Improvisational impersonation of an anti-Imperial

It's not my rule to meet men at bars and bring them back to the studio, but rules are made to be broken. My new friend Aaron Alonzo agreed to let me make some portraits of him as a Latin American revolutionary. You know...for fun.



Aaron is a improv actor and can be seen in some funny videos with a group called Lady Parts.

Closed for Winter

I grew up on coastal New Hampshire next door to my father's seafood restaurant. His place was opened only seasonally and named, The Pirate's Cove Restaurant and Peg Leg Lounge. It was set directly on the beach with a heavy pirate theme, inside and out. On a recent visit back east I visited the tourist trap that is Hampton Beach, N.H., about 8 miles south, and encountered two related examples of this history of mine.

First is the only seasonal McDonald's in the country.

It's across the street from the beach and in the winter is barricaded from the lashing winds and sand that blow through this giant t-shirt stand.

The other is a block away, and hard to believe, I'd never noticed it before.

My Dad would have snatched this up and placed it in the center his parking lot, had he the chance.

Soul Drippin': Syl Johnson

I spent one recent weekend afternoon with legendary R&B artist, Syl Johnson for an editorial project running this week.


Cover of Chicago Reader




I started the shoot at his home on the near south side of Chicago (where he tends an amazing organic vegetable garden) then over to my studio to shoot the cover. His house is lined with gold and platinum records on which his music has been sampled.


Me and Syl Johnson


Syl's been playing since the 50's but his work has most famously been sampled by everyone from Michael Jackson, Cypress Hill, Wu Tang Clan to the The Beastie Boys.


"Severio. Good Job. Peace, Love, Happiness. Syl Johnson."
Cover of Different Strokes 67-69 featuring a platinum record from Wu Tang Clan.

Syl's energy for a 70 year old is vibratory and had me keeping pace with his erratic moves. We shot while playing his song Right on Sister from his record, "Is it Because I'm Black?", on continuous loop because it's the jam!

Your number is up.

This is my last post about a favorite annual project of mine, the Illinois Lotto Halloween Raffle. If you bought a $20 ticket and didn't win, feel good that you're supporting public education with your donation to the state.

Agency-Energy BBDO
Art Director-Tim Mikus
Art Buyer- Laura Feeney

Getting hooked on photography.

We all got started on photography at some point, usually when we were teenagers. This morning, I hosted a dozen high school students from Marwen Foundation at my studio with their instructor, Carl Sweets to show them a professional studio, my work, and to go take some pictures outside.



I coached them on directing subjects into a picture and how to creatively use available light . With half a dozen DSLR's shared among the class, they accosted Halloween costumed passersby and explored a garbage dump I took them to:)


Afterwards, I made time for their class portrait. Maren makes available excellent arts education for FREE to any Chicago child.

Now offering dance lessons.

I shot a cover on Tuesday for a weekly Sunday magazine. It was an athletic shoot for me, but especially for my talent. I squeezed him for all he had to give:) Check back on Monday November 8, to see the cover.


video: Sam Porretta

Chicago Reader Cover

I shot the cover portrait for this weeks Chicago Reader about the new Leed certified shared use, "Logan Square Kitchen". It's a culinary business incubator which has been caught up in Kafkaesque red tape with the city over zoning and permitting.
Cover design: Paul Higgins