Xanadu

I am working on new promo pieces that I will sending out in the next few weeks.  During my customary harddrive search for interesting images that will dazzle and amaze I found a few that I took for sculptor/artist Patrick Dougherty.

A few years ago he created this temporary structure he called Xanadu at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL.  The scale might be deceptive in the image, but it was as big as a two story house and made entirely of sticks and twigs.  There aren't too many times in my life that I can honestly say, "I've never seen anything like that before", but honestly... I haven't!  It was a whimsical creation right out of a fairy tale.  Unfortunately images just don't do it justice.  This is one of those thing you had to see to believe.

Mr Dougherty wanted some photos of Xanadu in the snow, so that's what brought me out here on this cold winter day.  The second photo should give you a better idea of the size of it.

Morton Arboertum

The Morton Arboretum hired me last weekend to document some of their classes and programs.  They needed images that they could use in upcoming catalogs, brochures, and the web to promote the next series of classes.  The Arboretum, for those of you that don't know, is a wonderful place to roam around.  It has always been a great spot for a picnic, with it's miles of scenic locations and hiking paths.  But I like how they have reinvented themselves over the past decade with the Children's Garden, summer concerts, and fantastic educational programs. 

Saturday started out very gloomy- dark, cool, and threatening to rain.  But fortunately the clouds helped me by diffusing the light.  Otherwise I would have been fighting the shadows as I photographed people moving under the trees.  The first thing I documented was an adult class on tree identification.

Next was a class called "Amazing Web Designers", a creative name for a kid's class about spiders.  I followed them as they roamed through the prairie looking for webs and creepy, crawly things.

 

On Sunday they wanted me to shoot a child's birthday party in the Childrens Garden.  The daughter of one of the employee's was turning two, and she had agreed to let it be photographed.  Around mid-day on Saturday, a buddy of mine sent me an email that read, "Jeffrey, I hear you're photographing my daughter's birthday tomorrow!"

Small world!  Sure enough, his wife works at the Arboretum and it was his daughter with the birthday.  What an amazing coincidence, but I'm so glad it happened.  It took off a layer of awkwardness from trying to walk right in and photograph a party filled with people that had no idea who I was.  Instead it was easier for me to jump in there and get some great images

 

 

And yes, I do know that it's wonderful that my job let's me outside all weekend, taking pictures and meeting new people.  I don't take it for granted, and it really is quite awesome.

Here we are sliding down the back half of summer. Summer concerts are still all around us, though. Lollapalooza just wrapped up tonight in Chicago. I've been shooting some of the shows that we've had out in the 'burbs. I photographed most of the bands that played in Naperville's Ribfest for a local magazine. And I recently I was hired by a local venue to photograph the great Smokey Robinson.

It's a great place to catch a show-

Everyone really enjoyed the show, and luckily the bad weather just missed us. There was another concert going on in downtown Naperville and my friends told me they got about 10 minutes of rain.
And of course Smokey is smart enough to know that even if you are a musical legend, it never hurts to bring along some ladies in colorful costumes and skin-tight lycra pants.

In a matter of weeks I'll be covering Naperville's Last Fling festival. There's two acts I'm looking forward to then- Robert Cray on Friday night, and Train on Sunday. I'm in the Jaycees, and we put on the whole festival so I have my fingers crossed for good weather!