The homeys
Always stoked to shoot these characters
I met Nick by the lake. I was trying out a Leica Q3 for the first time, getting in much needed practice. I noticed a dude working on some flatland tricks in the parking lot, and I decided to strike up a conversation. We talked about art, music, skating (I love it- but can’t skate for shit), and photography. I asked him if it would be cool to shoot him sometime when he was skating, and he was cool with it. Since then I’ve been really lucky to get the chance to get shots of some of the local skaters. They’re all cool kids, and I really dig shooting skate…I’m hoping that these shoots are the start of a bigger project…something that gives a proper shout out to this awesome scene.
Ride and shoot
You see so much more of the city traversing by bike. I’m trying to get better at getting some shots in while I do so. Had I not been in the middle of active traffic, I might’ve better captured the brawl that these kids were watching….
As winter finally begins to relent, Chicago suddenly blooms, color explodes- seemingly from everywhere all at once. I have always loved riding in the city. I can cover more ground than walking, whilst still being outside and a part of my surroundings. Shooting from the bike adds an enjoyable challenge to obtaining decent composition while trying to capture emergent moments. All of these photos were captured while on the move- primarily on my bike , with a couple of driveway shots from my car.
through the eyes of a child
Who took the better photos…my kids or me?
The time I get to spend with my kids is the highlight of every week. It’s a challenge, trying to find things to do together that amount to more than just staring at the same screen together. Before our last vacation I thought it might be a good idea to try and find a functional, kid proof camera. They always showed an interest in my cameras, and I figured if I could perhaps get them something they could take real pictures with, perhaps we could find some more reasons to get outside- IRL. My research led me to the OM TG-7, a tough little point and shoot that is actually a pretty nice camera as well. The first time I saw their images, (the useable ones haha), I knew that, for at least one time, that I had truly bought another camera for the right reason. There are always a couple of pleasant surprises- some real gems. I just usually need to sort through a few hundred shots to find them. These are from a walk we took on Memorial Day weekend. I got in a few nice ones too.
Schubas 5/6
Playing with Bow & Spear and Brass Calf was fun, melodic AF, and a good reason to pull out my cameras…
Lightfoils shared the stage with our old pals Bow & Spear and our new friends Brass Calf. Early shows (on Tuesday no less) aren’t usually the best attended, which was a shame, because both B&S and BC put on extraordinary shows. I love being a part of these smaller, more intimate performances…especially when it is at a venue like Schuba’s- the sound in that room is simply stellar. Looking forward to more great times with these bands in the future.
Lake and loop
Color pulls me out of my comfort zone…
It’s funny how this new hobby has pushed me into places I normally don’t hang around, like the lakefront or the Loop. It’s not my usual scene, a little too crowded with the social archetypes I tend to eschew but I guess you have to go where the people are if you want photos of…people. Also, I’ve realized that some of these images are best seen in color, which adds challenges for me to edit as I’m colorblind. Editing becomes a doubly intimidating process, both as a newcomer and someone who doesn’t see color the same way others do.
lake effect 2025
Been too long…
Scenes. What they are, who comprise them, whether or not they’re shit…the names change but the stories remain. When Lightfoils first stepped into the scene, there were a few bands that we ended up sharing the stage with quite often. We loved DLE’s NYC swagger and Bloody Knives’ formidable Texan edge. We knew we had found kindred spirits who shared our love of chaos, music, and raising hell. Life and shit happened, and we found ourselves not crossing paths as often. So it was really cool to once again share a bill with our old friends. We’re making new friends too. Snowcuffs and Flowers At Her Feet were mesmerizing as well. Hoping to keep up the pace of shows so far this year. I really missed getting out there.
west loop walkabout
Busy. I just shoot whenever I can.
My busy schedule and unconventional hours mean I have to shoot whenever I can—be it from my car during my (many) hours spent shuttling kids/commuting to work or on a cold, late-night post-work walks. This can make it tricky to find good composition- or rather, I need to get better at finding better it in these situations. It’s all about the practice, the trying, the doing. But as the kids like to say, it brings me joy.
