Wowie. A month and a half?! In my defense, the end of the semester got really busy, and I haven't really been taking any photos anyway.

But in light of the holiday season, here is a view of Chicago's State Street (outside Macy's, which is famed for its fantastic Christmas displays).



Date: November 2008
Where/What: Uhm... State Street, Chicago, outside Macy's
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 1/13 (handheld!)
Aperture: 3.5
ISO: 200

Listening to: Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree (Alan Scott)
Thankful for: Not being so financially in the dumps that I have to give up my dog

Taking photos in Chicago is a bit nerve-wracking. I haven't entirely figured out yet where the good areas are and where the bad areas are and where people won't give a damn if I take pictures and where the Chicago natives will eviscerate me for being a tourist with a camera--or just steal the camera.

When I saw this, I had a couple friends watch my back while I grabbed my camera out of my bookbag and snapped a couple long-exposures. If I'd been alone, I probably would've just admired the scene for a couple seconds and continued on my way.

I kind of miss suburbia.




Date: October 2008
Where/What: Clinton station
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 4.0
Aperture: f 4.0
ISO: 100

Listening to: I Melt with You (Modern English)
Thankful for: Cloudy days (which yield dorm-room temperatures of under 90 degrees Fahrenheit, thanks to being on the south side of the building with no cooling available now that it's October)

O Chicago. How your days do go by.



Date: April 2008
Where/What: Chicago by sunset, nighttime, and sunrise
Camera: Fuji S700

Listening to: L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole)
Thankful for: Toilets that work. I may have said this before, but seriously, man, every time I don't have to plunge a toilet I am SUPER-THANKFUL.

Making this photo freaked me the hell out. I had to put my camera on a low tripod, kneel on the kitchen floor in almost pitch-darkness, try to focus on my hand in almost pitch-darkness, light a match (in almost pitch-darkness), quickly frame the shot (in the tiny dark viewfinder--this was a film camera), hurriedly hit the shutter with my non-dominant hand while being very sure to keep a dish of water underneath the match for safety purposes, hold my hand very still for 2 or 5 seconds (while FREAKING OUT that the match was going to BURN ME), and frantically extinguish the match the second I heard the shutter re-click.

I had to go through this process multiple times for multiple shutter speeds.

Sadly, it did not help me conquer my fear of fire.



Date: July 2007
Where/What: me & a match
Camera: Canon Rebel 2000
Film: Tri-X 400

Listening to: Light my Fire (the Doors)
Thankful for: not setting the house on fire during the making of this photograph

This stupid contraption is why I rarely get to bed before 2AM--even though I fall asleep around midnight. I'm looking forward to not having a TV next year.

...okay, honestly, not wanting to move the cute little dog that's fallen asleep on my lap is the REAL reason I don't get to bed before 2AM. But it's easier to blame TV.



Date: July 2007
Where/What: watchin' television
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 2 sec.
Aperture: f 6.3
ISO: 100

Listening to: Money for Nothing (Dire Straits)
Thankful for: having the time to watch this stupid contraption (tho' I wish I spent that time more wisely)

Me, a mini Mag-lite, a film SLR, and a tripod. And mosquitos. But you can't see those here.



Date: August 2007
Where/What: people/portraits assignment
Camera: Canon Rebel 2000
Shutter: 15 seconds
Film: T-Max 400

Listening to: Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas)
Thankful for: the resiliency of hermit crabs

Unfortunately, this is pretty much what the road looks like when I wear contact lenses at night. (Yay for glasses! Granted, this new non-reflective coating I've got generates all kinds of funny starbursts, but better starbursts than halos, I always say.)

(...okay, fine, I never say that. 'Strue, though.)



Date: January 2008
Where/What: Traffic light in front of Monmouth University
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 1/100
Aperture: f 3.5
ISO: 200