Self-Framed. Model: Sunshine #beauty #beautifulwomen #womenandbooks #melanin #library #chicagopubliclibrary #haroldwashingtonlibrary #sunshine #originalphotography #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer

you broke the ocean in half to be here. only to meet nothing that wants you. "immigrant," by Nayyirah Waheed, from her book "Salt." (2013) #poetry #poetrybooks #salt #nayyirahwaheed #immigrants #immigration #hmong #chonglyscottthao #fuckice #gestapo

Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.

Quiet Moment. Model: Onna #monochrome #blackandwhite #portraits #melanin #onna #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer

As a young boy in 1960s Canada, I had the impression that the Deep South was a terrible, terrible place. I was right.

"People should fall in love more. Fall in love with the way your coffee swirls as soon as you pour the milk in. Fall in love with the look your dog gives you when you wake up... Fall in love with everything possible." Courtney Peppernell, from "Pillow Thoughts" (Andrews McMeel, 2017) #love #poetry

"Cones" by Jen Stark, displayed at the Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 2023. Colorful art for dismal times. #art #jenstark #contemporaryart #museums #colors #colorful #brightenyourday #nevillepublicmuseum #cones #greenbay #wisconsin

There are stories I wrote and photos I took years ago which no one has ever seen. I'm proud of them. But if I post them, it feels as if I'm cheating: That's not me, it's not who I am now. It's some other version of me, more creative and more talented. #writer #writingcommunity #writersonbluesky

"Banksy: You Are An Acceptable Level Of Threat And If You Were Not You Would Know About It" Published by Carpet Bombing Books, 2015 #bansky #war #genocide #fascism #crime #criminals #maga #ice #trump #carpetbombingbooks #donaldkirk #leokuper

"Trump was right about everything!" If you've wondered why anyone would say (or believe) such a thing, refer to Hannah Arendt's 1951 book "The Origins of Totalitarianism." #trump #maga #trumpwasrightabouteverything #hannaharendt #totalitarianism

Painting by Yong Jae Kim ‘There’s good out there’ 2025. Oil on panel. Size 40 x 50 cm.

Reading. Model: A.H. Yes, we have other things our minds. Nonetheless, we carry on. #monochromemonday #blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhite #womenandbooks #womenreading #hiddenwomen #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #a.h. #keepcalmandcarryon

Something Bright and Pretty. #flowers #pretty #prettythings #photography #originalphotography #beyourself #photographersonbluesky

Welcoming @cassandra-fowler.bsky.social back to Bluesky. I could not ask for a better collaborator and I'm deeply grateful her support over the years. #chicagomodel #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #monochrome #streetphotography #photography #chicagophotographer #cj #cassandrafowler

"I have a wife. Did I tell you that, Gant?... She's educated. And still she married me. She's been in prison for 12 years for demonstrating... They do not treat her well in prison. I've spent the last 12 years trying to be worthy of her." From "Firefox," screenplay by Alex Lasker & Wendell Wellman

"When we photograph... we receive an image that is reflected from the subject. Instead of understanding photography as taking, we can envision it as receiving." Howard Zehr, quoted in "The Mindful Photographer" by Sophie Howarth. Model: @cassandra-fowler.bsky.social #photography #blackandwhite

"Betrayal is the hurtful thing. Betrayal is the deepest wound. Betrayal is what remains of love, when love has gone." - from "Little Bird of Heaven" by @joycecaroloates.bsky.social To the Republicans who betrayed their country 6 years ago: What was it you loved more than democracy? Trump? Or power?

Anyone still on Twitter—excuse me, "X"—should consider whether or not it's worth staying. When do you say enough is enough?

We Girls, Pratt Beach. Model: Mia #womenandbooks #womenreading #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #monochrome #vintagebooks #chicagophotographer #portraits #wegirls #mia

Long ago I knew a woman who was obsessed with Tom Hiddleston. She eventually met him at an autograph signing. He was polite and gracious and when she left she was in a state of absolute bliss. I still think of that now and then. There is something beautiful and pure about that kind of passion.

Ever relevant, this poem by Mary Oliver, especially today.

SINful Eyes. Model: M. #womenandbooks #womenreading #hiddenwomen #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #monochrome #eyes #melanin #beautifulwomen #chicagophotographer #m #sincerelyyours #jackwoodford #arcopublishing

Let us begin this day by acknowledging the elephant in the room. The elephant, a clueless narcissist whose every action disgraces the United States, will continue finding new ways to make this country—and the world—worse. We will, however, outlast the elephant. #trump #maga #republicans #fucktrump

I've been sorting through quotes I've saved over the past year, looking for things appropriate for the dawn of a new year. The best is only four words, found in the profile of @nikitagill.bsky.social: "Loves the world still." It will not be easy, but keep loving the world. #newyear #hope #love

"Heavy heavy is love to carry and light as one rose petal, light as a bubble, a blossom, a remembering bar of music or a finger or a wisp of hair never forgotten." Carl Sandburg, from "Solo For Saturday Night Guitar" #poetry #poems #poets #carlsandburg #sandburg #love #literature

Since my house Burned down, I now own A better view of the rising moon - Masahide From "Haiku Harvest," The Peter Pauper Press, 1962. Translations by Peter Beilenson and Harry Behn #poetry #haiku #masahide #japan #japanesepoetry #harrybehn #peterbeilenson #happynewyear #optimism #hope #newyear

Another favorite from 2025: Ardis, in full color. #women #beauty #photography #personalfavorites #portraits #ardis #colors #colorful #goth #gothgirls #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer

One of my favorite shots from 2025: Ardis, channeling Raven Girl from the book by @audreyniffenegger.bsky.social. #photography #monochrome #blackandwhite #personalfavorites #women #beauty #ardis #ravengirl #goth #gothgirls #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #audreyniffenegger #justinsuarez

"When times are tough, it makes sense to do what brings us joy, to find meaning in the everyday and build immunity against despair." From "The Mindful Photographer" by @sophiehowarth.com, @thamesandhudson.bsky.social, 2022. #sophiehowarth #photography #mindfulness #books #booksky #thamesandhudson

"Interior" by Dorothy Parker, from "Dorothy Parker," The Viking Portable Library. The Viking Press, New York, 1945. #dorothyparker #interior #poetry #poems #poets #womenwriters #desire #intimacy #fear #brokenheart #booksky

Obstinate, Headstrong. Model: K. #janeausten #prideandprejudice #inked #tattoos #obstinateheadstronggirl #womenandbooks #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #monochrome #tattooedwomen

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays #christmas #prettythings #photography #snapshot #holidays #notchristian #butlovechristmas

Now Muriel plays piano Every Friday at the Hollywood And they brought me down to see her And they asked me if I would Do a little number And I sang with all my might She said "Tell me are you a Christian child?" And I said "Ma'am, I am tonight" Marc Cohn, "Walking in Memphis" #marccohn #christmas

Bari Weiss, revealing her true self with only four words. Dawn Xiana Moon, calling her out with only four words.

via The New Yorker, Ellis Rosen cartoon

"Why encourage the notion of virtuous poverty? It's only an excuse for zero charity." Margaret Atwood, from "Red Fox," in the book "Morning in the Burned House" #margaretatwood #poetry #compassion #charity #virtue #redfox #morningintheburnedhouse

Jean-Leon Gerome's "Pygmalion and Galatea," circa 1890, pictured in "Couples in Art" by Christopher Lyon. Delmonico Books, 2011 #pygmalion #pygmalionandgalatea #jean-leongerome #christopherlyon #fineart #couplesinart #artbooks #delmonicobooks #themet #metropolitanmuseumofart

"I like the way the stretch marks on my thighs look human and that we're so soft yet rough and jungle wild" Rupi Kaur, from "Milk and Honey," @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social, 2015 #rupikaur #poetry #poems #poetrybooks #dangerouswomen #milkandhoney #beauty #andrewsmcmeel

That Time a Bird Photobombed Us. Model: M. (and anonymous bird) #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #photography #monochrome #melanin #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #funny #photobomb #sansbook #m

Jane Austen was born on this day 250 years ago, making today the perfect occasion to honor all obstinate, headstrong girls. Model: K. #janeausten #janeausten250 #happybirthdayjane #prideandprejudice #inked #tattoos #obstinate #headstrong #bravery #badass #weareallfoolsinlove

Ribbon #SelfPortrait 📷©vivibene1

Red flowers outside Cafe Libra. Chicago, 2025 #photography #prettythings #originalphotography #colors #colorful #flowers #beauty #chicagophotographer #cafelibra

"I once met a man who'd traveled the high seas and fell in love with a Siren. He spoke of the ocean with such love even though its waters were what killed him." - "Hekate" by @nikitagill.bsky.social Painting: "The Fisherman and the Syren" by Frederic Leighton, in "Mermaids" by Kerry Colburn #love

"Provocative is a Girl's Name," by Mimi Flood. Querencia Press (@querenciapress.bsky.social), Chicago, 2023. #mimiflood #poetry #poetrybooks #poems #misogyny #querencia #querenciapress

I'm going to pretend that my cats are knocking ornaments off of the Christmas tree because they think it's overdecorated, and not because they're little fur-covered jerks. #cats #holidays #xmas #christmas #furryidiots #troublemakers

"What was there about girls, about women, that one could fall into thoughts of them the way one fell into their arms, surrendering everything, suffocating, plunging to a warm, feathery death?" - from "Them," by @joycecaroloates.bsky.social Model: Ardis #women #beauty #photography #portraits #ardis

"He wanted to tell her how much he preferred to look at her... He did not know how to explain to her that he could not touch better or more fully with his hands than he could with his eyes. Seeing encompassed all at once; a touch was limited to one spot at a time." Jerzy Kosinski, "Being There"

AI cannot spiral about its grandmother reading its work and consider burning everything its ever written and also worry that its dad may read that smutty scene it wrote.

If You Dare. Model: Ardis #dangerouswomen #goth #gothgirls #strangeportraits #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #ardis #cemetery #cemeteries #graceland #gracelandcemetery