themselves on artificial material made by other AI systems ad infinitum. Language will shift based on what the computers interpret to be language. If we canāt understand the computers, weāll lose our grip on them, so weāll be forced to bend to their automated will.
Anyway, have a nice weekend.
-Clayton
An outtake from my āKeep it 100ā portrait sessions. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
AI sources its āinspirationā from existing imagery. They grab millions, if not billions, of images and feed them into a massive neural computer network. Many, if not most, of the images are made by artists with no interest in training a computer model. Some of the images are illegal. Child pornography that got sucked into the system in the corporate drive to automate systems to train other systems on the biggest pool of imagery possible.
What interests me is what happens in 5-10 years when (if?) most content is AI generated. It will become a Digital Doom Loop of artificial reality. AI systems training themselves on artificial material made by other AI systems ad infinitum. Language will shift based on what the computers interpret to be language. If we canāt understand the computers, weāll lose our grip on them, so weāll be forced to bend to their automated will.
Anyway, have a nice weekend.
-Clayton
2024 01 21
*Warning: Political Content*
While I have no idea how this upcoming political election will play out, other than it being an unbearable experience for most of us, I wanted to air some thoughts on the topic.
Preface: Local politics have vastly more impact to most of us and are surprisingly easy to get involved in and make a difference. Of course, they are also wildly boring and therefor almost universally ignored. On that note, letās chat about the Big Ticket Item, the president of the united states!
One angle that I think gets mostly forgotten or overlooked in US political discourse is: things change. Both the Democratic and Republican parties were vastly different not that long ago as they are made up of varying coalition of groups, interests, rich people, corporations, etc. My skrewball vision over the last few years is that weād soon see the rise of a third viable party in this country ā which would be a progressive/socialist party fueled by the anger of young, disenfranchised, and āleft behindā voters ā while the traditional conservative strong-government stability-rules types would side with an increasingly-conservative Democratic party (mostly because they still have the old power structures firmly in place) and the MAGA burn-the-system folks would complete their takeover of the Republican party.
While I have no love for Trump or the party he has commandeered, one thing I give Republicans credit for is having a bit of flexibility. Most of us had no confidence that Trump would actually win the nomination and become president. Even after he demolished the competition, debate after debate, we thought surely there would be something to stop this mess from happening. The same thing was playing out on the other side and thatās exactly what did happen! The Dems, terrified of losing their grip on the levers of power to an unknown, Independent entity named Bernie, used all their sway to make sure he didnāt take control away from them like Obama had done eight years prior. These two decisions: the GOP deciding to listen to voters and the Dems doing their best to ignore them, is likely what gave Trump the victory. If it does not bend, it will break.
So what happens next? Apparently the Supreme Court (which Trump largely installed) will tell us in the coming weeks after they decide whether states get to decide who goes on the ballot. You know, typical democracy will-of-the-voters stuff!
The political landscape of this country has shifted before and it is currently shifting again. How it ends nobody yet knows, but the parties that largely control our political destiny will not be the same as they are now forever.
Iām linking below a recent video from my favorite geopolitics writer Peter Zeihan which I think does a nice job summing up not how things have changed, might play out, and surely will get even weirder.
Vote!
-Clayton
Portrait of a participant at a Beer & Cameras event I hosted at my See You Soon studio. Novermber 12, 2023. Ā© Clayton Hauck
*Warning: Political Content*
While I have no idea how this upcoming political election will play out, other than it being an unbearable experience for most of us, I wanted to air some thoughts on the topic.
Preface: Local politics have vastly more impact to most of us and are surprisingly easy to get involved in and make a difference. Of course, they are also wildly boring and therefor almost universally ignored. On that note, letās chat about the Big Ticket Item, the president of the United States!
One angle that I think gets mostly forgotten or overlooked in US political discourse is: things change. Both the Democratic and Republican parties were vastly different not that long ago as they are made up of varying coalition of groups, interests, rich people, corporations, etc. My skrewball vision over the last few years is that weād soon see the rise of a third viable party in this country ā which would be a progressive/socialist party fueled by the anger of young, disenfranchised, and āleft behindā voters ā while the traditional conservative strong-government stability-rules types would side with an increasingly-conservative Democratic party (mostly because they still have the old power structures firmly in place) and the MAGA burn-the-system folks would complete their takeover of the Republican party.
While I have no love for Trump or the party he has commandeered, one thing I give Republicans credit for is having a bit of flexibility. Most of us had no confidence that Trump would actually win the nomination and become president. Even after he demolished the competition, debate after debate, we thought surely there would be something to stop this mess from happening. The same thing was playing out on the other side and thatās exactly what did happen! The Dems, terrified of losing their grip on the levers of power to an unknown, Independent entity named Bernie, used all their sway to make sure he didnāt take control away from them like Obama had done eight years prior. These two decisions: the GOP deciding to listen to voters and the Dems doing their best to ignore them, is likely what gave Trump the victory. If it does not bend, it will break.
So what happens next? Apparently the Supreme Court (which Trump largely installed) will tell us in the coming weeks after they decide whether states get to decide who goes on the ballot. You know, typical democracy will-of-the-voters stuff!
The political landscape of this country has shifted before and it is currently shifting again. How it ends nobody yet knows, but the parties that largely control our political destiny will not be the same as they are now forever.
Iām linking below a recent video from my favorite geopolitics writer Peter Zeihan which I think does a nice job (although I disagree with him that Trump canāt win) summing up how things have changed, might play out, and surely will get even weirder.
Vote!
-Clayton