The Archive Project

This image is new, taken in Tucson at Trail Dust Town, a local tourist trap filled with gift shops and restaurants. I've only made some minor adjustments in color correction and perspective. Pop Art based on something a little older.

Olympus C-700 Digital Camera, photo editing in PhotoShop 6.0

This image is from about 1968. I was living in Chicago in the area of about Ellis and 62nd Streets and working at the University of Chicago at the time.

I had friends living several blocks away, close to the lake. We used to get high and watch the water a lot where 63rd Street met Lake Michigan.

This is the residue leftover from pilings that extended out into the lake. It reminded me of an abstract Japanese brush painting. I'm also fond of the fact that it's basically a black and whit photograph rendered in color.

Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, 55mm lens, High Speed Ektachrome Film

This is from the same era - probably about 1968. It was taken in Kings, IL on Route 64 between Mt. Carroll (where I'd gone to school) and Chicago (where I was living at the time).

The object is a steam powered threshing machine. I've manipulated the image somewhat to enhance it's abstract qualities. I was very taken by the juxtaposition of circular and linear forms, the contrasts and the green, orange and blue color blocks.

Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, 55mm lens, High Speed Ektachrome Film

Another Ellis Street in another city. This is Syracuse, NY in about 1975. Rain on the street at night. The patterns of the tail lights and the reflections on the automobiles made another amazing abstract for me.

I've done a  little digital manipulation in order to enhance some of the abstract qualities - but then, I'm a little near sighted with astigmatisms to beat the band, so it's pretty much the way I saw it.

Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, 135mm lens, High Speed Ektachrome Film

A cactus flower about the size of one's little finger nail. Macro lenses and extension tubes can be marvelous.

Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, 55mm lens with extension tube, High Speed Ektachrome Film

Mount Carroll, IL.

A small town about 140 miles west of Chicago on North Avenue (Route 94).

Practica 35mm SLR with waist level viewfinder, 50mm lens, High Speed Ektachrome Film

Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, 55mm lens, High Speed Ektachrome Film

Pentax SF-1 35mm SLR, 70-210mm zoom lens, High Speed Ektachrome Film

I found this beneath a pedestrian overpass crossing South Shore Drive in Chicago sometime in about 1968. I found the sentiment very moving. The word "BLACK", written in white is the first part of the gang tag "Blackstone Rangers", the ruling force in the area at the time.

Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, 55mm lens, High Speed Ektachrome Film

Pentax SF-1 35mm SLR, 70-210mm zoom lens, High Speed Ektachrome Film