Chicago Photographer -- Kim Karpeles

Is Stock Photography Worth the Effort?

2010-02-04T17:06:00.000-06:00

See post at my other blog.

Lights and Shadow

2009-04-28T17:16:00.002-05:00

Just off the popular and touristy Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain, lies a wonderful and elegant plaza known as the Placa Reial. The large open space with palm trees and lampposts designed by famed architect, Antoni Gaudi, provides a respite from the hawkers and souvenir vendors along the Ramblas.

Surrounding the plaza are arched walkways fronting the stores, taverns and restaurants. Some walkways are filled with tables for outdoor dining ranging from take-away resting spots to white tablecloths.

While walking through the plaza I noticed the repetition of the shadows on the columns created by the sun shining behind the hanging light fixtures. It took a few return trips to the Placa Reial to capture the shot I envisioned, but I think it was worth the wait.

Cowboy in Baja Mexico

2009-04-08T14:13:00.003-05:00

Earlier this year, I spent two weeks traveling in a circle at the tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico from La Paz to Todos Santos to San Jose del Cabo. The three locations provided wonderful variety from the largest city in Baja to a quaint small town with a thriving artist colony to a town full of resorts and tourists.

The Mexican cowboy plied the beaches outside the resorts in San Jose del Cabo leading three horses while keeping a lookout for potential customers. Jewelery vendors, jet ski operators and others were frequently seen on the beach, but nowhere near as annoying as the relentless time-share salespeople in Cabo San Lucas.

Still healing from a broken hip, I had a great excuse for not hopping into the saddle -- maybe next time.

Blurred Golf Ball

2009-02-26T16:23:00.003-06:00

Last summer, I thought it would be interesting to try attaching a camera to a golf club and swinging to see what kind of blur effects could be achieved. First off I should confess that I am not a golfer, just married to one.

I briefly considered using a club from a set my husband purchased recently, but then decided that a Bogen clamp screwed tightly could dent a club and found an old one in the basement to use instead. Creating art is important, but so is a harmonious marriage.

Swinging a club with an SLR camera attached was challenging as the camera weight threw off the balance of the swing and fluidity of motion, and trying to fire the cable release at the same time required more than my usual coordination. Still it was fun to play around the with the shutter speed and swing. Posted here is one of the photos where most of the blur occurs around the golf ball.

DeKalb - Barbed Wire Capitol

2009-02-06T13:45:00.004-06:00

For years I've driven the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, (I-88), and only stopped in DeKalb, llinois to visit the bathroom at the tollway oasis which is a "must" when heading west. In spring of 2008, I headed to the home of Northern Illinois University to roam around and see if the city was more than a college town.

Little did I know that DeKalb was home to Joseph Glidden, the inventor of the most popular barbed wire fencing which was key to the development of the western half of the United States. The home and barn built in 1861 are featured in the photo here, and can be toured a few Sundays during the summer months.

A visit to the Ellwood House Museum and Victorian mansion give a sense of how much money was made by the inventors and manufacturers of this fencing material. The museum's second floor features samples of many designs which were patented and manufactured.

While in town, check out the Egyptian Theater and drive a section of the Lincoln Highway, America's first transcontinental highway.

Barcelona Geese Guard

2009-01-10T13:53:00.000-06:00

For many, many years, 13 geese have served as an alarm system in the cloisters of the Cathedral of Barcelona. The strutting white fowl are there in memory of Eulalia, Barcelona's patron saint and the patron saint of sailors. As a 13 year old girl, she was tortured 13 times for her faith before being crucified in 304. Her tomb now rests below the high altar in the cathedral sanctuary.

The geese take full advantage of their celebrity status by accepting handouts, posing for photos and strutting about with beaks in the air. In the cloister garden, atop a fountain, is a statue of St. George slaying the dragon, and also a public restroom that is easy to miss.

Lurie Garden in Millennium Park

2008-09-23T15:03:00.000-05:00

Native spring wildflowers blooming in Millennium Park's Lurie Garden provide a wonderful contrast to the architectural marvels of the Pritzker Pavilion and the Hancock building.

Holy Toledo (Spain) Wedding

2008-07-25T14:26:00.000-05:00

While wandering the streets of Toledo Spain, I happened upon a two-horse carriage with a driver and attendant in uniform waiting outside the cathedral for the bridge and groom. Her carriage truly awaited and waited and waited.

The attendant stood at the head of the team to keep them calm while tourists snapped away (and I include myself in this category), and the driver kept turning to see if the happy couple were coming. Once they did, the matched black horses with bells on their bridles pulled a magnificent carriage through the crowded streets to much waving and clapping by the well wishers while the bride waved her fan and the groom smiled. A wonderful moment!

Flooding from Wisconsin Storms

2008-06-13T11:25:00.000-05:00

Heavy rainfall and the resultant flooding have plagued the Midwest this spring. Earlier this week I traveled to Kenosha County, Wisconsin where highways have been closed due to standing water and many a basement flooded.

Another point of impact is the corn crop. Corn prices soared to record highs on June 12 as concerns increase with the relentless barrage of rain that has caused widespread flooding across the corn belt. With prices at the grocery store already inching upwards, flooded fields such as the one pictured above could impact pocketbooks in the coming months.

Never Far From Home

2008-06-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

Walking down the Paseo del Prado in Madrid, I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted the Chicago Hot Dogs sign and restaurant. Evidence once again that the world truly is a global community and the planet is shrinking.

Stearns Wharf at Night in Santa Barbara

2008-05-20T18:00:00.001-05:00

Night and low-light photography of buildings and cities is one of my favorite subjects. When in Santa Barbara, California for a family event, I snuck off with my tripod and shot several frames of Stearns Wharf jutting into the Pacific Ocean at dusk. A bit touristy, the Wharf still makes a great subject for low-light photography. While a tripod adds weight and takes up space in the suitcase, it is essential for capturing subjects at this time of night. Skip a change of clothes and come back with great photos - the family won't remember what you were wearing anyway.

Green Architecture

2008-04-18T16:07:00.000-05:00

Building "green" is a goal for many new commercial and residential construction projects. Utilizing sustainable, renewable and recycled materials in the process leads to a smaller environmental impact both now and into the future.

The Ryerson Welcome Center constructed in 2006 by the Lake County Forest Preserve District is one such building. The roofing materials and design blends well with the existing barns and farm buildings, and the facility utilizes geothermal cooling and heating to reduce energy usage and cost.

An underground cistern collects rainwater, wider eaves shield windows from the summer sun, and the parking lot utilizes a water permeable surface to reduce runoff. When visiting Ryerson Preserve for a hike or cross country skiing, include a stop at the Welcome Center. Even the bathroom wall tile is from recycled materials.

Skeleton's Out of the Closet

2008-04-03T14:35:00.000-05:00

For our family Christmas card photograph, we borrowed Skelly pictured here from a physician friend. (Don't ask...)

One day I noticed him (?) standing around the house and realized he would be an uncomplaining model. I had been wanting to experiment with with some Canon 580EX II strobes and gels and knew Skelly wouldn't protest much.

He was quite patient and uttered nary a word as I positioned him, fiddled with the the flashes, changed the lighting ratios and the gels. Skelly, you were great!

Foggy & Rainy Day in Chicago

2008-03-24T15:57:00.000-05:00

While most clients request images of a city taken on a sky blue day, recently I received a request for photographs of Chicago on a foggy and rainy day and discovered I didn't have many to offer.

Last week afforded the perfect gross weather day - low-lying clouds covered the tops of the tallest buildings, fog hung along the lakeshore and drizzle coated everything. The Cloud Gate sculpture, aka the Bean, in Millennium Park was coated in condensation and provided a different view from the usually highly reflective, mirror surface.

A day worthy of the best British mystery writer and photo researcher needing moody shots of an urban setting.

REI Taste & Travel to Mexico

2008-03-12T15:17:00.000-05:00

The REI store in Northbrook, Illinois will be hosting a Taste and Travel: Mexico event on March 20, 2008 at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. along with Whole Foods.

I will be presenting a travelogue and slide presentation of my travels in 2006 & 2007 to the Mexican Colonial cities of Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for the first hour. This portion of the event is free and open to everyone. The second hour will be held at the Whole Foods store across the parking lot. There the chefs will have prepared regional food for all to enjoy and will provide recipes for those who wish to recreate the authentic cuisine at home. A $20.00 per person registration fee is required.

Come join us! To register, follow this link.

¡Hasta luego!

Weathered Face

2008-03-06T10:08:00.000-06:00

In the fall of 2007, I traveled to Guanajuato, Mexico, a wonderful city filled with color, culture and character.

This elderly Mexican man was enjoying the afternoon sun seated on a sidewalk bench. The tilt of his cap and the crook of the cane add to the life story expressed in his lined and weathered face.

A moment and face just waiting for a camera.

Chicago - the Green City

2008-02-20T10:51:00.000-06:00

Say what you will about the politics of Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley, he has done a marvelous job of beautifying the parks and streets of the city. Grant Park's vegetable garden, prairie grasses in street medians, and sidewalk flower displays add a dash of color and greenery to the concrete and glass world of the big city.

The colorful annual flowers along the Michigan Avenue sidewalk, aka The Magnificent Mile, are one great example. With the temperature hovering around 13F today, this scene gives me hope that spring really will come...

Published in the Wall Street Journal

2008-01-25T09:28:00.000-06:00

Learning an image has been selected for publication is still a thrill.
Learning the image was published in the Wall Street Journal is very cool.
Learning the image was licensed by a new stock agency is doubly cool.

Check out the Digital Railroad Marketplace blog to view the article and my image from Lake Geneva used as an illustration. Marketplace launched in April 2007 with images from Digital Railroad archive members around the world available for licensing.

My searchable archive can be seen at www.kimkarpeles.net. Check it out!

Fun Shoot with Teenagers

2008-01-21T14:02:00.000-06:00

Photo shoots can be great fun as evidenced by the fun these two teenage girls are having listening and sharing music on an iPod.

I had a great time shooting and got some great pictures - at least when I wasn't laughing, too!

Clean Slate for 2008

2008-01-02T10:46:00.000-06:00

Fresh starts and clean slates are wonderful, the New Year's gift we all receive. It is exciting to look forward to the next 12 months with anticipation and excitement as the children pictured above are looking forward to their first Chicago Cubs game - and maybe a few minutes on TV with their sign.

As always I have resolved in 2008 to improve my photography and challenge myself in new ways - aesthetically and technically. I've begun using flash units more than strobes and am playing around with different lighting effects that would have been more difficult with larger flash heads. I'll post samples in the day's ahead.

Challenge yourself to learn or try something new and work those little gray cells. Here's to a great 2008!

Do You See What I See?

2007-12-05T10:13:00.000-06:00

Do you see the red fox and the coyote in this picture? No? Well, that's because they're not there now, but they were there when I was brushing my teeth and gazing out the window. Unfortunately I don't keep my camera handy when in the bathroom and I missed the two critters crossing paths in my back yard.

A photography workshop leader once commented that you will only capture with a camera 10% of the photographs you see. Add this one to the 90%!

World Traveler Extrodinaire

2007-11-15T18:00:00.001-06:00

Two weeks ago at the overlook by the El Pipila monument in Guanajuato, Mexico I met an extraordinary woman traveler. On the road for 19 months when I met her, she had a remaining 5 months of travel planned through Latin and South America before returning to Australia.

Her route thus far had taken her through Cambodia and Vietnam and most of Africa where she spent had six months exploring all of Egypt and several other African nations. She meandered up and down the east and west coasts of the United States and Canada with a few days in Chicago, Toronto and Montreal.

I listened as she spoke excitedly and with great enthusiasm about Cambodia, Vietnam and Egypt and was a fount of historical information about Guanajuato and other central Mexican cities and their colonial past. She was a living and breathing travel guide.

Though a writer, she claimed she hadn't undertaken the trip for the purpose of writing about it. I never did find out why she had undertaken the trip and how she was managing to drop out of life for over two years to wander the world. In fact I didn't even discover her name. But we had a wonderful chat at the scenic overlook with the lights of the city below us coming to life as the sun set.

As I returned to my hotel via the funincular, I wondered if I had the gumption and stamina, let alone the time and means, to undertake such an adventure as a solo traveler. Her tales inspired me and enriched my own travels.

Here's to you, whoever you are. It was a pleasure to meet you, and I wish you safe travels through Argentina, Peru and Chile and home.

The Big Apple

2007-10-24T13:22:00.000-05:00

Last week I attended the PDN PhotoPlus Expo in New York City for the first time. After three days of workshops, meetings, and trolling the hundreds of display booths featuring camera equipment, software and gizmos, I decided I needed further sensory overload and walked to Times Square with my point-and-shoot in hand. (Yes, I do own one.)

Signs, lights, scrolling tickers, billboards stacked three high on the faces of buildings, advertisements, street vendors, tour bus hawkers and yellow taxis constantly call out for attention. To experience life as one with ADD, stroll a few blocks in Times Square.

A morning in Times Square brought two reactions on my part. One was amusement, the other disinterest. As a photographer I found it fascinating to study the images selected to catch the eye in the midst of a multitude of advertisements. As a human being, I found I couldn't handle all the stimuli and began shutting down the receptors. The processing circuits were sizzling and needed a break. The glitz, the glamor, the buzz were fun, but how much of the information actually stuck in my brain? Research project anyone?

Making Friends in Small Towns

2007-10-12T11:11:00.000-05:00

This fall I've been traveling through the northern part of Illinois seeking to fill some holes in my stock files. My travels have taken me through small and mid-size towns such as Dixon, Amboy, Moline and Grand Detour, Illinois along with the Iowa side of the Quad Cities.

I've discovered that when a woman carries a large camera, a camera waist pack and uses a lens hood she attracts attention -- particularly in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Curiosity gets the best of many people and they want to know if I work for the newspaper, if I'm taking pictures (no!), what brand of camera I use, what is that funny thing on my lens and would I take their picture with their camera.

Frequently the interaction becomes a conversation and I have met many fascinating people and heard some great stories just because I've been toting a camera. While in Dixon, Illinois, I kept running in to the same group of 8 adults at multiple locations. It so happened that we ate lunch in the Baker Street bakery where I learned that they were four siblings and their spouses who vacation together annually. Now scattered about the country, their rendezvous point this year was Dixon, Illinois. No one could quite explain how the Dixon area was the pick in 2007, but they were having fun visiting Ronald Reagan's childhood home and other local sites.

While enjoying fabulous home-made pies at Baker Street, they agreed to pose for a shot together. In a day and age when it has become increasingly difficult for family members to share the same air space, this group inspired me and were a highlight of my Dixon visit.

Evening at Navy Pier

2007-08-04T16:56:00.000-05:00

Chicago's claim to fame as a destination city for travelers and tourists is not because of it's fabulous weather. But when all the all the forces conspire, Chicago can put out some absolutely marvelous days with clear blue skies, light breezes and low humidity. Yes, even in August!

Chicago's Navy Pier is a primo place to enjoy a day or night of fabulous weather. Take a boat tour, a water taxi, a ride on the Ferris wheel, a Shakespearean theater production or just take in the sights and enjoy a great meal, Navy pier offers all these options and more.

The Cicadas are Returning!

2007-04-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

After 17 years of living as a nymph sucking on the sap of tree roots, the periodic cicadas are scheduled to emerge in late May or early June in the northeastern section of Illinois. Fortunately the adults are not as large as the children in the cicada costumers pictured here!

Each male when performing his mating call can be as loud as a kitchen blender. Heavily wooded acres which have remain undisturbed for the past 17 years could have as many as 1.5 million cicadas per acre. Yikes! The Lake County Forest Preserve District has a Cicada Mobile which will travel about the county (IL) educating adults and children on this marvel of nature.

During the media day for the Cicada Mobile, I learned a great deal about these red-eyed insects that will descend en masse this spring, causing outdoor music festivals to move indoors and brides to wonder why they ever planned an outdoor wedding!

The Devil in the White City

2007-03-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

Last winter I read Erik Larson's "Devil in the White City", an historical account of the lead architect of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Daniel Burnham, and the grisly serial killer who worked unseen on the city's south side during the fair.

While I've visited the Museum of Science and Industry many times over the years and knew it was a building from the Exposition, I had never explored Jackson Park and the Osaka Japanese Gardens to the south of the museum. Nor had I heard of the Wooded Island or understand the vision behind their design by Frederick Olmstead.

Last summer I remedied my deficiency. Thank you to Erik Larson for bringing a time period from Chicago's history to life and for making me aware of hidden treasures in the Windy City.

Technorati profile

2007-02-15T13:35:00.001-06:00

Technorati Profile

PDN's 50 States Issue

2007-02-08T09:09:00.000-06:00

This year I was honored to be selected as the Illinois representative in the PDN (Photo District News) annual "50 States" issue. Currently, subscribers to the online version of the magazine can access the article text, but the photographs can only be viewed in the hard copy version, unfortunately. An online gallery is scheduled to be available shortly.

Pick up the issue at a local newsstand or bookstore and peruse great photography and a synopsis of the state of the business side of photography from around the country.

Fabulous Photoshop Book

2007-01-19T12:06:00.000-06:00

Photoshop CS2 is an amazing program with so many capabilities and features that the learning curve is quite steep. Various books, web sites and magazine articles have helped me over the years as I've sought to utilize more of Photoshop's capabilities and to enhance aspects of a particular photo. Nothing like necessity forcing one to learn another skill in Photoshop.
My new favorite book is Vincent Versace's "Welcome to Oz: A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography with Photoshop", published in 2007 by New Riders. Vincent walks the reader step-by-step through the process of optimizing 5 different still photographs. Included with the book is a CD containing high-res versions of the 5 still photographs used as examples and enables the reader to follow Vincent's steps.
Vincent begins with the usage of image maps that provide a template for optimizing an image's depth of field, lighting and light-to-dark range. From Chapter One alone, I have learned several masking techniques, shortcuts, as well as how to utilize the Filter>Render>Lighting Effects feature in Photoshop more effectively.
Several years ago I shot an image of the hillside village of Gordes in Provence on film. I've scanned the image and played around in Photoshop before, but never achieved the look I was striving for. Along came "Welcome to Oz", and I have finally made a print that conveys the scene the way I wanted. See the before and after examples above. Can't wait to see what new skills and techniques await in the four remaining chapters.

Christmas Day Goodies

2007-01-08T20:06:00.000-06:00

Another Karpeles family tradition is having home-made cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas Day. After opening gifts, we head to the kitchen for warm sweet buns with confectioners sugar icing.

This year I was able to hold off the hordes and snap a few pictures of our traditional delicacy. I hope you enjoy them almost as much as we did!

Marshall Fields and Christmas Memories

2006-12-29T09:52:00.000-06:00

Holiday treks from Springfield, Illinois to Marshall Fields' State Street store were highlights of my childhood. Lunch with my family in the Walnut Room and the Christmas tree seemingly seven stories tall towering over us are precious memories. Toys of every shape and size and more than I had ever seen in one store amazed me.

When the news story broke in September 2006 that the name would be changed, I was surprised at the sadness I felt. While the landmark clock and Marshall Fields plaque remain on the building, the name on the chain of stores purchased by the Federated Department Stores was changed to Macy's.

This Christmas the Frango mints could still be found, the tree reigned again in the Walnut Room and the decorated store windows enchanted children as they had me so many years ago, but it wasn't the same.

Toughest Shoot of the Year

2006-12-19T15:41:00.000-06:00

The Karpeles family has a long-standing tradition of non-traditional family photos for our Christmas cards. From shadows on a soccer field, to bare feet sticking through a pile of leaves, to a rowboat on the ground in the backyard, we are challenged each year to come up with a new idea.

This year's concept of chair-ishing your loved ones came from Ryan -- the senior in college with a marketing major. Using an exposure setting of a 10-second delay and a cable release, I manage to jump into position most of the time. But as I'm not behind the camera, I can't keep an eye on what the rest of the family is actually doing when the shutter releases. There have been a few surprises over the years...

Uncooperative subjects voicing complaints about how many shots are taken and how many variations are required are heard annually. I still hold out hope that one day they will look back with fond memories of the family Christmas card production. But until then, "Shut up and smile!"

San Miguel Street Sign

2006-12-14T17:03:00.000-06:00

As a participant in the Santa Fe Workshop , "Digital Travel Photography", taught by well-known photographer, Nevada Wier, in October 2006, I had the opportunity to wander the marvelous streets of San Miguel de Allende with my camera.

Colorful buildings, Colonial architecture and friendly people provide fantastic photo opportunities. Narrow streets and sidewalks create limited parking spaces. Sign in Spanish saying "No Parking Both Sides", appear quite frequently in the heart of the city.

Stay tuned for more photos and stories from San Miguel de Allende.

Keep Austin Weird

2006-12-08T13:21:00.000-06:00

My second visit to Austin confirmed my initial reaction -- Austin isn't really Texas. Though one can feast on mighty fine barbecue and quench a thirst from a long-necked bottle, the dearth of cowboy hats and pick-up trucks makes one ask, "Am I really in Texas?" But if live music, quirky fashion and vintage boutiques stir your soul, this is the city for you.