Some good old color replacement.

I know color replacement is kind of old hat if you will, however, I still think it's one of the coolest things you can do. So, I took this photo of two 'bucket drummers' that I took while in Chicago, and messed with its color...

... so here is the original...

... and here it is with a B&W mask on it...

... and here is the good old replaced color.

More photos from Chicago

Well, today was a busy day. We went to the Cub's game and spent several hours walking around Chicago. It was a good day, overall. So, here are some of the photos...

... the Willis (formerly Sears tower), we didn't actually go up, it cost way too much and there was a huge line...

... just a big building...

... a pitcher during the game...

... the view from the 96th floor of the Hancock Building...

...another photo from the Cub's game.

More Photos

Here are some more photos. Sorry they aren't edited better (or at all) right now I don't have the time or the equipment.

The street in front of our hotel...

... basically the same picture...

...a corner in downtown Chicago...

... Ira David Levy (left) and Nils Rosedahl. Well, that is it for now. More later.

The trip thusfar

Well, we just arrived in Chicago. The last day we spent in Indianapolis, Indiana. We arrived at 3:30 pm and immediately headed toward the convention hotel. It was the Westin, a fairly nice place. After checking into our room we turned right around and got some chips and salsa at a local place. We probably spent an hour or two there. While there we happened to meet up with a woman named Ellie. She was a Chicago native and was fun to talk to. We got the inside scoop on Chicago from her and she gave us a card to the Chicago Art Institute (so we don't have to pay).
From there we headed to the convention's opening dinner. There were free drinks and food. I spent the rest of the night networking and meeting people from all areas of the journalism industry.

The next morning we woke up and headed to the SPJ's award ceremony. There we received our second place award.

The plan was to leave for Chicago immediately after the award ceremony, however, fate planned things differently. First, my professor, Nils Rosedahl, lost the keys to the rental car. This was disastrous. We spent a good hour and a half looking for the darn things. Finally, one of the valets found them lying on the floor and returned them to us. This was a huge blessing, as the penalty for losing the keys would have cost us almost 500 dollars.

So, we were ready to go, except for one minor detail, we had no idea where our car was parked. Well, that isn't totally true, we had a general idea, however, it was way to general. We spent another hour wandering around down town Indianapolis looking for our parking garage. Luckily for us we found it (eventually).

And then we hit the road. We were about and hour and a half behind schedule, which placed us firmly in the worst of the Indianapolis/Chicago rush hour traffic. The drive to the outskirts of Chicago took three hours, to get the next 40 miles took an additional two hours. It was a long day, to say the least.

Additionally, the downtown Chicago traffic was horrendous (at least by North Idaho standards). While driving we had the bad or good luck, depending on your perspective, of seeing the monthly Critical Mass ride in Chicago. There were thousands of bikers taking up the whole street. Traffic was completely stopped. I thought it was awesome, most other people didn't.

So, as I've said before, it was a long day. But well worth it. Nil's friend Ira David Levy, the adviser of Chicago area college (I forget which one), had set us up at the Seneca, a very, very nice hotel in the middle of downtown Chicago. We are currently staying in a 400 dollar a night suit, however, because of Levy's connections we are getting it for 160 dollars. Lucky us.

We went out to dinner with him tonight (at an Armenian place, so good). Levy is creating a T.V. show called Pedal America (click here). The premise of the show is that he will bike all over the U.S. and film it. It will be run by PBS affiliate sites. I love the idea.
Anyways, it was a great day overall. Tomorrow we will tour the city and then go to a Cubs game at 3:10 pm.

Here are some photos I've taken while here...


Critical mass riders taking up the street in Chicago...

...more bikers...

... the Willis (formerly Sears) tower...

... (left) Eli Francovich (me), Jake Donahue and Nils Rosedahl accept the SPJ award.

Another trip

Well, it's been a busy week, and it's just continuing to get busy. Tomorrow morning at 6:30 am I'm flying to Indianapolis, Indiana for a Journalism workshop. I'm going with my journalism adviser Nils Rosedahl and the old managing editor of The Sentinel, Jake Donahue.

Under Jake's watch The Sentinel won quite a few prestigious awards. Among them was a second place trophy. Second place in the nation that is. So, we are going to Indianapolis in order to accept this award and attend the convention at which there will be multiple talks on various journalism related topics.

Although I wasn't actually on the paper staff when we won the second award, I'm able to tag along so as to soak up the whole environment of the place, while also learning things at the various talks.

However, it's not just a business trip. We will spend two days in Indianapolis and then drive to Chicago. There we will spend another two days. While in Chicago we will attend a Cubs game and just hang out in the city.

And the kicker? It's all paid for. NIC is going to pay for our flight, our lodging and give us spending money. All to attend a journalism conference. Yeah, journalism is the way to go (well, except for the recession and all).

Anyways, I will be posting regularly from Indiana (I hope). Also, I will be taking my camera this time, so keep an eye out for some photos.