skip to main |
skip to sidebar
So I'm trying to build this new body of work centered around found or man-made objects that are horribly ordinary and mundane, but essential to our world. I think it's worth examining those things that surround us that we pay no attention to. Why can't they be valued for their true worth? How do they change when we alter our perception of them and they become beautiful or even heroic? I'm seeking out those built spaces, those designed objects and I'm trying to strip away ordinary and reveal something extraordinary. So, if anyone has any suggestions of things that should be photographed, let me know.
Anyway, the title's a work in progress, the aesthetic is a work in progress, it's all a work in progress, but I wanted to share this latest photo because I thought it turned out really quite nice.
Chicago's Air and Water Show. 3 days straight of thinking the city was under attack. When you hear a plane fly over your apt at low altitude, you think "well, crazy flight path, but the airport's not far away, so I understand." When you hear fighter jets passing overhead every 7-10 mins at 3000 ft, however, you begin to think that maybe Godzilla just crawled out of Lake Michigan and we're in a lot of trouble. Turns out, all the shenanigans are really just the Blue Angels doing laps over the city and dialing in their coordinates for the weekend's events.
Let me just reiterate... over the city.
So not only is Chicago's Air and Water Show the biggest, baddest, free-est air show in the country, but they like to fly their jets suuper low over the city. Kate and I were meeting up with one of Kate's new classmates who just happens to live in a really nice building right next to Navy Pier where all the festivities where happening, and as we got off the bus and started walking down the street, an F-14 did this earth shattering air-thrust maneuver down Michigan ave kind of like that one scene in the Transformers movie. The roar of the engines bouncing off the sk
yscrapers magnified the already awesome power of the jet. It was intense. One thing that has always been kind of lame about air shows in America is the fact that the planes are not allowed to fly towards the crowd. This isn't the case in Europe and I always thought they must get a much better show than we do. But then again, unlike in Europe, when a plane crashes here in America, nobody in the crowd gets hurt -trade off I guess. Well, all that seems to mean nothing in Chicago, because not only do the planes fly right towards the crowd, they fly really low, and really fast, and around buildings. It's insane.
So we were having a good time on the roofdeck of Kate's new classmate's flat, and she had some people over and there were a million other neighbors barbecuing and having a good time, and all and all, it was a good time had by all. Apparently we missed Bill Murray jumping out of an airplane with the Golden Knights, and I had already packed my camera up when the Blue Angels finally flew over head to close the show, but I was able to snap a few pics of the planes. Two planes w
ere just amazing to watch: First the B2. You had to really pay attention to the sky to even know this one was flying because not only is this thing invisible to radar, but if radar had ears, it wouldn't be able to hear it either. I'm not kidding, I thought the plane was floating over head like a hot air balloon. I think it uses that silent propulsion drive from The Hunt for Red October. It's Area 51 technology for sure. Crazy. By contrast, however, the F-22 Raptor, another stealth plane, must be overcompensating for something, because that had to be the loudest plane ever made. If you've never seen one of these planes fly...oh my god. It can do anything. I'm pretty sure it even hovered at one point. Then, right before stalling or something, it shot straight up into the air and climbed about 4000 ft in about 2.5 secs. I think the pilot must have passed out from the G's because it hovered again, vertically. Just sort of sat there in the air. If I had seen one of these in person as a kid, I'm pretty sure 
I would've wanted to be a fighter pilot when I grew up. It's that kinda cool.
Anyway, show was fun, definately a different experience than the redneck fest these things usually are out west.
I really can't get enough of this cool building I live in. And since these days I'm usually hanging around the house sending out resumes and following up job emails with more pleads to hire me (damn this recession), I try to find ways to keep myself entertained on a $0/day budget. So I take photos. Rained a bit earlier today, so there were some cool clouds lingering around tonight.
How bout them hardwood floors? So nice.
Well what was I expecting? I mean, luckily they're not everywhere, but one's enough. I'm told by our handy man Alex that someone comes and sprays the building every month, but come on! The sucker was huge and it was scurrying right across the middle of the living room! With the lights on! Bold. I think I found a baby too. Not ok. But, you know, it's the friggin' midwest, I guess these things tend to happen.
I've landed! Well, more like I've pulled in. Driving from Idaho felt sooo long. People say Nebraska is flat and full of corn. They weren't kidding around. I hope to never have to make that drive ever again (knock on wood). In all honesty, however, the first full day of driving through Wyoming was actually quite enjoyable. Day two however...
Chicago is a massive, bustling, diverse, endlessly foreign city to me that is just so amazingly cool. This Idaho boy is in for some surprises I'm sure.
Chicago! Isn't that skyline just so intense? (Sadly, this is the best photo I've taken of Chicago so far, but I had to have some photo to post right? Better photo coming.) I live in Summerdale, (well, I think it's technically between Summerdale and Andersonville and Ravenswood) in this perfect yellow brick building in a two bedroom apt. Hardwood floors, tall ceilings, huge windows - the works. You have any idea how hard it is to find an apt that doesn't have 5'x5' closetless "bedrooms" in Chicago for under $1000/mo? Well, apparently, if you like sleeping horizontally, and not either livi
ng off foodstamps or among roaches in those sweet "garden" apts, you'll end up living way up here in Summerdale. Really, its not that far from downtown in Idaho terms, only about 8 miles north, but in Chicago, that means anywhere from 30-40mins via CTA or a really nice long bike ride against some of the craziest traffic I've ever seen. Gives SLC drivers a run for their money. So, I live kind of far away. Whatever. This is the city of neighborhoods, and Andersonville is pretty hip and all that, so I've got pretty much all I need in a 4 block radius. But I'm sure I'll be heading into town whenever possible.
My hope with this blog is to hold myself accountable during my time here in Chi-Town. I'll be posting new work weekly, if not on a more frequent basis, along with older work. Mostly, It's so mom can see that her little boy is making it in the big, bad city. I have no dreams of this blog becoming a sensation, but if anyone does happen to see anything they like, I'd love to hear from you.
Time to put on some Sufjan and grab a beer.
