This summer has turned out to be a pretty good time for my photography, while being severly underemployed in other ways. It's turning into a interesting journey weaving between food service jobs to shooting photographs for cool events. Working on establishing a name for myself in the Chicago for event and gallery photography. I was published in CS Magazine with a photo spread from Marwen's Paintbrush Ball, an annual Gala event to raise money for this youth arts organization. Go to Page 148/149

But recently I took some time out to focus on my art photography as well as doodling with drawing. I've noticed for me that shooting people on a regular basis is an energy draining process. Part of that is because I do tend to become emotionally involved with the person even for a second in order to get that shot. I know some photographers who can go in and just shoot without that connection, I'm not one of them. I'm learning to separate myself a little bit from that though. But for now, I turn back to making pictures for me to recharge some of that lost energy.

On a different level, I've had a chance to become romantically involved with someone who I fell in love with way too hard. He set off the right reactions in my heart, but now I don't know what has happened. Everything seemed to go well, and then in the blink of an eye he stopped communicating. We did have a chance to talk and he expressed concern over the fact he's going to be heading back to school to finish off his teaching degree and he didn't want to lead me around (emotionally) while he's gone. He's only going to be 80 or so miles away but he said he really has no time to focus on anything but his studies. I really didn't want to hear that, I don't really want him to go. He really expressed interest in me and said that I was a really nice guy, but I don't know. I can't expect him to put his priorities in me no matter how much I want him to. It's been a long time since I've felt this way about anybody and well, I suppose I can hope that when he comes back in January he might look me up.

And speaking of school, I decided to go back. It's been too long since I was last in a classroom and I'm not getting younger. I started back in 2002/2003 to pursue a degree in visual communications and by god even though it's 2009 I'm letting my determination to finish run wild. It's one of many things I've been gifted from my time spent in this short relationship.

Wish me luck...