blow your mind...

So I have another really busy weekend starting up in just a few hours.  (I probably should get to bed...)  I decided to fuel up the car tonight rather than spend time in the early morning.  Normally I am in some sort of frantic rush to pump fuel into the car but tonight I wasn't.  When I looked at how much 20 dollars bought me in gas, I was shocked.  With the pump reading just under 5 gallons of gas...I am not sure how much longer any of us American's will be driving!  Will gas prices ever go down significantly?   Washington?   

-mj

 

busy weekend...(part 3)

Here are two pictures from the parade that did get submitted to my editor.

-mj

busy weekend...(part 2)

I covered a Memorial Day parade and service for the The Deerfield Review yesterday.  I really enjoy assignments like these where you really have free range to just document an event with the occasional request for something specific.  Assignments like this are a great time to work a situation from different angles, perspectives, and lenses...always looking for something different.  As some of you might know I have a obsession with flags so whenever I see them, you can count on me to photograph them.  This isn't a picture that I submitted to my editor, but I think it is extremely important that when you are out 'working' (i.e. not shooting personal work) it's good to always be looking for photos that can be personal work.  I have been working on this project about Patriotism for a few years now... and I am always shooting pictures for it.  Not really sure if this picture will make the cut...but I was thinking about the project while working...

take a look at more photos from my series on 'patriotism'

-mj

 

busy weekend...(part 1)

So this weekend was hectic...worked a good amount for Time Out Chicago and Pioneer Press.  Time Out has me shooting at locations around Chicago for a feature piece coming out in June.  One location was inside Guthries Tavern near Wrigley Field.  I went after a Cubs home game expecting to find a mess of people at the bar, and I did.  In this assignment situation I knew communicating with the belligerent Cubs fans after a game would be difficult so I thought the best thing to do would be to just start shooting.  I had made some pictures of this group of guys sharing a few laughs and consuming a few beers...they later asked me who I was shooting for and I gave them the usual response, "Time Out Chicago." After documenting the people inside the bar I decided to shoot some outside pictures of the bar.  Here is a example of the great, fun people that I meet everyday...

-mj

running around

Yesterday was an office day, working on the new site, (www.michaeljarecki.com), editing photos/burning DVD's and invoicing. With these "office" tasks also comes the best part of my day; visiting places like FedEx Kinkos and Walgreens! No, seriously I love FedEx Kinkos!!! So I was on my way back to my apartment and came across this picture. It's great to come across street art and I am sure this cheers up many people who stumble upon Damen Ave...

"always be on the look out"


-mj

sometimes be literal...

Parent and students of Glencoe Central junior high walk through Glencoe, Ill. during a fundraiser for PADS Crisis Services, Walk to End Homelessness on Sunday, May 18, 2008.  

yesterday I was covering a fundraiser walk in Glencoe, Ill.  Being literal with pictures can sometimes work.  Here is one of the pictures from the assignment.  What I think works best in this picture is the strong motion of the frame.  Flows left to right...leading the viewer in and around the picture.  

-mj

  

Reality of Hope Event, Thursday, May 15, 2008

It is important to give back...For the past couple months I have been working with Adoption-Link. Adoption-Link is an adoption agency based out of Chicago that specializes in international adoption. The agency has been focusing on their 4th annual Reality of Hope event. I was asked to meet with some families and make some pictures for the event in an attempt to put a face to adoption, particularly families that have adopted internationally. Chances By Choice is a program of Adoption-Link that is putting a lot of time and energy in to placing HIV infected orphans into families around the United States.

Being able to donate some of my time to be a part of this project is something that I really appreciate. It is not all that often when you work on a project and feel as though you are doing some great thing that is helping SOMEONE! I am by no means saying that my job isn't helping people in some way all the time...but working on a project like this...you get to see this energy immediately spring out of people...all for my camera. This project was a great opportunity to meet some amazing people who strive to make a difference in children's lives domestically and internationally everyday. Here are some pictures of the people I got to photograph...


-mj

Record Release Show - HARPOON

Iron Reminders + Inverted + Harpoon = ?    maybe nothing but loud screaming chaos with a basement full of feedback combined with one ton of sweaty people smashing and bashing into each other...well at least when Harpoon played.  

-mj

  

New York City - Comic Con

It's been a while...traveling...working...moving!  Here is some photos from NYC Comic Con...

-mj