NICKPHOTO

THINGS GOIN’ BE DIFFERENT ‘ROUND HERE

Nickphoto — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:47:27 +0000

It’s been a minute or two since my last website update. With that in mind, and with more and more new work piling up, I loaded up some new hip hop playlists, made a half dozen pots of coffee, and started in on the ever so daunting task of revamping the portfolios.

My main goals and criteria for the update was relatively simple: New work along with a BIG edit of the old work. I also wanted to create a food and drink portfolio I could use as a springboard going forth in that world, so I set out on that journey almost a year ago. I wanted to show more personal work, have big ass images displayed correctly on all screen sizes (desktop, laptop, ipad, iphone, etc.) and a CMS driven website that would allow me to spend more time creating and less time coding. Simple, right?

Along with the new work, the blog will also be getting a major facelift. Not only in terms of how the blog looks, but the way I’m going to use it as a platform going forth. As I continue to discover who I am as a creative – as a photographer – and what that means in today’s world, change is something to celebrate, not run from. I intended to live by that.

As always, I’d love to hear thoughts, critique, and questions. Be sure to send your love, and/or your hate mail to:

Phone: + 1 440 522 9890 I Email: NICK@NICKPHOTO.NET I FACEBOOK I TWITTER I G+ I INSTAGRAM

Enjoy! – WWW.NICKPHOTO.NET

NICKPHOTO – 9:34a – Chicago, IL

JEWS IN THE ‘WOOD

Nickphoto — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:43:20 +0000

Such a dope shoot with Jason Vincent and his crew at Nightwood Restaurant.

Met up with Jason on a brisk Wednesday morning in the Pilsen neighborhood, a straight shot south on the highway from my Logan Square ‘hood. Met the crew, chatted briefly, figured out the lighting I wanted, and starting firing away. Once the the whiskey started pouring, things turned brilliant and I made the frame above.

As it turns out, the Nightwood kitchen staff includes five Jewish cooks, and they’ve been experimenting with dishes that showcase the pride (and sometimes the shame) of Jewish cooking.

-Carly Fisher, TimeOut Chicago

Thanks TimeOut Chicago and Jason and all the homies at Nightwood Restaurant!

Read the full piece – HERE and check out Nightwood HERE.

BERNICE ABBOT’S SCIENTIFIC PHOTOGRAPHY

Nickphoto — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:27:53 +0000

Berenice Abbott was an American photographer best known for her black-and-white photography of New York City architecture and urban design of the 1930s. This batch of her work is a little different…

As creatives, it’s important to chase down all of your curiosities. Break out of your comfort zone, try something new – experiment. Here’s some brilliant work that did just that.

In 1939, she began experimenting with scientific imagery and capturing the whimsy of physics, mathematics and chemistry in her minimalist yet dramatic black-and-white photos. Documenting Science collects the best of that work, which culminated with the Physical Science Study Project at MIT in 1958.

All images © Bernice Abbot

The MIT Museum is currently showing an exhibition of Abbot’s scientific imagery, running through the end of the year.

PIZZA, PIZZA! A TOP 5

Nickphoto — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:59:42 +0000

I love, love, love pizza. Especially when I can sit down, grab a slice, and have a beer for a few bucks.

Combining food/food culture and photography has been at the forefront of my mind for the past handful of months. So I set out to photograph (eat!) a top five list of places where I could grab a slice of pizza in Chicago. No specific order, though I do have a favorite.

Gigio’s Pizzeria 4643 N. Broadway St., Chicago, IL 60640

Cafe Luigi Pizza 2548 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614

Santullos Eatery 1943 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60622

The Boiler Room 2210 N. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

Dante’s Pizzeria 3028 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

Drop me a line if I missed your favorite. Be on the look for more top fives coming at you!

RECENT SNAPS

Nickphoto — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:29:57 +0000

Wanted to share some recent snaps. Some on the road, some close to home.

Derek Walter Grubaugh at his home. Cleveland Heights, OH.

Derek Walter Grubaugh at his home. Cleveland Heights, OH.

I-90 E toward Cleveland, OH for Thanksgiving. Somewhere in Ohio.

My brother Kyle. Cleveland, OH.

7 TIPS TO STAY FOCUSED

Nickphoto — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:44:03 +0000

Have trouble just getting started? Procrastinate much? Waiting around for inspiration? Here are some tips that might help. Happy Monday!

I caught this piece over at the Zen habits blog. Just substitute writing for photographing, designing, painting, practicing, coding, or whatever you fancy. Lets keep it simple – anything you need to get done, take it through this process.

1. Set a writing block. It’s not enough to say, “I’m going to write a blog post or book chapter today”. You have to set a block of time. Even just 10-30 minutes. Let’s say 8-8:30 a.m. — this is blocked off on your calendar, and you make sure nothing gets in the way of that.

2. Create accountability. Tell someone else you’re going to start writing at 8 a.m., and will do nothing else at that time but start writing. Promise to pay them $50 if you don’t…

3. Clear distractions. Just before your writing block, turn off the Internet. Use Freedom or some other Internet blocker. Or unplug your router and give it to someone, instructing them not to give it back for 30 minutes. Close all programs but a text editor or a distraction-free writing app like WriteRoom, OmmWriter, orByword.

4. Notice your resistance to starting. Let it go, and focus on just getting started. All you need to do is write the first few words — don’t worry about writing more than that.

5. Imagine you’re talking to a specific friend when you start writing — what would you say to that friend about this blog topic or book chapter?

6. Notice the tightness you feel as you start. It’s tension, not wanting to do this, wanting to do something else. Let it go, relax, enjoy the writing.

7. Watch the urge to go do something else. Watch, don’t act. Let it arise, then go away. Now go back to writing.

So let’s get shiznate done! Any other tips out there?

The original post here : zenhabits.net/resistance

SHARING THANKSGIVING

Nickphoto — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:27:57 +0000

Hoping everyone had lovely thanksgiving yesterday. Family, friends, good food, good drink. Nothing better, right?

This year, amongst a slew of things, I was crazy thankful for the ability to share. Share visions, conversation, ideas, art, and time. In that spirit, I figured I would do a little recap sharing my documentation of the meal with a few numbers.

People: 5.
Dishes: 12.
Bottles of wine: 3.
Potatoes (lbs.): 6.
Time of meal: 5:53p
Leftovers: A ton.

…And some snaps of the food.

Cheers, and happy holidays!

WALKING AROUND NAVY PIER

Nickphoto — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:34:35 +0000

Snapped this while walking up and down Navy Pier with Ella Gomez. I’m traveling today and hopefully knocking out a ton of new work over the next week, so I’ll catch you on the flipside!

TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE

Nickphoto — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:11:40 +0000

Bruce Davidson’s stunning body of work, Brooklyn Gang: Summer 1959, made my eyes go wide and my heart thump!

“In 1959, Bruce Davidson read about the teenage gangs of New York City. Connecting with a social worker to make initial contact with a gang in Brooklyn called The Jokers, Davidson became a daily observer and photographer of this alienated youth culture. The Fifties are often considered passive and pale by our standards of urban reality, but Davidson’s photographs prove otherwise.”

I first stumbled upon the work via Bob Dylan’s 33rd studio album, Together Through Life. Davidson’s photograph (featured above) graced the cover of the album and I fell in love. So allow me to share some of my favorite gems from the work.

All work © Bruce Davidson/Magnum

OUCH! IT’S MONDAY

Nickphoto — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:18:33 +0000

Digging through the archives for a new project and came across these gems. I miss the times where the biggest concern of the day was where we were skating or riding.

“Sunday morning is like Monday morning except with better coffee and less bullshit.” – Author Unknown

Happy Monday, ya’ll!