2024 11 12
Self-promotional post today, because itās going to be a fun one and you should totally be there! Iām hosting an event in my studio space next Thursday for the release of Crust Fund Pizzaās new pizza cookbook, Super Pizza World! Tickets are $75 but that also gets you a copy of the book (which is awesome and I have some writing in there myself!), along with a bunch of food and drinks. Plus, all the money collected is going to benefit a nonprofit organization in the building, Chicago Mobile Makers. As of writing this, there are about ten tickets remaining, so if this sounds fun, click this link asap for more info and to snag a spot!
-Clayton
Sipping a tasty Wisconsin Old Fashioned in summer. St Germain, Wisconsin. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Self-promotional post today, because itās going to be a fun one and you should totally be there! Iām hosting an event in my studio space next Thursday for the release of Crust Fund Pizzaās new pizza cookbook, Super Pizza World! Tickets are $75 but that also gets you a copy of the book (which is awesome and I have some writing in there myself!), along with a bunch of food and drinks. Plus, all the money collected is going to benefit a nonprofit organization in the building, Chicago Mobile Makers. As of writing this, there are about ten tickets remaining, so if this sounds fun, click this link asap for more info and to snag a spot!
-Clayton
2024 11 10
As I sit on my couch this beautiful summer fall afternoon (itās sixty-two degrees today!), I find it appropriate to post yet another Busted Car image. While Trump and his crew of Elites (wait I thought they hated elites?) figure out how to best pillage this nationās fine institutions in the name of tax breaks for themselves (that we voted for!), I think to myself, it could be worse; I could be a Bears fan.Wait, fuck.
-Clayton
Another busted car (this oneās a big one!). Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
As I sit on my couch this beautiful summer fall afternoon (itās sixty-two degrees today!), I find it appropriate to post yet another Busted Car image. While Trump and his crew of Elites (wait I thought they hated elites?) figure out how to best pillage this nationās fine institutions in the name of tax breaks for themselves (that we voted for!), I think to myself, it could be worse; I could be a Bears fan.Wait, fuck.
-Clayton
2024 11 09
Came across an interesting discussion with author Cormac McCarthy (shown below) in which he discusses his thoughts on the subconscious (it speaks in code because language is, evolutionarily-speaking very new). They also discuss āThe Night Shiftā being the time, while sleeping, when your brain is working and processing thoughts and problems.
The Night Shift is fascinating to me, and I do my best to stay in touch with it (though admittedly Iām not very well connected to it and want to get better). Iāll remember dreams only if Iām awoken during them (normal, I think). Maybe it was Dali who would set elaborate contraptions to wake him up mid sleep at varying times in order to allow his waking brain to capture buts of what his sleeping brain was working on. This is fascinating!
This morning, I woke up to a dream I often have but with a twist. I regularly have what I call āset dreamsā which are basically just me working on a photo production. The difference this time was that the set was a motion set, signaling to me that Iām finally embracing my reluctant pivot to video. These dreams are usual banal, however, I love the idea that Iām running scenarios and gaining āexperienceā while I sleep to better prepare myself for the often stressful days that I go through in my day job as a professional photographer.
Last night, I was awoken in the middle of the night by a song I had been creating(?) in my sleep. This is another reoccurring dream scenario I have, which makes me wonder if perhaps I do have worthwhile music in me that wants to get out (Iāll often have the urge to start a band despite the fact I canāt play any instruments). Iāve never been able to remember one of these dream songs well enough in my waking hours to know if they are any good, however, the same sort of thing happens with movies I am ācreatingā in my dream state and those are typically far less amazing in the sobriety of the waking life.
-Clayton
Mysterious alley. Cleveland, Ohio. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Came across an interesting discussion with author Cormac McCarthy (shown below) in which he discusses his thoughts on the subconscious (it speaks in code because language is, evolutionarily-speaking very new). They also discuss āThe Night Shiftā being the time, while sleeping, when your brain is working and processing thoughts and problems.
The Night Shift is fascinating to me, and I do my best to stay in touch with it (though admittedly Iām not very well connected to it and want to get better). Iāll remember dreams only if Iām awoken during them (normal, I think). Maybe it was Dali who would set elaborate contraptions to wake him up mid sleep at varying times in order to allow his waking brain to capture buts of what his sleeping brain was working on. This is fascinating!
This morning, I woke up to a dream I often have but with a twist. I regularly have what I call āset dreamsā which are basically just me working on a photo production. The difference this time was that the set was a motion set, signaling to me that Iām finally embracing my reluctant pivot to video. These dreams are usual banal, however, I love the idea that Iām running scenarios and gaining āexperienceā while I sleep to better prepare myself for the often stressful days that I go through in my day job as a professional photographer.
Last night, I was awoken in the middle of the night by a song I had been creating(?) in my sleep. This is another reoccurring dream scenario I have, which makes me wonder if perhaps I do have worthwhile music in me that wants to get out (Iāll often have the urge to start a band despite the fact I canāt play any instruments). Iāve never been able to remember one of these dream songs well enough in my waking hours to know if they are any good, however, the same sort of thing happens with movies I am ācreatingā in my dream state and those are typically far less amazing in the sobriety of the waking life.
-Clayton
2024 11 07
Things change. When I was a kid, my dad brought us downtown and I vividly remember the awe inspired by this building as we entered its public atrium. This, in part, made me want to become an architect when I got older. Instead, I eventually became obsessed with video shooting and ended up pursuing that as a career as I entered my young adult years. The video obsession eventually morphed into a still photography obsession, largely because it was easier for me to make work by myself, and didnāt need to rely on others to get things done. Candidly, I was an introverted shy kid and navigating the necessity of forming a big crew to make video productions happen seemed daunting to me at the time. When I found some traction as a photographer, it was a no brainer to shift my attention to that.
Now, I find myself an older guy and the Thompson Center is underground a tech-funded transformation (along with our country, it turns out). This morning, I woke up excited about video for the first time in a long time. It was an interesting observation and one that has gotten me excited! Iāve never lost my love for video and filmmaking, however, itās been firmly in the back seat for my entire adult life. New cameras and accessories are now being released, which are making me giddy to get my hands on them. Iām in the early days of a documentary project that is getting me excited, and Iām planning on collaborating on a bunch of test shoots this winter with a talented DP friend to showcase what we can do with beverage and food.
More to come as I make steps towards a new and exciting pivot in my professional career.
-Clayton
The Thompson Center, undergoing a transformation. Chicago, Illinois. July 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Things change. When I was a kid, my dad brought us downtown and I vividly remember the awe inspired by this building as we entered its public atrium. This, in part, made me want to become an architect when I got older. Instead, I eventually became obsessed with video shooting and ended up pursuing that as a career as I entered my young adult years. The video obsession eventually morphed into a still photography obsession, largely because it was easier for me to make work by myself, and didnāt need to rely on others to get things done. Candidly, I was an introverted shy kid and navigating the necessity of forming a big crew to make video productions happen seemed daunting to me at the time. When I found some traction as a photographer, it was a no brainer to shift my attention to that.
Now, I find myself an older guy and the Thompson Center is underground a tech-funded transformation (along with our country, it turns out). This morning, I woke up excited about video for the first time in a long time. It was an interesting observation and one that has gotten me excited! Iāve never lost my love for video and filmmaking, however, itās been firmly in the back seat for my entire adult life. New cameras and accessories are now being released, which are making me giddy to get my hands on them. Iām in the early days of a documentary project that is getting me excited, and Iām planning on collaborating on a bunch of test shoots this winter with a talented DP friend to showcase what we can do with beverage and food.
More to come as I make steps towards a new and exciting pivot in my professional career.
-Clayton
2024 11 06
Here we go again. Hold on to your butts. Last night was a gut punch for many of us, but here we are. Lots of people will have lots to say, with hindsight on their side, but I think my biggest takeaway is that we donāt have an effective opposition to Trump populism. The Democratic party is run by a largely-senile president who was pushed out of office against his own wishes and was nowhere to be seen throughout the election; along with a former president who is nowhere to be seen until itās time to campaign for a few weeks leading up to the vote; along with a former Speaker who, while smart, is an 84-year old millionaire none of us can relate to or connect with. This isnāt the kind of leadership that wins elections and unless something changes, it will continue to happen over and over again.
Kamala was not a perfect candidate, but she ran a pretty dang good campaign, all things considered. Sure, she couldāve done many things differently, but I donāt think it wouldāve changed the outcome one bit. It was an impossible task and now we live in a world where the only two female presidential candidates in our countriesā history have both been defeated by Donald Trump. It stings, bad. Itās a grim reality, but it is our reality and if we want it to change, weāll need to stay engaged, stay focused, and stick together.
-Clayton
Today, we stare into the void. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Here we go again. Hold on to your butts. Last night was a gut punch for many of us, but here we are. Lots of people will have lots to say, with hindsight on their side, but I think my biggest takeaway is that we donāt have an effective opposition to Trump populism. The Democratic party is run by a largely-senile president who was pushed out of office against his own wishes and was nowhere to be seen throughout the election; along with a former president who is nowhere to be seen until itās time to campaign for a few weeks leading up to the vote; along with a former Speaker who, while smart, is an 84-year old millionaire none of us can relate to or connect with. This isnāt the kind of leadership that wins elections and unless something changes, it will continue to happen over and over again.
Kamala was not a perfect candidate, but she ran a decent campaign, all things considered. Sure, she couldāve done many things differently, but I donāt think it wouldāve changed the outcome one bit. It was an impossible task and now we live in a world where the only two female presidential candidates in our countriesā history have both been defeated by Donald Trump. It stings, bad. Itās a grim reality, but it is our reality and if we want it to change, weāll need to stay engaged, stay focused, and stick together.
-Clayton
PS - I think Jon sums it up well here, and Jonathan does a pretty entertaining job as well, below that:
2024 11 05
Itās election day. Please make sure you vote! I wonāt get into the politics beyond this, aside to say this will be a historic day in American history, regardless the outcome.
Be safe, be kind, and good luck to all.
-Clayton
Trump fan on the roll during the RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Itās election day. Please make sure you vote! While far from a perfect candidate, I think Kamala is the clear choice for the top job. I wonāt get into the politics beyond this, aside to say this will be a historic day in American, regardless the outcome.
Be safe, be kind, and good luck to all.
-Clayton
2024 11 03
Yesterday, Sunday, I took my day off so seriously that I forgot to post anything at all. I blame the Bears, who so demoralized me, I lost the will to do anything at all. Chicago sports is remarkable, really. Our teams experience occasional brilliant glory and then spend the next decade or two toiling away among the worst and most poorly-run organizations in all of sports. Weāll get āem next year, Iāll say again next year!
-Clayton
Another Mr Peepers. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Yesterday, Sunday, I took my day off so seriously that I forgot to post anything at all. I blame the Bears, who so demoralized me, I lost the will to do anything at all. Chicago sports is remarkable, really. Our teams experience occasional brilliant glory and then spend the next decade or two toiling away among the worst and most poorly-run organizations in all of sports. Weāll get āem next year, Iāll say again next year!
-Clayton
2024 11 02
The other day, I asked a friend if she wanted to get involved in one of my endless list of side projects. She politely declined by saying she was āunderwaterā. This caused me to realize Iāve been fully submerged myself for three years now, like a fish swimming around towards whatever task it deems most important or most interesting any given day or moment. Iām starting to wonder how sustainable this approach to life is!
That said, the last three years of my life have been perhaps the best (recency bias may play a factor, sure, but this is an honest assessment!) as Iāve gotten married, explored a ton of new things, built out my studio which Iām incredible proud of, made endless new contacts, focused more on my creative outlets (was just out working on a personal project yesterday), ditched a bunch of less-healthy distractions (stock market, politics and geopolitics, largely), and a bunch more Iām probably not thinking of. On top of all this, however, the last few years have also easily been the most stressful of my adult life from a financial perspective. I often wonder if these two divergent trends are related (I think they are, to an extent) and how my happiness might be affected if I was rolling in cash (happiness is over-rated but money is even more so, imo!).
Anyway.
These are some thoughts I should further explore in writing in the months ahead. Today, I attempt to swim to the surface to catch a view of things.
-Clayton
Staying aflot to catch some lunch. St Germain, Wisconsin. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
The other day, I asked a friend if she wanted to get involved in one of my endless list of side projects. She politely declined by saying she was āunderwaterā. This caused me to realize Iāve been fully submerged myself for three years now, like a fish swimming around towards whatever task it deems most important or most interesting any given day or moment. Iām starting to wonder how sustainable this approach to life is!
That said, the last three years of my life have been perhaps the best (recency bias may play a factor, sure, but this is an honest assessment!) as Iāve gotten married, explored a ton of new things, built out my studio which Iām incredible proud of, made endless new contacts, focused more on my creative outlets (was just out working on a personal project yesterday), ditched a bunch of less-healthy distractions (stock market, politics and geopolitics, largely), and a bunch more Iām probably not thinking of. On top of all this, however, the last few years have also easily been the most stressful of my adult life from a financial perspective. I often wonder if these two divergent trends are related (I think they are, to an extent) and how my happiness might be affected if I was rolling in cash (happiness is over-rated but money is even more so, imo!).
Anyway.
These are some thoughts I should further explore in writing in the months ahead. Today, I attempt to swim to the surface to catch a view of things.
-Clayton
2024 11 01
Another one of Paulie Bās great Walkie Talkie videos dropped and itās Chicago street photographer Amando de Leon so I have to shout it out! Peep the video belowā¦ a few fun standout moments for me were:
Amando says: 35mm in Chicago, 28mm in NYC are the perfect focal lengths and that feels so right. I love the sentiment.
āI love flash. You look like youāre just having a party!" Being out here [photographing on the street] is like being at a partyā
He wants to publish more DIY zines and get a website up to sell them to fund his photo projects ā¦ Iām aiming to create a lil web shop on my see you soon site for this exact kind of thing. Hopefully early next year itāll be a reality. Itās been stewing in my brain for a long time now, itās just finding the time to make it a reality that has been the challenge. Ideally, I would love to help in my own tiny way to support these photographers who are out there putting in the time making their art. Iād also love to be out there myself more but know that realistically it will probably never happen, at least as much as Iād like it to.
Amando likes to photograph in bars. This was my life for a while! I think Amado and I need to meet and I need to buy the guy a couple beers! Hit me up, Amado!
Gary Stochl and Vivian Maier doing it themselves without a community or social media to keep pushing them.
Why do you take photos? ābecause it makes me feel like Iām here, Iām present.ā
-Clayton
Hyde Park and downtown through the trees of South Shore, Chicago. September, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Another one of Paulie Bās great Walkie Talkie videos dropped and itās Chicago street photographer Amando de Leon so I have to shout it out! Peep the video belowā¦ a few fun standout moments for me were:
Amando says: 35mm in Chicago, 28mm in NYC are the perfect focal lengths and that feels so right. I love the sentiment.
āI love flash. You look like youāre just having a party!" Being out here [photographing on the street] is like being at a partyā
He wants to publish more DIY zines and get a website up to sell them to fund his photo projects ā¦ Iām aiming to create a lil web shop on my see you soon site for this exact kind of thing. Hopefully early next year itāll be a reality. Itās been stewing in my brain for a long time now, itās just finding the time to make it a reality that has been the challenge. Ideally, I would love to help in my own tiny way to support these photographers who are out there putting in the time making their art. Iād also love to be out there myself more but know that realistically it will probably never happen, at least as much as Iād like it to.
Amando likes to photograph in bars. This was my life for a while! I think Amado and I need to meet and I need to buy the guy a couple beers! Hit me up, Amado!
Gary Stochl and Vivian Maier doing it themselves without a community or social media to keep pushing them.
Why do you take photos? ābecause it makes me feel like Iām here, Iām present.ā
-Clayton
2024 10 30
Previously, I wrote about the Rick Rubin book on creativity (see: 2024 03 27).
Today, a quote from the book popped into my feeds and I thought it was worth posting as a reminder to myself the sole reason I put time into this here blog.
āLiving life as an artist is a practice. You are either engaging in the practice Or youāre not.
It makes no sense to say youāre no good at it. Itās like saying, āIām not good at being a monk.ā You are either living as a monk or youāre not.
We tend to think of the artistās work as the output. The real work of the artist is a way of being in the world.ā
ā Rick Rubin
-Clayton
Randyland. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Previously, I wrote about the Rick Rubin book on creativity (see: 2024 03 27).
Today, a quote from the book popped into my feeds and I thought it was worth posting as a reminder to myself the sole reason I put time into this here blog.
āLiving life as an artist is a practice. You are either engaging in the practice Or youāre not.
It makes no sense to say youāre no good at it. Itās like saying, āIām not good at being a monk.ā You are either living as a monk or youāre not.
We tend to think of the artistās work as the output. The real work of the artist is a way of being in the world.ā
-Clayton
2024 10 29
Thereās an evolving observation I have that so many of us are doing our best job focusing on filling up our daily schedule, thinking that equates to being productive. Itās not a new idea, The Busy Trap. But my observation is more recent and revolves around talking with people. Nobody picks up the phone and calls each other anymore. Instead, we send out a message and spend the time we wouldāve spent simply talking on the phone, going back and forth figuring out a mutually-agreed upon time to then pick up the phone and call each other some hours later.
I resist this approach the best I can. My brain works best when itās free and clear to think whatever thoughts pop into it, without the constant stress and anticipation of preparing for an upcoming engagement, as big or small as it may be. I long for the days of my childhood, a free and open calendar, allowing me to live in the moment and navigate with ease. Improvise. Go with the flow. Instead, I have a constant barrage of push notifications informing me of an upcoming meeting or conversation. Some days, when an afternoon meeting is an important one, I can hardly function throughout the morning just knowing this future event exists and is approaching.
Time is an ever-flowing river and the journey is more enjoyable when itās a lazy river, not roaring rapids (this sentence might be the nerdiest Iāve ever written for reasons I refuse to explain).
-Clayton
Dancing in the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Thereās an evolving observation I have that so many of us are doing our best job focusing on filling up our daily schedule, thinking that equates to being productive. Itās not a new idea, The Busy Trap. But my observation is more recent and revolves around talking with people. Nobody picks up the phone and calls each other anymore. Instead, we send out a message and spend the time we wouldāve spent simply talking on the phone, going back and forth figuring out a mutually-agreed upon time to then pick up the phone and call each other some hours later.
I resist this approach the best I can. My brain works best when itās free and clear to think whatever thoughts pop into it, without the constant stress and anticipation of preparing for an upcoming engagement, as big or small as it may be. I long for the days of my childhood, a free and open calendar, allowing me to live in the moment and navigate with ease. Improvise. Go with the flow. Instead, I have a constant barrage of push notifications informing me of an upcoming meeting or conversation. Some days, when an afternoon meeting is an important one, I can hardly function throughout the morning just knowing this future event exists and is approaching.
Time is an ever-flowing river and the journey is more enjoyable when itās a lazy river, not roaring rapids (this sentence might be the nerdiest Iāve ever written for reasons I refuse to explain).
-Clayton
2024 10 28
Recently I stumbled upon a tweet that really resonated with me. Someone had posted some clips of basketball games in Europe, with wildly enthusiastic fans, loud chanting, dancing, yelling, etc. The poster was wondering why NBA games in the US have nowhere near the same level of enthusiasm. Youād think that the worldās premiere league, in the country basketball was invented, being played by the worldās best players, would inspire fans to raise their level of enthusiasm to match. Brilliantly, someone responded with the most eloquently-simple reply that completely summed up the sole reason crowds in the US are often tame: a screen shot of ticket prices for an NBA game; each seat costing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Back in 2016, I was fortunate enough to be a dedicated Cubs fan. That season, I attended a few dozen games at Wrigley Field (including game five!) and the atmosphere was usually incredible. Of course, the Cubs went on to win the World Series to conclude their storybook season. I recall a few days after they beat Cleveland, while coming off a massive life hangover with Trump winning the election to become president, I had a realization that really cheered me up. The Cubs roster was young and all of the contracts had many years remaining on them. The idea that the Cubs might be a new baseball dynasty, providing me with entertaining ball for years to come, really cheered me up.
As it played out, the Cubs did not maintain their level of excellence and the team ownership pulled their games from television (unless you subscribed to their own service), so I was no longer even able to watch games. I havenāt been much of a Cubs fan since then, but I bring all of this up because perhaps the even bigger reason I lost interest in maintaining my fandom was that going to games was no longer fun! After the team won their first Series in a century, the tickets become hot. Everyone wanted to hang out at Wrigley to watch the lovable no-longer-losers. As a result, ticket prices went way up. Ownership was thrilled and making tons of money, surely. Vast sections of the stadium, once open to anyone, got roped off and turned into special-access sections at elevated prices. All of this change severely rubbed off on the vibe inside the stadium. You could clearly feel it, if you were paying attention, as many people filling the seats no longer were. The wild enthusiasm from the previous season was severely muted and the team struggled to win games.
This idea that expensive things are obviously better is something that I have rejected, thankfully, my entire life. In fact, expensive things are often far worse than whatever you can grab in the discount bin. While my concept of how and why money ruins things is still quite vague and undefined, I do think it goes a long way in explaining why this country, specifically, is going through some shit right now (to put it lightly). Too many people have far too much money. And this is not to say I think socialism is the answer, because I donāt. But clearly you canāt buy taste and right now weāve got thousands of people out there thinking their money can buy whatever influence they want it to without realizing it doesnāt quite work like that.
-Clayton
Busted car, creative decoration. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Recently I stumbled upon a tweet that really resonated with me. Someone had posted some clips of basketball games in Europe, with wildly enthusiastic fans, loud chanting, dancing, yelling, etc. The poster was wondering why NBA games in the US have nowhere near the same level of enthusiasm. Youād think that the worldās premiere league, in the country basketball was invented, being played by the worldās best players, would inspire fans to raise their level of enthusiasm to match. Brilliantly, someone responded with the most eloquently-simple reply that completely summed up the sole reason crowds in the US are often tame: a screen shot of ticket prices for an NBA game; each seat costing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Back in 2016, I was fortunate enough to be a dedicated Cubs fan. That season, I attended a few dozen games at Wrigley Field (including the game five!) and the atmosphere was usually incredible. Of course, the Cubs went on to win the World Series to conclude their storybook season. I recall a few days after they beat Cleveland, while coming off a massive life hangover with Trump winning the election to become president, I had a realization that really cheered me up. The Cubs roster was young and all of the contracts had many years remaining on them. The idea that the Cubs might be a new baseball dynasty, providing me with entertaining ball for years to come, really cheered me up.
As it played out, the Cubs did not maintain their level of excellence and the team ownership pulled their games from television (unless you subscribed to their own service), so I was no longer even able to watch games. I havenāt been much of a Cubs fan since then, but I bring all of this up because perhaps the even bigger reason I lost interest in maintaining my fandom was that going to games was no longer fun! After the team won their first Series in a century, the tickets become hot. Everyone wanted to hang out at Wrigley to watch the lovable no-longer-losers. As a result, ticket prices went way up. Ownership was thrilled and making tons of money, surely. Vast sections of the stadium, once open to anyone, got roped off and turned into special-access sections at elevated prices. All of this change severely rubbed off on the vibe inside the stadium. You could clearly feel it, if you were paying attention, as many people filling the seats no longer were. The wild enthusiasm from the previous season was severely muted and the team struggled to win games.
This idea that expensive things are obviously better is something that I have rejected, thankfully, my entire life. In fact, expensive things are often far worse than whatever you can grab in the discount bin. While my concept of how and why money ruins things is still quite vague and undefined, I do think it goes a long way in explaining why this country, specifically, is going through some shit right now (to put it lightly). Too many people have far too much money. And this is not to say I think socialism is the answer, because I donāt. But clearly you canāt buy taste and right now weāve got thousands of people out there thinking their money can buy whatever influence they want it to without realizing it doesnāt quite work like that.
So many of us are clinging to our cash, willing to overlook whatever traces of morals we have left after decades of excess, in a desperate attempt to continue to attend bland sporting events.
-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 24
I live at my studio now. I donāt sleep there, but I live there. Itās a nice space and people ask me all the time if I live there. I do, I just happen to leave late at night to go to my second home to sleep before waking up early and returning to the studio. Itās, perhaps, not the most economically-sensible approach to life, but itās what I do.
See you at 7:30am (soon)!
-Clayton
Some filming going on at my studio space. Chicago, Illinois. May, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I live at my studio now. I donāt sleep there, but I live there. Itās a nice space and people ask me all the time if I live there. I do, I just happen to leave late at night to go to my second home to sleep before waking up early and returning to the studio. Itās, perhaps, not the most economically-sensible approach to life, but itās what I do.
See you at 7:30am (soon)!
-Clayton
2024 10 23
Something that always fascinates me is how fragile life on Earth is. We are doing our best to disrupt the planetās fragile ecosystems, and we do a great job of it, but beyond our own stupidity, itās remarkable that life on Earth exists at all! We would not be here without the moon, for example, which stabilizes and calms our planetās orbit and allows for the seasons, giving us time to grow crops and smell the flowers.
This morning, I read another fascinating bit of information that would also be a deal-breaker for us had science decided to act just a bit differently. That is ā ice.
Most of the time, when an element in a liquid state transforms into its solid state, it gets much smaller and more dense. Water (H20), on the other hand, expands when it solidifies. This scientific anomaly is another in many that allow us humans to exist at all. Had ice followed the rules and shrunk as it formed, it wouldnāt float. If ice were to sink, the worldās oceans wouldāve fully solidified and life on Earth would not be possible, or at the very least, would have been a whole lot more difficult and we would probably be single-cell organisms, frolicking in the ice while attempting to figure out how to migrate to land.
-Clayton
Chased a waterfall. Starved Rock State Park, Illinois. March, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Something that always fascinates me is how fragile life on Earth is. We are doing our best to disrupt the planetās fragile ecosystems, and we do a great job of it, but beyond our own stupidity, itās remarkable that life on Earth exists at all! We would not be here without the moon, for example, which stabilizes and calms our planetās orbit and allows for the seasons, giving us time to grow crops and smell the flowers.
This morning, I read another fascinating bit of information that would also be a deal-breaker for us had science decided to act just a bit differently. That is ā ice.
Most of the time, when an element in a liquid state transforms into its solid state, it gets much smaller and more dense. Water (H20), on the other hand, expands when it solidifies. This scientific anomaly is another in many that allow us humans to exist at all. Had ice followed the rules and shrunk as it formed, it wouldnāt float. If ice were to sink, the worldās oceans wouldāve fully solidified and life on Earth would not be possible, or at the very least, would have been a whole lot more difficult and we would probably be single-cell organisms, frolicking in the ice while attempting to figure out how to migrate to land.
-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 20
I love wandering this vast country by car but dislike the complete compartmentalization of out society. Everything is a brand and a logo, high up on a stick to grab your attention as you whizz by in your mass produced metal box on wheels. At night, the stray cats come out and live a life of freedom and adventure while the truck drivers nap in their cabs. Tomorrow, they will get the boxes filled with SKUs to the big box shops to refill the shelves and keep society lubricated.
-Clayton
No pets. Somewhere in Pennsylvania. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
I love wandering this vast country by car but dislike the complete compartmentalization of our society. Everything is a brand and a logo, high up on a stick to grab your attention as you whizz by in your mass produced metal box on wheels. At night, the stray cats come out and live a life of freedom and adventure while the truck drivers nap in their cabs. Tomorrow, they will get the boxes filled with SKUs to the big box shops to refill the shelves and keep society lubricated.
-Clayton
2024 10 19
While out on a short getaway this week, I came to a realization that in the near future, everyone will be have a bed & breakfast. Itās really the perfect job for participants in todayās manic economy. You have not one measly job but quite literally all of the jobs, while being fully responsible for participating them twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year (you get one day off every four years on February 29th).
I joke, but the joke it deeply rooted in my own reality. Photographers first and foremost need to be skilled not in the act of making nice images but in sales and marketing (along with finance, studio managing, tax accounting, law, etc). They donāt teach you this in art school, of course. The fun stuff (making photos) is a shockingly small portion of the time you spend being a photographer. If you are good enough at sales, you can get enough paid jobs to save up enough money, buy a dilapidated building in a small but charming midwest town, and then live the good life as full-time inn operator.
-Clayton
Photographers wear many hats. See You Soon. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
While out on a short getaway this week, I came to a realization that in the near future, everyone will be have a bed & breakfast. Itās really the perfect job for participants in todayās manic economy. You have not one measly job but quite literally all of the jobs, while being fully responsible for participating in them twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year (you get one day off every four years on February 29th).
I joke, but the joke is deeply rooted in my own reality. Photographers first and foremost need to be skilled not in the act of making nice images but in sales and marketing (along with client relations, finance, studio managing, tax accounting, law, etc). They donāt teach you this in art school, of course. The fun stuff (making photos) is a shockingly small portion of the time you spend being a photographer. If you are good enough at sales, you can get enough paid jobs to save up enough money, buy a dilapidated building in a small but charming midwest town, and then live the good life as full-time inn operator.
-Clayton
2024 10 18
Missed another post yesterday. The excuse is that my wife and I were out and about all dang day! We started the morning in Douglas, Michigan where we had a fabulous dinner the night before. This was followed by Saugatuck, Benton Harbor, St Joseph, Sawyer, and rural destinations in between. Iāve always been more of a Wisconsin guy, largely because my family is from there, however we both loved and kinda fell for Michigan. The sunset over the lake is an added bonus that is hard to beat for someone used to living across the pond. Silly analogies aside, the natural landscapes and charming towns in the Saugatuck area really had me feeling like we have a little slice of Europe right here in America.
-Clayton
Cool ride, bro. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Missed another post yesterday. The excuse is that my wife and I were out and about all dang day! We started the morning in Douglas, Michigan where we had a fabulous dinner the night before. This was followed by Saugatuck, Benton Harbor, St Joseph, Sawyer, and rural destinations in between. Iāve always been more of a Wisconsin guy, largely because my family is from there, however we both loved and kinda fell for Michigan. The sunset over the lake is an added bonus that is hard to beat for someone used to living across the pond. Silly analogies aside, the natural landscapes and charming towns in the Saugatuck area really had me feeling like we have a little slice of Europe right here in America.
-Clayton