Clayton Hauck Clayton Hauck

2024 11 23

Today, Streator, Illinois has the same population which it had in the late 1800ā€™s, back when all of Illinois was booming. New towns were being constructed across the empty countryside, each with a grand town square.

Iā€™ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about how Chicago and the state of Illinois struggles in a post-boom cycle. When populations are stagnant or even declining, it becomes very hard to maintain appearances. This is what I fell alseep writing about the other night, specifically about how there used to be am elevated commuter train line running nearby our house. That elevated line was removed, along with many others, while Chicago was struggling as a city in the era of White Flight and Suburbanization. New towns were being constructed in mass-produced cookie-cutter fashion outside of the old city centers, fully enabled by the automobile and Globalized trade.

I find these small town with good bones fascinating. They get my creative visions flowing with all the possibilities. But as is always the case, in order to make big things happen you need people. Without people, these places will remain empty storefronts filled with dusty old motorcycles on display, devoid of much function beyond nostalgia and reminiscing. More on all this later, maybe.

-Clayton

Motorcycle in the window. Streator, Illinois. 

Today, Streator, Illinois has the same population which it had in the late 1800ā€™s, back when all of Illinois was booming. New towns were being constructed across the empty countryside, each with a grand town square and most with a train connection or two.

Iā€™ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about how Chicago and the state of Illinois struggles in a post-boom cycle. When populations are stagnant or even declining, it becomes very hard to maintain appearances. This is what I fell alseep writing about the other night, specifically about how there used to be am elevated commuter train line running nearby our house. That elevated line was removed, along with many others, while Chicago was struggling as a city in the era of White Flight and Suburbanization. New towns were being constructed in mass-produced cookie-cutter fashion outside of the old city centers, fully enabled by the automobile and Globalized trade.

I find these small town with good bones fascinating. They get my creative visions flowing with all the possibilities. But as is always the case, in order to make big things happen you need people. Without people, these places will remain empty storefronts filled with dusty old motorcycles on display, devoid of much function beyond nostalgia and reminiscing. More on all this later, maybe.

-Clayton

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Clayton Hauck Clayton Hauck

2024 11 19

If I had a bunch of money, Iā€™d buy some funky old houses in Pittsburgh, fix them up, and thenā€¦ Iā€™m not sure. I guess I could live in one of them but what do you do with the rest? Sell them? To who? A big part of why Pittsburgh is great is because itā€™s not Washington DC or Austin or Boston or Charlotte. Sure, Pittsburgh probably would still be great if it did become a trendy tech hub filled with rich bros. At least my house renovation dreams would make financial sense instead of just being fun to imagine. The problem with some of these ideas, however, is they only make sense in the hypothetical world you have built up in your head. Like Kamala Harris becoming president, or opening a bar inside the building you work at, some ideas are destined to remain fantasy.

-Clayton

Houses for sale! Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

If I had a bunch of money, Iā€™d buy some funky old houses in Pittsburgh, fix them up, and thenā€¦ Iā€™m not sure. I guess I could live in one of them but what do you do with the rest? Sell them? To who? A big part of why Pittsburgh is great is because itā€™s not Washington DC or Austin or Boston or Charlotte. Sure, Pittsburgh probably would still be great if it did become a trendy tech hub filled with rich bros. At least my house renovation dreams would make financial sense instead of just being fun to imagine. The problem with some of these ideas, however, is they only make sense in the hypothetical world you have built up in your head. Like Kamala Harris becoming president, or opening a bar inside the building you work at, some ideas are destined to remain fantasy.

-Clayton

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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 ā€œThe 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 Iā€™m not very well connected to it and want to get better). Iā€™ll remember dreams only if Iā€™m 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 ā€œset 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 Iā€™m finally embracing my reluctant pivot to video. These dreams are usual banal, however, I love the idea that Iā€™m running scenarios and gaining ā€œexperienceā€ 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 (Iā€™ll often have the urge to start a band despite the fact I canā€™t play any instruments). Iā€™ve 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 ā€œcreatingā€ 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 ā€œThe 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 Iā€™m not very well connected to it and want to get better). Iā€™ll remember dreams only if Iā€™m 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 ā€œset 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 Iā€™m finally embracing my reluctant pivot to video. These dreams are usual banal, however, I love the idea that Iā€™m running scenarios and gaining ā€œexperienceā€ 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 (Iā€™ll often have the urge to start a band despite the fact I canā€™t play any instruments). Iā€™ve 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 ā€œcreatingā€ in my dream state and those are typically far less amazing in the sobriety of the waking life.

-Clayton

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2024 11 08

Thereā€™s this thing that happens when you (or, me, I should clarify) walk into any bar in rural Illinois. Itā€™s the stereotypical record scratch you see on television. An instantaneous recognition from everyone inside that an outsider has entered. Things go quiet for a brief moment, which can feel like eternity depending on your level of anxiety, as you make your way inside, assessing which seat might be least awkward to claim for yourself.

My goal is to eventually embody a presence that goes largely unnoticed in these situations. Currently, my city-slicker outsider vibe is far too strong to go unnoticed, which is a bit unfortunate because I take blending in to my environment very seriously. Iā€™ve long thought observation to be one of, if not my most important strengths. I can use it to my advantage in my pursuits of photography, and now writing.

A week ago I drove down south with Lincoln, Illinois in my crosshairs. I spent the day wandering and photographing various towns along the way. Itā€™s endlessly remarkable to me how many towns exist which feel completely lost to time.

Two larger takeaways occurred to me on this day:

One: my still-vaguely defined ā€œIllinois Projectā€ photobook was the main motivator for this trip. I havenā€™t been putting enough time into it and Iā€™ve hit some snags in the process. Iā€™m finding much of the work Iā€™ve made has been too wide. Landscapes, mostly, devoid of people and any intimacy. One goal on this specific day was to involve humans in my work. The challenge was finding people ā€” any people. There just arenā€™t many people out here wandering these towns and rural places, meaning the images I have forming in my head would likely require me to ā€œproduceā€ them by bringing people along with me. Iā€™m not sure this is the route I want to take. Perhaps, I should lean into the desolation and capture a more true-to-life portrait of a place? The worry is that much like these empty towns themselves, most people will not be interested in seeing this work, and thatā€™s the opposite of my goal. I want people to see the beauty in these places, and therefore Iā€™m thinking I should instead begin to share the work more widely as I make it, instead of squirreling it away on hard drives for some hypothetical future date when I will do a show or release a book. My inbox helped me come to this conclusion after getting another gem of a piece from Meaghan Garveyā€™s substack Scary Cool Sad Goodbye, in which she so beautifully captures the spirit of the Midwest through her adventures. Now, Iā€™m thinking a more ongoing web presence, in some form, is a better way to go about this project, as I learn what this project even is. Ill Wandering.

Two: I have a vision in my head of a Plan For a New Illinois. This plan, while likely an impossible pipe dream, would see massive resources and money directed at Central Illinois with the goal of increasing the regionā€™s population to three times what it is now, at roughly 2 million people. Perhaps I will post the Plan here for my tens of readers to check out! Maybe one of yā€™all knows the governor and can send it along to him. While itā€™s clear Illinois is broken in many ways, it also gets a lot of over-dramatic hate tossed its way. That said, Iā€™m not sure an influx of more people is the fix we need. Places like Austin, Texas lose what made them great as a glut of tech money and influence bros move in and completely change the dynamic of a place. This weekā€™s election has muddied my vision as well. I get frustrated seeing places that are so clearly past their prime, and my instinct is to shine a light on them and figure out ways to help them prosper once again. But now, Iā€™m not sure more people or more attention is what these places want. Itā€™s likely the exact opposite (worth exploring in this project of mine, perhaps!).

-Clayton

Majestic Theater. Past its prime. Streator, Illinois. November, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Thereā€™s this thing that happens when you (or, me, I should clarify) walk into any bar in rural Illinois. Itā€™s the stereotypical record scratch you see on television. An instantaneous recognition from everyone inside that an outsider has entered. Things go quiet for a brief moment, which can feel like eternity depending on your level of anxiety, as you make your way inside, assessing which seat might be least awkward to claim for yourself.

My goal is to eventually embody a presence that goes largely unnoticed in these situations. Currently, my city-slicker outsider vibe is far too strong to go unnoticed, which is a bit unfortunate because I take blending in to my environment very seriously. Iā€™ve long thought observation to be one of, if not my most important strengths. I can use it to my advantage in my pursuits of photography, and now writing.

A week ago I drove down south with Lincoln, Illinois in my crosshairs. I spent the day wandering and photographing various towns along the way. Itā€™s endlessly remarkable to me how many towns exist which feel completely lost to time.

Two larger takeaways occurred to me on this day:

One: my still-vaguely defined ā€œIllinois Projectā€ photobook was the main motivator for this trip. I havenā€™t been putting enough time into it and Iā€™ve hit some snags in the process. Iā€™m finding much of the work Iā€™ve made has been too wide. Landscapes, mostly, devoid of people and any intimacy. One goal on this specific day was to involve humans in my work. The challenge was finding people ā€” any people. There just arenā€™t many people out here wandering these towns and rural places, meaning the images I have forming in my head would likely require me to ā€œproduceā€ them by bringing people along with me. Iā€™m not sure this is the route I want to take. Perhaps, I should lean into the desolation and capture a more true-to-life portrait of a place? The worry is that much like these empty towns themselves, most people will not be interested in seeing this work, and thatā€™s the opposite of my goal. I want people to see the beauty in these places, and therefore Iā€™m thinking I should instead begin to share the work more widely as I make it, instead of squirreling it away on hard drives for some hypothetical future date when I will do a show or release a book.

My inbox helped me come to this conclusion after getting another gem of a piece from Meaghan Garveyā€™s substack Scary Cool Sad Goodbye, in which she so beautifully captures the spirit of the Midwest through her adventures. Now, Iā€™m thinking a more ongoing web presence, in some form, is a better way to go about this project, as I learn what this project even is. Ill Wandering.

Two: I have a vision in my head of a Plan For a New Illinois. This plan, while likely an impossible pipe dream, would see massive resources and money directed at Central Illinois with the goal of increasing the regionā€™s population to three times what it is now, at roughly 2 million people. Perhaps I will post the Plan here for my tens of readers to check out! Maybe one of yā€™all knows the governor and can send it along to him. While itā€™s clear Illinois is broken in many ways, it also gets a lot of over-dramatic hate tossed its way. That said, Iā€™m not sure an influx of more people is the fix we need. Places like Austin, Texas largely lose what made them great, as a glut of tech money and influence bros move in and completely change the dynamic of the place.

This weekā€™s election has muddied my vision as well. I get frustrated seeing places that are so clearly past their prime, and my instinct is to shine a light on them and figure out ways to help them prosper once again. But now, Iā€™m not sure more people or more attention is what these places want. Itā€™s likely the exact opposite (worth exploring in this project of mine, perhaps!).

-Clayton

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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 didnā€™t 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! Iā€™ve never lost my love for video and filmmaking, however, itā€™s 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. Iā€™m in the early days of a documentary project that is getting me excited, and Iā€™m 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 didnā€™t 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! Iā€™ve never lost my love for video and filmmaking, however, itā€™s 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. Iā€™m in the early days of a documentary project that is getting me excited, and Iā€™m 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

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2024 11 05

Itā€™s election day. Please make sure you vote! I wonā€™t 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

Itā€™s 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 wonā€™t 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

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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.

ā€œLiving life as an artist is a practice. You are either engaging in the practice Or youā€™re not.

It makes no sense to say youā€™re no good at it. Itā€™s like saying, ā€œIā€™m not good at being a monk.ā€ You are either living as a monk or youā€™re not.

We tend to think of the artistā€™s 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.

ā€œLiving life as an artist is a practice. You are either engaging in the practice Or youā€™re not.

It makes no sense to say youā€™re no good at it. Itā€™s like saying, ā€œIā€™m not good at being a monk.ā€ You are either living as a monk or youā€™re not.

We tend to think of the artistā€™s work as the output. The real work of the artist is a way of being in the world.ā€
— Rick Rubin

-Clayton

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2024 10 29

Thereā€™s 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. Itā€™s 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 wouldā€™ve 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 itā€™s 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 itā€™s a lazy river, not roaring rapids (this sentence might be the nerdiest Iā€™ve ever written for reasons I refuse to explain).

-Clayton

Dancing in the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. August, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Thereā€™s 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. Itā€™s 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 wouldā€™ve 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 itā€™s 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 itā€™s a lazy river, not roaring rapids (this sentence might be the nerdiest Iā€™ve ever written for reasons I refuse to explain).

-Clayton

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2024 09 29

Up against the deadline, yet again. Iā€™d love for this space to be a bit more photo-centric, to give me a break from writing something each and every day, even though that was sort of the reason for doing this in the first place. Maybe we take the website in a new direction next year. I was thinking wordpress might be the move, however, apparently wordpress is a mess these days as well. The internet is really losing its charm, isnā€™t it? I miss the days of pageview counters and blogrolls and animated gifs. Simpler times.

Iā€™ll get back to posting things maybe worth reading one of these daysā€¦

-Clayton

A night scene. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Up against the deadline, yet again. Iā€™d love for this space to be a bit more photo-centric, to give me a break from writing something each and every day, even though that was sort of the reason for doing this in the first place. Maybe we take the website in a new direction next year. I was thinking wordpress might be the move, however, apparently wordpress is a mess these days as well. The internet is really losing its charm, isnā€™t it? I miss the days of pageview counters and blogrolls and animated gifs. Simpler times.

Iā€™ll get back to posting things maybe worth reading one of these daysā€¦

-Clayton

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2024 09 24

Sometimes the accidental shots are the best shots. I made this one while strolling through the farmerā€™s market practicing zone focusing on the Ricoh. Yes, itā€™s out of focus, and blurry, and full of sensor dust (most of which I removed in post), but I still enjoy the image. Itā€™s got a bit of rizz. Not much, but a touch of rizz.

This lesson in zone focusing was sort of the nail in the coffin for this camera, which Iā€™ve been abusing for two or so years. Most of the images posted to this blog have been made using it. The problem, now, is that I canā€™t shoot with it unless the aperture is wide ass open, otherwise all the sensor dust fills the frame. Luckily, when you shoot wide open, you can make things invisible, allowing me to continue using the camera longer. Just not with zone focusing. Anyhoo.

Iā€™m still months behind on photo editing and life bureaucracy. We have our wedding documents tho, finally, so thatā€™s official and off the to do list!

-Clayton

Dogs on the prowl. Logan Square Farmers Market. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Sometimes the accidental shots are the best shots. I made this one while strolling through the farmerā€™s market practicing zone focusing on the Ricoh. Yes, itā€™s out of focus, and blurry, and full of sensor dust (most of which I removed in post), but I still enjoy the image. Itā€™s got a bit of rizz. Not much, but a touch of rizz.

This lesson in zone focusing was sort of the nail in the coffin for this camera, which Iā€™ve been abusing for two or so years. Most of the images posted to this blog have been made using it. The problem, now, is that I canā€™t shoot with it unless the aperture is wide ass open, otherwise all the sensor dust fills the frame. Luckily, when you shoot wide open, you can make things invisible, allowing me to continue using the camera longer. Just not with zone focusing. Anyhoo.

Iā€™m still months behind on photo editing and life bureaucracy. We have our wedding documents tho, finally, so thatā€™s official and off the to do list!

-Clayton

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2024 09 21

Street photography is hard. Itā€™s been on my to do list all year to get myself downtown to make some street photos. Instead, Iā€™ve settled for a few organic moments which came to me, while listing reasons why Iā€™m unable to get to the street photos. I need a new camera is the main reason. Sure, I donā€™t really need a new camera, but much like why I no longer go to music festivals, once you get a peek at the good life (VIP access, photo pits, free tickets, free drinks, etc), itā€™s hard to go back to slumming it as a normal person. My Ricoh sensor is fucked so canā€™t shoot beyond f2.8. My Canons are too bulky for street. My Nikon FM2 might work but film is expensive and I havenā€™t really used the thing in twenty years. My iPhone would work but you canā€™t be a professional using a phone to make photos.

Anyway.

Itā€™s still on the list of things Iā€™ll get to. Or maybe itā€™s best I donā€™t?

Partly why I havenā€™t gotten around to it is my personal life has been busy. While our wedding was a week ago now, Iā€™m still having stress dreams about the wedding. Weirdly, while the event has come and gone, it all still feels like a blur of time; like it is still something to look forward to and not an event which has already happened which I should be posting a recap about instead of blogging about street photography.

Maybe Iā€™ll get back to the street photography. Or maybe Iā€™ll get the house back in order so we can feel like normal people again. Maybe thereā€™s still time to make it to Riot Fest this weekend, after all.

-Clayton

Setting up a tent. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Street photography is hard. Itā€™s been on my to do list all year to get myself downtown to make some street photos. Instead, Iā€™ve settled for a few organic moments which came to me, while listing reasons why Iā€™m unable to get to the street photos. I need a new camera is the main reason. Sure, I donā€™t really need a new camera, but much like why I no longer go to music festivals, once you get a peek at the good life (VIP access, photo pits, free tickets, free drinks, etc), itā€™s hard to go back to slumming it as a normal person. My Ricoh sensor is fucked so canā€™t shoot beyond f2.8. My Canons are too bulky for street. My Nikon FM2 might work but film is expensive and I havenā€™t really used the thing in twenty years. My iPhone would work but you canā€™t be a professional using a phone to make photos.

Anyway.

Itā€™s still on the list of things Iā€™ll get to. Or maybe itā€™s best I donā€™t?

Partly why I havenā€™t gotten around to it is my personal life has been busy. While our wedding was a week ago now, Iā€™m still having stress dreams about the wedding. Weirdly, while the event has come and gone, it all still feels like a blur of time; like it is still something to look forward to and not an event which has already happened which I should be posting a recap about instead of blogging about street photography.

Maybe Iā€™ll get back to the street photography. Or maybe Iā€™ll get the house back in order so we can feel like normal people again. Maybe thereā€™s still time to make it to Riot Fest this weekend, after all.

-Clayton

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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 didnā€™t have to continually look over my shoulder and be on guard.

The scooter took me up and down Atlantaā€™s 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 canā€™t be observed like they can while walking. Utilizing a scooter is sort of a compromised approach to both maximizing your exploration time when youā€™re on a tight schedule and want to fit it all in, while also having the ability to hop off at a momentā€™s 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.

ā€œIā€™m 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 itā€™s 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 didnā€™t have to continually look over my shoulder and be on guard.

The scooter took me up and down Atlantaā€™s 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 canā€™t be observed like they can while walking. Utilizing a scooter is sort of a compromised approach to both maximizing your exploration time when youā€™re on a tight schedule and want to fit it all in, while also having the ability to hop off at a momentā€™s 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.

ā€œIā€™m 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 itā€™s 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

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2024 08 26

This picture is only interesting because it was taken in July. To me, a humorous observation, does not translate to you, an unknowing viewer, without a written explanation of why the thing is worth looking at. This is, I think, an unbreakable rule of how to make good art: the art has to be immediately understood at a fundamental level by the observer. Sure, the interpretation may vary but there canā€™t be a blog blurb explaining why itā€™s worth looking at. Photo fail.

I was busy working all day today in Ocean City, Maryland so didnā€™t have the time for a more robust post. I did, however, ride a roller coaster as part of my work, so a decades-long dream has been fulfilled; since my days working as a ride operator at Six Flags Great America, I have not been paid to ride roller coasters. Until today.

-Clayton

Christmas in July. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

This picture is only interesting because it was taken in July. To me, a humorous observation, does not translate to you, an unknowing viewer, without a written explanation of why the thing is worth looking at. This is, I think, an unbreakable rule of how to make good art: the art has to be immediately understood at a fundamental level by the observer. Sure, the interpretation may vary but there canā€™t be a blog blurb explaining why itā€™s worth looking at. Photo fail.

I was busy working all day today in Ocean City, Maryland (have you been here?!) so didnā€™t have the time for a more robust post. I did, however, ride a roller coaster as part of my job, so a decades-long dream has been fulfilled; since my days working as a ride operator at Six Flags Great America, I have not been paid to ride roller coasters. Until today. Life win.

-Clayton

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2024 08 22

Iā€™m literally falling asleep as I post this. Iā€™m running on two hours of sleep. I just watched Kamalaā€™s acceptance speech. Itā€™s KamalOā€™clock. Goodnight!

-Clayton

Riding a bike down the block during a beautiful sunset. Chicago, Illinois. May, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Iā€™m literally falling asleep as I post this. Iā€™m running on two hours of sleep. I just watched Kamalaā€™s acceptance speech. Itā€™s KamalOā€™clock. Goodnight!

-Clayton

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2024 08 21

ā€œNo treeā€œ

If only life were as simple as printing out a sign and clipping it to your fence.

Iā€™m sitting on the couch watching the DNC and this photo, which I find amazing, popped into my preview. I stumbled across the sign while scooting home from a Sox game this summer. I was a bit drunk off ballpark beers and my first instinct upon seeing this, the tree lover I am, was to get a job in the city using whatever connections I could muster up, then use my newfound power to plant two trees on this fellaā€™s parkway. That will teach him, the concrete-loving son of aā€”

Anyway, back to the politics beauty pageant.

-Clayton

No tree, declares home owner. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

ā€œNo treeā€œ

If only life were as simple as printing out a sign and clipping it to your fence.

Iā€™m sitting on the couch watching the DNC and this photo, which I find amazing, popped into my preview. I stumbled across the sign while scooting home from a Sox game this summer. I was a bit drunk off ballpark beers and my first instinct upon seeing this, the tree lover I am, was to get a job in the city using whatever connections I could muster up, then use my newfound power to plant two trees on this fellaā€™s parkway. That will teach him, the concrete-loving son of aā€”

Anyway, back to the politics beauty pageant.

-Clayton

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2024 08 19

Itā€™s DNC Day One in Chicago. This town has a storied history with political conventions, having played host to more future presidents than any other American city by far. Once the shit hit the fan in sixty-eight, the parties have mostly steered clear of the windy city, aside from one mostly non-exciting affair nominating Bill Clinton to a second term in office.

This year, we may have a more historic convention should Harris go on to become the first female president of these fine states. Gerald Ford largely predicted the outcome playing out today, which is both impressive and a reminder that while this country is a democratic one, our choices are in fact quite limited and managed by those in power.

Stay safe, Chicago. And stop by my space tonight for some hot political fun!

-Clayton

The Chicago Picasso. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Itā€™s DNC Day One in Chicago. This town has a storied history with political conventions, having played host to more future presidents than any other American city by far. Once the shit hit the fan in sixty-eight, the parties have mostly steered clear of the windy city, aside from one mostly non-exciting affair nominating Bill Clinton to a second term in office. But this is also the town that invented the smoke-filled back room deal and you just know things are indeed happening in many rooms this week.

This year, we may have a more historic convention should Harris go on to become the first female president of these fine states. Gerald Ford largely predicted the outcome playing out today, which is both impressive and a reminder that while this country is a democratic one, our choices are in fact quite limited and managed by those in power.

Stay safe, Chicago. And stop by my space tonight for some hot political fun!

-Clayton

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2024 08 17

Another day, another busted car image. This one is maybe my favorite yet, discovered while wandering Atlanta during a half-day off while on production.

Wandering is my favorite. Iā€™ve long wanted to do a podcast called The Wanderer. Maybe it would be a video series. Maybe both. The list of things I want to do is long. Instead, I watch Bears preseason games and blog about my feelings. Canā€™t have it all.

-Clayton

Another busted car. Atlanta, Georgia. May, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Another day, another busted car image. This one is maybe my favorite yet, discovered while wandering Atlanta during a half-day off while on production.

Wandering is my favorite. Iā€™ve long wanted to do a podcast called The Wanderer. Maybe it would be a video series. Maybe both. The list of things I want to do is long. Instead, I watch Bears preseason games and blog about my feelings. Canā€™t have it all.

-Clayton

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2024 08 15

Hello. Iā€™ve been quite busy lately and itā€™s largely due to my studio and photography projects taking up all of my time. Canā€™t complain, just a little note to myself to make me feel less bad about neglecting my side projects, like this here blog. Anyway, hereā€™s a dinosaur I spotted recently while working in my studio. Sometimes I donā€™t even need to leave the room and I can still make beautiful award-winning images (joke).

-Clayton

PS - Iā€™ve got some really fun events coming up at the studioā€¦ the place that is taking all of my time from me. Come out and hang, why donā€™t you?!

Dinosaurs walk amongst us, on The 606 Trail. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

Hello. Iā€™ve been quite busy lately and itā€™s largely due to my studio and photography projects taking up all of my time. Canā€™t complain, just a little note to myself to make me feel less bad about neglecting my side projects, like this here blog. Anyway, hereā€™s a dinosaur I spotted recently while working in my studio. Sometimes I donā€™t even need to leave the room and I can still make beautiful award-winning images (joke).

-Clayton

PS - Iā€™ve got some really fun events coming up at the studioā€¦ the place that is taking all of my time from me. Come out and hang, why donā€™t you?!

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Clayton Hauck Clayton Hauck

2024 08 01

I canā€™t believe itā€™s August. This year has just flown by, I think likely due to the fact that weā€™re still planning a wedding thatā€™s going down in about a month and a half now. I can only hope time will slow back down once the wedding is behind us, but likely this wonā€™t be the case.

I had been thinking that work was slow this year but I think it was largely a mirage and Iā€™ve kind of been busier than ever. Previously, Iā€™d have fewer large jobs with more downtime in between the shoots. Lately it has been more small jobs and a feeling of constant hustle. Iā€™m also reworking my career a bit to focus more on video, which is time consuming in itself, while also contemplating a fully new and different endeavor on top of it all. Itā€™s no surprise my hairs have been rapidly desaturating lately.

-Clayton

A break in the clouds through a reflection in the window of a house. Chicago, Illinois. April, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck

I canā€™t believe itā€™s August. This year has just flown by, I think likely due to the fact that weā€™re still planning a wedding thatā€™s going down in about a month and a half now. I can only hope time will slow back down once the wedding is behind us, but likely this wonā€™t be the case.

I had been thinking that work was slow this year but I think it was largely a mirage and Iā€™ve kind of been busier than ever. Previously, Iā€™d have fewer large jobs with more downtime in between the shoots. Lately it has been more small jobs and a feeling of constant hustle. Iā€™m also reworking my career a bit to focus more on video, which is time consuming in itself, while also contemplating a fully new and different endeavor on top of it all. Itā€™s no surprise my hairs have been rapidly desaturating lately.

-Clayton

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2024 07 31

While handwriting my morning pages (see: 2024 07 06) this morning, NPR played an audio recap of the month of July. What an insane time we are living in! Itā€™s like thereā€™s just such an endless amount of insanity that it all blends together and starts to feel normal. I donā€™t have any profound takeaway to follow this up with, but have been finding it helpful to ignore the outside chaos and stay focused on my own tasks and goals. Previously, I wouldā€™ve judged myself for this behavior, thinking it irresponsible to not know about the world Iā€™m living in. Iā€™d spend endless hours pouring over The Economist, twitter, The New Yorker, taking in as much information as possible to give myself an ā€œinformed opinionā€ on current events. These days, as an older, more experienced, and slightly wiser man, I know itā€™s not possible to understand the world and knowing things is essentially just another form of entertaining myself.

Stay safe out there, yā€™all!

-Clayton

Another day, another busted car. Chicago, Illinois. May, 2024.

While handwriting my morning pages (see: 2024 07 06) this morning, NPR played an audio recap of the month of July. What an insane time we are living in! Itā€™s like thereā€™s just such an endless amount of insanity that it all blends together and starts to feel normal. I donā€™t have any profound takeaway to follow this up with, but have been finding it helpful to ignore the outside chaos and stay focused on my own tasks and goals. Previously, I wouldā€™ve judged myself for this behavior, thinking it irresponsible to not know about the world Iā€™m living in. Iā€™d spend endless hours pouring over The Economist, twitter, The New Yorker, taking in as much information as possible to give myself an ā€œinformed opinionā€ on current events. These days, as an older, more experienced, and slightly wiser man, I know itā€™s not possible to understand the world and knowing things is essentially just another form of entertaining myself.

Stay safe out there, yā€™all!

-Clayton

PS - this reminds me of one of the greatest comedic skits of our timeā€¦

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