Trapped in Time

The Pack convenes to oversee burger operation

(Also: loving the camera on my new iPhone 4)

Trey Anastasio plays the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on Friday, February 19, 2010.

(via thebutterroom)

I received a press pass to shoot in front of the stage at last night’s Trey Anastasio show. I captured some incredible shots (this one being my favorite as you can see Trey bending a note with a huge smile on his face). I also shared a few words and a fist pump with Trey as I was leaving.

Today is the 7th anniversary since I saw Trey for the first time with Phish at Allstate Arena on 2.20.03.  Last night was about the 70th time I’ve seen him live, and I’ve never seen him healthier, more energetic or playing better than he has been the past few months. The guy is loving it again and I think this photo says as much.

Afternoon Meeting on Michigan Ave

I didn’t do much looking back on 2009 at the end of the year, but over the past week I’ve started to get around to it. Here are my ten favorite photos I took over the course of the year:

1. Golden Gate Geometry - I made my first visit to San Francisco on my west coast road trip in August, and love how this one turned out as we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge.
2. You’re Pretty Sweet, Chicago - This one may be familiar as it has served as the background to my tumblr for most of the year. Behind the screen lies the expansiveness of Chicago and all it has to offer.
3. It’s A Marathon - About ten hours into an evening drive from Chicago to Boston on May 30, I was sharing a few tips on shooting with your body. I captured what became a symbolic photo of all the travel we’d undertake in 2009.
4. Mothership Connection - This panoramic doesn’t quite due the scene justice, but minutes before Phish took the stage for the first time in five years the gravity of the event was evident in both the old room’s decoration and the anticipation within the packed crowd.
5. In The Melting Clouds - One of the true highlights of my year and my travels in general was making it to Moab, Utah.  The north end of the Grand Canyon was a complete spectacle from atop Dead Horse Point. I took this from a rock I was on looking back at my friend Brian with his camera and a bottle of water above.
6. No Words - Atop Deef’s rooftop is a breathtaking view in all directions. There’s something particularly stoic about the Gold Coast skyline in this shot.
7. Speaking In Tongues - Tucker passed away a week before this shot, and it was nice to find his two heartbroken buddies enjoying the sun on a warm June morning.
8. Between Ground and Sky - Another from Moab, Utah, this finds my friend Marcus taking a moment to himself.
9. Symmetry In Motion - During the year I took many trips home to Valpo on the South Shore line which picked up at Millennium Station. I took this before a ride home in May, capturing the cast of the shadow as the sun hung above the city due west.
10. Further Down The Road - Over the course of our trips I did most of the driving as we took my car across the country for its gas efficiency and general road worthiness. I shot this as we crossed over the Columbia River in eastern Washington during one of the few times I sat in the passenger seat.

One of my childhood ornaments on the family tree

My Christmas presents under the tree

Juliette has become a big, beautiful girl over the last few months

Forbin and Floyd Friday

2009 In My Rear View Mirror

(photo taken by me near the Columbia river, view on flickr)

Zack Klein posted the cities he slept in this year, and Eugene decided to aggregate his travel stats similarly.  We did a lot of our travel together sans a few trips, so there aren’t a whole lot of differences (he went to Mexico and Isarel, I went to the Carolinas, Kentucky, Maryland, and upstate NY another time).

I slept at least one night in each of theses 36 U.S. cities:

• Chicago, IL (Home)
• Valparaiso, IN* (Home, Home)
• Richmond, VA
• Hampton, VA
• Charlottesville, VA*
• Boston, MA
• Rochester, NY
• New York, NY*
• Uniondale, NY
• Asheville, NC
• Knoxville, TN
• Manchester, TN
• Nashville, TN
• Bloomington, IN*
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Noblesville, IN
• Bayside, WI
• Louisville, KY
• Lincoln, NE
• Denver, CO
• Moab, UT
• Las Vegas, NV
• San Francisco, CA
• Portland, OR
• George, WA
• Billings, MT
• Columbia, MD
• Columbia, SC
• Charlotte, NC
• Burkesville, KY
• Los Angeles, CA
• Palm Desert, CA
• Cincinnati, OH
• Lancaster, PA
• Albany, NY*
• Portland, ME

* Denotes multiple non-contiguous visits.

Additionally, I’ve driven almost 23,000 miles this year through 32 states, and flown another 6,000 miles.

I’m probably going to write more about what this year has meant to me, but it’s been a truly beautiful experience to travel to so many diverse places in this country over the course of 2009.  While in years past I’ve done some formidable road trips or backpacked abroad, I have never gone coast to coast to coast (I’ve actually gone to the east coast 4 times from Chicago, and once all the way to the Pacific).

In between, I’ve met up with some incredible friends from my childhood, from tumblr, and various other channels. I’ve met new people who I’ve stayed in touch with, and made memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I saw over 60 concerts and 2 large music festivals, I watched my favorite band reinvent themselves in front of my eyes; I saw the Appalachians, Catskills, Rockies, and Cascades.  I stayed in the desert twice, climbed to the highest point on the northern end of the Grand Canyon.  I heard the natural swirl of sound at Red Rocks, watched the most beautiful sunset at The Gorge, raged in the craziest lightning storm of my life at Deer Creek, and saw shows at two of the biggest stages in the world (Empire Polo Fields and Bonnaroo). I was able to bring my brother along for parts, I traveled with my best friend and business partner, I met up with friends from my Indiana hometown in Southern California and Denver, and I saw tour buddies at various stops in various climates in various months of the year.

Through it all I think I learned more about myself and what I value, and how my values fit in with those of others across the U.S.  Maybe I’ll do another coast to coast trip in my life, but I can’t imagine it being as meaningful or awe inspiring as the one I took this year.

Forbin always manages to take the blankets available, move them where he wants them, and find a perfect position. I asked him if he wanted to go out last night, and he popped his head out as if to say, “But it’s so much warmer right here!”

Sleepy Snout

I’m aware that pretty much all I’ve posted this week has been puppy cuteness, but I’m sick and Floyd’s been putting a smile on my face (as have the rest of the pack).

MSG is definitely a beautiful venue to see Phish in

We’re staying at our friend Jenny’s apartment in Union Square Park.  Sal the handy man was nice enough to take us up to the roof deck for this incredible view overlooking Manhattan as daylight started to fade.

(view full size on flickr)

I love fall in Lincoln Park - both the park itself and our neighborhood.  Changing leaves and ivy covered older homes are a nice sight - if only because you know all too quickly they’ll be replaced with cold and snow.