An Afternoon (Roll 1): May 2010

May 1, 2010

by Posted in 35mm Film
an afternoon 1
Utter Mayhem: Spring 2010
An Afternoon (Roll 2): May 2010

First roll of Petri camera 35mm film from 5/1/2010. Two full rolls taken on one of my last few days in Chicago during my college years. Trying to make it last.

The image shows a downward perspective of the CNA Building in Chicago, taken from a higher vantage point, a dorm room at Columbia College Chicago. The iconic red exterior of the CNA Building is prominent, with rows of evenly spaced windows. The adjacent rooftop of a shorter section of the building is visible in the foreground, covered with a flat, light-colored surface and featuring red vent structures. The urban canyon effect is created by tall buildings on either side, and the light, overcast sky adds a subtle blue hue to the ambient lighting. Captured with a Petri 35mm film camera on May 1, 2010. An urban view from a dorm building in the South Loop of Chicago, showing a complex arrangement of fire escapes and narrow alleyways between tall structures. The central building features classic brickwork with old-fashioned fire escapes stretching vertically along the façade, while neighboring modern buildings showcase sleek, dark metal and glass exteriors. The shot captures the mix of historic and modern architecture typical of the area. Subtle reflections can be seen in the windows, hinting at the urban density. Taken with a Petri 35mm film camera, the image has a slightly muted, nostalgic tone.

A dynamic street scene at the intersection of Wabash and Van Buren in Chicago. Andria, wearing a vibrant pink jacket, is walking on the left, glancing back with a cheerful expression, her long blonde hair catching the light. Andrew, in a dark navy polo shirt, walks to the right. A mounted police officer on a horse is seen in the background, partially obscured and blurred, while the iconic elevated "L" train tracks loom above. Cars fill the parking lot behind the group, and various urban details, like street signs and fences, add depth to the scene. Shot on a Petri 35mm film camera, capturing a sense of movement and spontaneity.

andria + andrew

The photograph shows an elevated train track ("L" tracks) running along Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago. Under the tracks, a mounted police officer on horseback patrols the street, giving a unique urban-cowboy juxtaposition. On the right, the storefront of "Prairie Avenue Bookshop" with a sign advertising "Books on Architecture & Design" can be seen, along with a Currency Exchange shop nearby. A mix of parked and moving cars adds to the bustling atmosphere. The photo, taken with a Petri 35mm film camera, features soft, natural lighting. A busy city intersection at Wabash Avenue and Congress Parkway (now Ida B. Wells Drive), featuring a police officer on horseback in the crosswalk. The "DQ" Dairy Queen Grill & Chill storefront in the background prominently displays a "NOW OPEN" sign. Pedestrians move along the sidewalks, and a mix of cars, including a red sedan and a SUV, pass by. The modern urban architecture blends with classic Chicago charm, with clean, crisp lines in the shot captured on 35mm film, giving it a warm and slightly vintage aesthetic. Inside Thai Spoon, a small restaurant on Wabash and Harrison, Chicago. Andrew is the subject of the photo, sitting at a table with a dramatic, exaggerated facial expression—eyebrows raised and lips pulled into a comical frown, suggesting mock disapproval or surprise. The warm, yellow ambient lighting gives the interior a cozy and slightly nostalgic feel, with a soft focus that makes the background details blurry and inviting. Captured on a Petri 35mm film camera. Another candid shot inside Thai Spoon restaurant on Wabash and Harrison, featuring Andrew again. He has a vacant, confused expression, his mouth slightly open as if mid-sentence or lost in thought. The soft focus creates a dreamy, almost surreal effect, with the restaurant's warm, golden lighting gently illuminating his face. The blurry background adds to the sense of relaxed ambiance, typical of a laid-back meal with friends. Taken on 35mm film with a Petri camera, emphasizing the candid, unguarded moment. A candid, close-up shot of Andria sitting in Thai Spoon, a restaurant with a warm, yellow interior. She has long, flowing blonde hair that partially obscures her face, wearing a bright pink sweatshirt. She is holding a silver Canon Powershot camera up to her face, as if about to take a photo, and looking playfully to the side with a slight smirk. Behind her, a hand with a black wristwatch reaches into the frame from the left, making a claw-like gesture toward her head, adding a playful and spontaneous feel to the shot. (It's Andrew.) The background is softly blurred with yellow walls, wooden chairs, and warm ambient lighting, creating a cozy and casual atmosphere. Captured on a Petri 35mm film camera, the image has a soft, almost dreamy quality, typical of film photography. A casual portrait of Andria and Andrew sitting together in Thai Spoon, a small restaurant with a warm yellow interior. Andria, on the right, has long, wavy blonde hair and is wearing a bright pink sweatshirt, holding a small silver Canon Powershot camera. Her expression is a mixture of surprise and amusement, eyes wide and eyebrows raised. Andrew, on the left, has light brown hair and is wearing a dark navy blue polo shirt. He is leaning slightly into the frame, looking calm and neutral with a subtle, relaxed smile. The shallow depth of field gives the image a dreamy, vintage feel, with the background of wooden chairs and soft, diffused light appearing slightly blurred. The atmosphere feels friendly and lighthearted, with the image capturing a spontaneous, candid moment between friends. A close-up shot of Andrew sitting at a table inside Thai Spoon, looking off to the side with a skeptical and slightly annoyed expression. He has light brown hair parted down the middle and is wearing a dark navy blue polo shirt. His face appears softly illuminated by the warm ambient light of the restaurant, which features yellow walls and a cozy, slightly cluttered interior. In the foreground, Andria’s hand holding a silver Canon Powershot camera enters the frame from the right, pointing it toward Andrew, adding a sense of playful interaction. The focus is slightly soft, typical of film photography on a Petri 35mm camera, creating a gentle and nostalgic aesthetic. An outdoor shot of Andrew and Andria walking along a city sidewalk. Andrew is in the foreground, wearing a dark navy blue polo shirt, with his head turned slightly to the side, looking back at the camera with a neutral, almost deadpan expression. Andria walks a little further back, smiling warmly with long, wavy blonde hair, wearing a bright pink sweatshirt. The background is bustling with urban details, including parked cars and a multi-level parking garage. The lighting is natural and bright, giving the image a candid, spontaneous feel, typical of a day out in Chicago’s South Loop area. The colors are vibrant and slightly washed out, capturing a casual city moment. A wide-angle cityscape shot looking north on Wabash Avenue in Chicago, framed by elevated train tracks of the Loop. Two CTA trains are visible, one heading each direction, moving along the elevated tracks. The iconic stone building of Roosevelt University rises on the right, while the busy street below features parked cars and light traffic. A line of trees with sparse yellow leaves stands along the sidewalk, hinting at late spring. The image has a slightly vintage look, with the natural light casting soft shadows and giving the buildings a slightly washed-out appearance. The mix of architectural styles and the moving trains give a sense of the city’s energy and rhythm.

A photo looking east down Congress Parkway (now Ida B. Wells Drive) in Chicago, showing a divided roadway with faded yellow lane markings and light traffic moving toward the horizon. On the left, the imposing stone architecture of Roosevelt University’s Auditorium Building looms, with a prominent fire escape visible. A large sign advertising an R. Kelly performance on November 17 and 18 hangs from the building (a detail now recognized with discomfort). On the right, a multi-level parking garage displays a large red "Park" sign. A pedestrian dressed in dark clothing crosses the road in the mid-ground, and the sky appears partly cloudy with diffused sunlight. The perspective emphasizes the vastness of the street and the contrast between old stone architecture and modern infrastructure.

oh no this photo captured an r. kelly concert sign i’m sorry

A dramatic upward perspective shot of the CNA Center, a bright red high-rise building in Chicago’s South Loop. The building’s modern grid-like facade of windows and red-painted concrete stretches vertically into the sky, giving a towering, monolithic impression. The sky above is pale and cloudless, creating a stark contrast with the deep, bold red of the building. The shot emphasizes symmetry and repetition in the architecture, capturing the structure’s immense scale and geometric design. The photo’s sharp, clean lines and vivid colors create a bold, almost abstract aesthetic, highlighting the building’s iconic presence in the Chicago skyline. The image has a crisp, clear quality, typical of Petri 35mm film photography, showcasing the architectural details with striking precision.

The red CNA building across the street from my dorm on E Van Buren was such a fixation for me. I don’t even know why. It’s in multiple albums here, multiple short films I made, it haunts my dreams. It was just so RED. To be fair, when I first moved here and was still getting my bearings in Chicago, I used it as a homing beacon quite a bit, since it was so tall and I could see it from almost anywhere and it was directly at my front door. So maybe there was a bit of homey-ness to it.

I’m also so glad I got a shot with the Dairy Queen in the background. I’m not sure if that’s still open today, but I celebrated when it opened up in 2009ish when I lived nearby, I was there all the time. I used to work at a Dairy Queen, and I love the food, so it was a bit of home too.

That was the Dairy Queen that I was eating at once when I got a call from Fred Seibert, the founder of Frederator Studios (especially notable for Adventure Time), where he personally explained why the studio would not be picking up the screenplay I sent them for an animated feature. I had a hotdog in my mouth and answered the unknown number and was completely thrown off guard. Sure, it was a bummer to be rejected, but I didn’t really expect it to go anywhere in the first place (it was an assignment) and getting personally turned down by the Fred of Frederator was sort of an honor. I still think about that fondly years and years later. I’m sorry Emma Enlightened wasn’t up to your standards, Fred, looking back I can definitely see why!

When Andrew (who I met online in 2002 on SOTSS) and Andria (a close friend and classmate from Columbia) visited, we went to Thai Spoon, one of my favorite restaurants in large part because it was the first real Asian restaurant I ever went to. We did not have a lot of foreign food in small town Wisconsin! Thai Spoon opened up my whole world. I’ll get that beef & broccoli any day.

Finally–lol at the R. Kelly concert sign. What an artifact. Oh geez.

Utter Mayhem: Spring 2010
An Afternoon (Roll 2): May 2010

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