Life Up North: Summer 2012

Disposable Vacation: January 2012
The Fast Times: Late 2012

My very own place as an adult in Chicago. Various times in early-mid 2012, with the primitive digital camera on my iPod Touch.

A nighttime view of the inner courtyard of a brick apartment building in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, taken with a low-quality iPod Touch camera. The central focus is intentionally blurred, drawing attention to the illuminated doorway in the middle. Blue-green tinted lights are visible in the upper right windows of the building, marking the photographer's place. The courtyard is bordered by dimly lit sidewalks and patches of grass, giving the scene a mysterious atmosphere.

home

A dimly lit basement corridor in a Chicago apartment building, featuring exposed pipes running along the ceiling and brick walls with peeling paint. The perspective is centered on a bright light at the far end of the hallway, casting eerie shadows. The damp, glossy floor reflects the yellowish light, enhancing the unsettling, abandoned feel of the image.

creepy basement

A close-up of a cardboard sign hanging on a white wall in a basement. The handwritten message reads, "please DON'T light the incinerator," with underlined words for emphasis. The sepia-like filter gives the image a warm yet grimy tone, suggesting age and neglect. A small, darkened rectangular opening beneath the sign might be part of the incinerator. A close-up of a textured concrete wall with long vertical slabs creating a repetitive pattern. The surface is illuminated by an artificial yellow-green light, exaggerating the roughness and imperfections of the wall. The photo’s grainy quality, a result of the low-resolution camera, adds to the gritty aesthetic.

A view inside an oven with three racks filled with baked goods. The top rack holds a pan of large, golden cinnamon rolls, their swirls prominently visible. The lower racks contain various pastries, including muffins in cupcake liners and small rolls. The warm glow from the oven light highlights the fluffy textures, while the image’s graininess gives it a nostalgic feel.

work

A nighttime shot of a vacant storefront for a business named "Magic Video," as indicated by the faded red letters on the building's facade. The glass storefront reflects the light of a streetlamp, while a "FOR RENT" sign is visible inside. The empty parking lot in front is wet, with puddles reflecting the surrounding lights. The scene evokes a sense of decline, captured through the grainy lens of the iPod Touch. A silhouette of bare trees against a softly glowing Lake Michigan horizon during sunset, taken with an early Instagram filter. The trees, with their twisting, leafless branches, frame the lake in the background, where faint ripples are visible. A lone figure walks along the shoreline, adding a quiet, contemplative touch to the scene. There's also a trash can. A beach along Lake Michigan, with smooth sand leading to the calm, expansive water under a lightly clouded sky. The muted tones and grainy texture, likely enhanced by the iPod Touch and an Instagram filter, give the image a nostalgic and dreamy quality. Small pebbles and shells dot the shoreline, adding subtle details. A Rogers Park sidewalk on a sunny day, lined with a black metal fence and lush greenery. Trees arch over the walkway, casting dappled shadows across the path. Flowering bushes and manicured lawns create a serene and inviting scene, enhanced by a shallow depth-of-field effect that blurs the background. The light, soft focus adds to the idyllic feel of the neighborhood. A large, interior-ribbed concrete cone sculpture sits on a patch of dirt within a lush, green park in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood. The cone’s open end is tilted slightly toward the viewer, revealing its textured interior. Surrounding trees cast dappled shadows across the grass, while the bright daylight highlights the weathered texture of the sculpture. The image, taken with a low-quality iPod Touch camera, has a soft, slightly blurred appearance. The storefront of "I LIKE DOLLAR +" in Chicago, photographed with a noticeable vignette blur around the edges. The sign above the door is bold and red, contrasting against the pale beige facade. A "FOR RENT" sign is taped to the glass front door. To the left, part of an adjacent business is visible, while faint greenery on the right suggests a tree-lined street. The muted tones and soft focus evoke a nostalgic, slightly surreal feel.

A close-up of three boxes of HEM brand incense sticks. The central box, "Call Client," features an image of a headset-wearing man overlaid with various currency notes, including euros and dollars, giving the design a humorous and mismatched vibe. The boxes on either side are labeled "Gold Rain" and "Open Road," each with corresponding thematic imagery. The grainy quality and uneven lighting emphasize the quirky, low-budget aesthetic.

my favorite scent

The interior of a vibrant restaurant with bold, colorful walls and ceiling lighting. The ceiling features layers of blue, green, and white fluorescent lighting around a central, ornate crystal chandelier. The walls are painted in warm pink and orange tones, with a small couch and a flat-screen TV mounted in the back. Several dining tables are arranged with white plates and glasses, while a lone figure sits in the corner. The grainy texture and saturated colors create a surreal mood. A nighttime aerial view of Chicago, showcasing the bright lights of downtown and the illuminated Buckingham Fountain at the center of the image. The fountain’s circular design is surrounded by symmetrical paths and rows of streetlights, which extend outward toward the cityscape. The skyline is visible in the distance, with faint outlines of high-rise buildings. The grainy quality of the image adds to its dreamy, almost painterly effect.

A mural under a CTA viaduct in Rogers Park, depicting a reclining alien-like figure with a single large eye. The figure’s grey, minimalist body lies against a painted background of abstract shapes and textures. To the left, a framed red apple contrasts against the muted tones. The mural’s paint appears weathered and chipped, adding a gritty charm to the surreal artwork.

rogers park alien 1/4

Another mural under the CTA viaduct featuring a grey, cross-legged alien figure with one large eye. The alien holds up a painted frame filled with stylized blue water waves, while a second frame on the left contains a starfish on a deep blue background. The mural’s warm, yellowed lighting highlights the weathered paint and aged concrete surface.

rogers park alien 2/4

A final mural from the same series, showing a lounging grey alien with one eye resting on a painted box containing clouds. The background is filled with abstract shapes and blocks of color, including greens and oranges. The mural is heavily chipped and faded, with exposed concrete adding a raw, textured feel to the whimsical scene. The image's grainy quality further enhances its vintage character.

rogers park alien 3/4

Disposable Vacation: January 2012
The Fast Times: Late 2012