The Official Chicago Gathering Thread!

[another view]

The other night, we decided to schedule this year's Chicago Gathering on November 12th and 13th (Sat-Sun) in downtown Chicago. Couple of things:

1. Who's coming? We had a good turnout last year, and hope to this year as well. I think a few people stayed at the Westin next to House of Blues which was pretty convenient. I'll get a room there this year!
2. Is anyone interested in doing a print share this year? Last year, a few of us who did started their own threads with a poll for who wanted what print, usually from a choice of four. Time to think about which ones to use.
3. Anything in particular that we want to get to? There's a huge list of possibilities in Chicago. We always find things to do but if someone has something they really wantto do, we'll try to work it in.

If you haven't been to the gathering before, it's a lot of fun and a very laid back weekend. We usually walk around downtown and shoot, some people show their work, do the print trade, go out to eat, etc. I'm looking forward to it!

[opus]

Plan for me to be there ... as of right now, I'm not doing lighting for the university play that weekend. Let's hope it stays that way!

Two days, huh? That'll be cool. Last year I left feeling like there was more we could have done. Is anyone available in the area to set up any studio shooting for us? I'd love to learn about how to set up a controlled environment. But if not, that's OK too.

It might be nice to finally get up in the Sears tower. Otherwise, I don't much mind what we do. Last year was great just wandering around town together.

As for the print exchange, well, I don't think I've printed a single thing since I switched to digital. I don't even know where to go for good-quality prints (although we just got a new Canon PIXMA MP760 Photo printer ... would that be good enough?) So I'm a bit on the fence about whether I'll join in on it. My participation is To Be Determined ....

But I wouldn't miss seeing everyone if I possibly can! Last year was FUN. And hopefully by November my exercise routine will be showing some results ...

So count me in!

[Trevor Ash]

This has always looked fun to me:
http://www.bobbysbikehike.com/

[natatbeach]

This has always looked fun to me:
http://www.bobbysbikehike.com/

This would WAY suck since...I can't ride a bike. shhhh--- don't tell anyone... maybe someone could pull me behind their bike on my rollerblades like Kip and we could all head to Rexkwando

[Trevor Ash]

This would WAY suck since...I can't ride a bike. shhhh--- don't tell anyone... maybe someone could pull me behind their bike on my rollerblades like Kip and we could all head to Rexkwando

Aww, come on. We'd have you taking it off some sweet jumps in no time!

[another view]

This has always looked fun to me:
http://www.bobbysbikehike.com/

Yeah, but in November? You're a diehard (well, my kayak may not be put away for the winter at that point though). I thought about the Chicago River Architectural Tour (you know, the one in the Dave Matthews news story ) but they're done for the season in October.

Kelly, digital just makes printing easier. I make a file at the 8x10 crop and do anything else to it needed in Photoshop. The file can be printed at a grocery store and it'll look great (I've used Woodman's many times). Another alternative is mpix.com and they'll show up at your door in a couple of days. You can do them yourself but you might find that you can get great prints for less time and cost this way (I did).

[mjs1973]

You can count me in at this point, but that could change down the road. I hope not, buy you know how that goes... I don't really have any ideas of where to go or what to do...

My tastes lean towards nature and landscapes, but I'm open to anything. Some of my first thoughts were some parks, or gardens. Prob. not much for gardens in November tho. Other thoughts were the zoo, or aquariums, museums, those types of things. But like I said, I'm up for anything.

As for the photo exchange, I would be willing to participate if others want to.

[Asylum Steve]

Excellent. Booked my flight and room today. I'll be flying into town that Friday (11th) and leaving Monday (14th)...

I like to stay in a different place each year, so this year I booked the Hotel Monaco:

http://www.monaco-chicago.com/index.html

It's a French-style boutique hotel downtown. It appears to be very visual and stylish, so what I may try to do is set up a fashion shoot there for one of the weekend days.

Now, some of you may remember that I set up a shoot last year, but my model bailed on me. That was not a pleasant experience, so no promises this time around...

[opus]

Really, Steve, a grocery store would make good prints??

I'll have to get organized and go find a place to do it. Hey, what I AM stoked about is that our new printer makes contact prints! YAY! One more step towards organization!


Trevor, that bike tour looks awesome! Steve's got a point though ... in November we might end up wearing mittens and carrying an umbrella. But if anyone wants to get together informally to do that before it gets too cold, let me know! (Would we have enough time to shoot?)

[opus]

(Florida) Steve ... did you book the "Party Like A Rock Star" suite??

[Trevor Ash]

Steve's right about it being in November. That hadn't occurred to me

Frankly, I don't much care what we do. It's just fun to get with a group of people. I'd probably do the print exchange thing as long as it doesn't need to be framed....I hate framing and always cost me a million dollars.

[natatbeach]

Aww, come on. We'd have you taking it off some sweet jumps in no time!

I'd rather build a cake or something....

[another view]

Kelly, hard to believe but true. If you do all the prep work and they print it without any adjustments (which is what happens if you use the self-service kiosk and don't make any adjustments yourself), then all you need is a printer that's well maintained. I've had no problems with their prints. WalMart also uses Fuji Frontier printers which is what Woodman's has (closest to you is probably Madison though). Some people from the gathering have stayed Saturday night and since I haven't done that I've missed out on going out for dinner and shooting in evening light. So this year I'm staying!

Steve, great! Hotel Monaco is very cool - stayed at one in Denver a few years ago. My wife has a frequent guest (or whatever it's called) deal with Westin so I may stay there, but I'll look at Monaco too.

Mike, everything natural will be brown (and grey if you include the sky)... Think of it as a challenge!

[Seb]

The other night, we decided to schedule this year's Chicago Gathering on November 12th and 13th (Sat-Sun) in downtown Chicago. Couple of things:

1. Who's coming? We had a good turnout last year, and hope to this year as well. I think a few people stayed at the Westin next to House of Blues which was pretty convenient. I'll get a room there this year!
2. Is anyone interested in doing a print share this year? Last year, a few of us who did started their own threads with a poll for who wanted what print, usually from a choice of four. Time to think about which ones to use.
3. Anything in particular that we want to get to? There's a huge list of possibilities in Chicago. We always find things to do but if someone has something they really wantto do, we'll try to work it in.

If you haven't been to the gathering before, it's a lot of fun and a very laid back weekend. We usually walk around downtown and shoot, some people show their work, do the print trade, go out to eat, etc. I'm looking forward to it!

Chicago eh?

I never went to Chicago so far. This could/should be a lot of fun. I can't give a definite answer right now as it will depend on how work is going at that time but I am interested.

Seb

[adina]

My calender is marked.

Kelly, if your interested in staying over, do you want to split a room? I'm not sure yet if that's a possiblity, but after my drive home last Thursday....

adina

[adina]

(Florida) Steve ... did you book the "Party Like A Rock Star" suite??

I wanna stay at the Party Like a Rock Star suite!!!

[adina]

I almost forget. Last Thursday Trevor mentioned the he wanted to hit some clubs while we were down there.

Chicks dig guys with moves.

[Trevor Ash]

I almost forget. Last Thursday Trevor mentioned the he wanted to hit some clubs while we were down there.

Chicks dig guys with moves.

I'll bring the glow sticks!!!

[Asylum Steve]

I wanna stay at the Party Like a Rock Star suite!!!

ANYWHERE I stay ultimately becomes a Party Like a Rock Star Suite...

Ah, who am I kidding? I'm as quiet as a church mouse and always on my best behavior when I travel...

Then again, both the Diva and Ooh Baby Baby packages look pretty enticing... ;)

http://www.monaco-chicago.com/html/specialsPackages.htm

[Sebastian]

ANYWHERE I stay is in essence becomes a Party Like a Rock Star Suite. Ah, who am I kidding? I'm as quiet as a church mouse and always on my best behavior when I travel...

Then again, both the Diva and Ooh Baby Baby packages look pretty enticing... ;)

http://www.monaco-chicago.com/html/specialsPackages.htm

Yeah, the ones to look out for are Loren and Irakly. Those two attract security like honey attracts bees. Or something.

[racingpinarello]

Steve,

You should just use our Self-Portrait Queen (Adina) as your model. She pretty much hammed it up for us last year, and it would allow everybody to learn.

Of course, a real shoot would be exciting also.

Lorenzo

[Asylum Steve]

...the Honorary Mayor of Little Warsaw.

So, those dates are kosher-ific with you?

[Sebastian]

...the Honorary Mayor of Little Warsaw.

So, those dates are kosher-ific with you?

Yup, I'm in.

[Asylum Steve]

Steve, You should just use our Self-Portrait Queen (Adina) as your model.

That should work out fine, as long as she has no objection to the Victoria's Secret outfits I picked out for the shoot...

[masdog]

Chicago eh?

I never went to Chicago so far. This could/should be a lot of fun. I can't give a definite answer right now as it will depend on how work is going at that time but I am interested.

Seb

It's a great town. I grew up in the suburbs of the city, and there is a ton of stuff to do.