Today (as in Monday, May 31) was an adventure. The day started off in Chicago with a lightning storm hovering over the city. I wasn’t sure about how the photos would turn out in Columbus and Pittsburgh. In fact, I wasn’t sure if the photos could happen. Had been waiting to hear back from people involved across different spectrums that go into setting these shots up.

So, not sure of what to do, I left Chicago with plans to instead go to Baltimore, or at least point it in that direction and see where I stopped off that night and accept a day of no shooting. Pretty sure I saw lightning hit the antennas on top of the Sears Tower as I was leaving, too. And of course, while exiting Chicago, I missed a turn that led me straight into the slums of southside. Fun times. About 10 minutes later, I was rerouted to the next onramp to the interstate.

After passing through Gary, Indiana, I found a traveler’s rest area (the awesome kind you find in the North, that have restaurants and a lounge and gift shop and gas pumps and etc… not to be confused with the sketchy rest areas you find along I-20 and such).

So I started making some phone calls. Pittsburgh is not going to work out, due to locations. No emails have been returned from libraries in the area, and a post on a popular Pittsburgh art forum yielded no responses in securing a location. Had an awesome model to work with there, too. Pretty bummed. Was also going to hang out with my friend Scott, from Louisiana Tech days.

I also wasn’t sure about Columbus. None of the replies to casting call interests from the females were replied to. I did have a lead with a guy named Pete in Columbus, though, but at the time wasn’t sure if it was still a go. So I continued on I-90 along the border of Michigan.

Mind you, this entire time it was raining. Sometimes hard, sometimes soft, but always wet.

About this time I heard back from Pete. He was still good to go in Columbus, some 300-400 miles southeast of me. The shot we wanted to do still needed a female role, but I was just like… “I’ll see you in a little while.” Rerouted the GPS and headed off to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and beyond. We’d find the female for the shot, hopefully.

The rain never let up on the drive, but it wasn’t bad at all. I connected with people in Montreal, confirmed new shots, talked with my friend Jamar who I’ll now be shooting with tomorrow in Baltimore. Because he works for the Marriott hotel chain, he was able to book me a nice hotel in Columbus for when I arrived.

The trip through Ohio was full of interstates, highways, and the occasional residential area. Somehow I ended up driving next to people’s driveways and mailboxes while passing through. That’s a first on this trip. Made lots of static driving videos to add to my trip video I’ll be making in a few weeks. Found a McDonalds in Ohio that featured a Redbox DVD rental station right outside the front door. Another first.

Oh, I also saw a rainbow that featured both the beginning and end to it. Would need a 300 degree angle of view lens to capture it, though.

Around this time, I also heard back from Kristin, who I was originally going to stay with in Columbus. She was back from Michigan, and I had a place to stay. So then I called Jamar back up to see if it was possible to cancel a hotel reservation.

I pulled onto the campus of Ohio State a little after 10 PM. The jump to Eastern time set me back an hour. Pete had found a female for the shot, Susan, but she had just woken up (at 8 PM) and was still in pajamas. After asking one more time to pleeeease be in the photo, she was game!

Met Ben and Emily, the residents of the house I’d be shooting in. Set up a portrait area first and photographed Pete, Susan, Ben, and Emily. The collection of portraits from this trip is growing huge, and it’s just a side project while traveling! I think everyone had a fun time… to those who I’ve photographed on this trip so far, yep, math questions and jokes. The standard fun affair for all!

After that, it was time to set up the story scene. The shot is kind of like a couple’s therapist, in a twisted sort of way. I’m still looking through the 200 takes to find what will tell the story the best, but I’m super happy about this photo!

Shooting wrapped around 3 AM. After packing, I headed across town to Kristin’s house for bed. Turns out, everyone in the house was asleep. And, they were heading to work at 7 AM. So… I pondered for a second, and called Pete and Ben back up to see if it would be cool to crash back at their place. Sure thing. So I went back, dropped off my car, went and had some awesome pizza at this 24 hour diner.

This day felt like I was back in college. I am finally back in the room writing this summary. It was quite an adventure-packed day, lots of driving, but honestly at this point, it’s just standard affair. What is 300 miles, anyway? Just another skip to the next destination!

Tomorrow I make a photo with Jamar and his family in Baltimore, involving a rug and the chachacha. Plus portraits. Lots of them. I’m excited!

Photos to come soon. Lost my standard portrait action when I closed Photoshop, so have to rebuild that tomorrow when I get my external hardrive out of the car. For now, here’s the cast shot with Susan, myself, and Pete.