The Chicago-published magazine identified everyone with this fun photo below.

After we shot the cover, I quickly moved the lights around to shoot this image for the table of contents spread.

Chicago Magazine Photographer Behind-The-Scenes

This was a tight fit so I had to use a few tricks to make the light directional, while making it even enough to fix in post. I used a Profoto 5’ Octabox with a grid as my main light and then from the same general direction I used a Chimera strip box boomed kind of above the first chair to light the back of the room, then filled the whole scene with a D1 bounced off the ceiling—all of which I had to keep out of the final shot!

Front Cover Backstory from Positively Aware Magazine

The neighborhood barbershop can become a gathering place for a community. That was the concept for the cover of this year’s annual HIV Drug Guide as 13 people living with HIV took part in our photo shoot. They shared their experiences and insights:

Keith Marek, 70, diagnosed in 1992: “Stay on your meds. And if you’re not on meds, get onto treatment.”

Shayvonna Albrecht, 22: “Being HIV-positive is a regular thing for me because I was diagnosed shortly after I was born. I grew up going to a summer camp for positive kids and kids with positive family members. You are not alone. There are so many other people in the same situation, and so many ways to connect with them.”

LeSherri James, 35, living with HIV since 2000: “My two kids—I have a four-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter—are what keep me going every day.”

D’Eva Longoria, health educator: “Make sure you have a support system, if you don’t have one, look for one—family, friends, a good community-based organization. Surround yourself with people who will keep you motivated! Empower yourself with all the right information and inform the people around you about HIV.”

Bruno Mondello, 49, diagnosed in 1987: “Information is key. I get information from my doctor’s office, reading publications such as Positively Aware, volunteering at HIV organizations, and attending seminars and workshops.”

Michael McNamara, 62, diagnosed in 1995: “Testing and treatment are so important. I’ve lost too many friends who didn’t seek the medical attention I did that saved my life.

Jimmy Simpson, 53: “The love of my dog Chip keeps me going. I work hard keeping me appointments, taking my meds, and going to the gym.”

Angelique Munro, 47, a transgender woman, entertainer/show director, HIV/AIDS advocate, and motivational speaker: “The state of HIV treatment is the best it has ever been and is improving every day, but the key is to know your status. Get tested regularly and learn how to protect yourself and your partners.”

Chad Hendry, 38, living with HIV eight years: “Even if I could, I wouldn’t change the journey that has brought me to this point. I love myself today—that wasn’t something I ever thought would be possible. I will forever be grateful to have been given another opportunity at life.”

Terry Lewis, 65, started treatment in 1994: “Plan on what you’re going to do 20 or 30 years from now. With today’s treatments, you’ll probably live to see old age, and you’ll need funds to live on.”

Sam Hoehnle, 35, HIV prevention and research worker; living with HIV seven years: “I want to enjoy and experience life to its fullest. My diagnosis was a wake-up call—enjoy life more fully.”

Annette Fields, 49, HIV-positive 24 years: “I was in a monogamous relationship with a man for about two years. During sex, we used condoms about 85% of the time. In November 1993 I found out he had died of complications from AIDS. The next month, I was diagnosed with HIV. I’m on a one-pill-a-day drug regimen and have a doctor I trust. I love that we can discuss what I need to do to stay healthy.”

Carlos Perez, 58, diagnosed in 1984: “Get onto treatment, and stay on treatment. If I can do it and become undetectable, you can do it.”

—Compiled by Rick Guasco

Special thanks to Greg Slade and Slade’s Barbershop, sladesbarbershop.com.

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Trade magazine photography for Brickstreet Insights featuring nonprofit CEO Mark Ishaug of Thresholds.

Sometimes, even I need a boost, despite being 6-4! Shooting a #trademagazine in the loop today but I can’t say which one yet. #Elinchrom #rotalux #deepocta #deepocta100 #famousbtsmag #iso1200 #famousbtsmagazine #tallphotographer #canonusa #canon #profoto #profotoglobal #profotoD1 #d1air #setlife #behindthescenes #pelicancase #stormcase #octabox #softbox #coverphotoshoot #photoshoot #galaxys7 #chicagophotographer 📸 by @marcusmatteo

A post shared by John Gress (@johngressmedia) on Sep 27, 2016 at 2:13pm PDT

By www.brickstreet.com

The belief that everyone contributes to society and should have the opportunity to live a life of value, self-respect, passion and dignity is what drives Thresholds’ work. Established in 1959, Thresholds is one of the oldest and largest providers of recovery services for individuals living with serious mental illnesses in Illinois.

A study from the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that nearly one in five people in the United States is living with a disability, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates the same number experience mental illness in a given year. Thresholds works to help these individuals reclaim their lives.

Thresholds offers 30 programs in more than 100 locations throughout Chicago, Cook County and adjacent suburbs, and eight surrounding counties. These programs include access to medical and psychiatric care, job readiness and work placement, educational opportunities and safe, stable housing. The organization currently serves 10,000 people each year and employs more than 1,400.

When looking for a workers’ compensation insurer in 2013, Thresholds’ management knew that the carrier would need to understand the complexity of its business – the communities it serves, the issues it faces and all facets of its operations. BrickStreet provided Thresholds with the solutions and services to meet its unique needs.

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Last night was a fitting and emotional end to a chapter of my life which I will never forget.

There have been so many things that have transpired over the years, which I will go through in chronological order.

I was there when Obama stepped on the national stage, delivering the Keynote speech at the 2004 DNC. I would have never guessed that he would become our President, just 4 years and a few months later.

US Senator elect Barack Obama (D-IL) (2nd from L), his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia, 3, (R) and Sasha, 6, (L) celebrate at their election night head quarters in Chicago, November 2, 2004. Obama faced Republican candidate Alan Keys in the first Senate race with two African American candidates. REUTERS/John Gress

In the 14 years that have passed, I have gone though 9 camera models and with each generation the quality has only improved by leaps and bounds. I’m not exactly sure how many different lens I have owned, but it has to be close to 30.

After he was elected to the Senate, Obama threw out the first pitch at the ALCS. The White Sox went on to win the World Series that year and he was still unknown enough that the photo editors I was working with misspelled his name.

As Presidential campaign speculation mounted, Obama spoke at an MLK breakfast before going to a Church service. Afterwards before he gave a press conference and as I was standing next to him, elbow to elbow, I started cursing out a male TV reporter for telling a female newspaper reporter that she had to move so he could be in the shot with Obama. I soon felt someone tug at my arm as Obama was giving his opening remarks and the f-word was flying out of my mouth.

But within a month the speculation was over and the junior Senator announced his long-shot presidential candidacy on a cold winter day in Springfield, Illinois.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) looks at fellow candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) at the conclusion of the AFL-CIO Presidential Forum at Soldier Field in Chicago, August 7, 2007. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)

As the campaign turned into a 1:1 race with Clinton, I covered the two of them and McCain, traveling with them inside the bubble as we flew and rode from place to place.

18 months after going to Springfield for his announcement, I was back in the capitol city when Obama announced that Senator Biden would join him on the ticket.

I spent election night in a scissor lift towering above the crowd. It seemed like an out of body experience as I went home in disbelief that he won and the election wasn’t even close, recalling the drama of 2000.

After Obama was elected the transition began. For weeks I was waking up before dawn to ride in the motorcade and follow the President Elect wherever he went in Chicago. Whether it was to the gym, his transition office or dinner.

Oh and then Time Magazine decided to put one of my images on the cover. I swear he wasn’t smoking when I took the photo.

Once Obama was in Washington, I only saw him a few times, but in 2012 I was there when he was reelected.

And Finally, after shedding a few tears last night thanking his wife and Vice-President Biden, Obama in effect said goodbye to all us.

The post Obama’s Farewell Brings an End to an Era appeared first on Chicago Photographer & Director of Photography.

Gilberto (“Beto”) Soberanis, 31 (left), diagnosed HIV-positive in 2003, and recently out as undocumented. Portrait by Photographer John Gress Armando Ramierez-Guzman, 26, was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and Emigrated to the U.S. when he was six years old. He was Diagnosed with HIV in 2003. Portrait by Photographer John Gress

Positively Aware Magazine photoshoot in Chicago behind-the-scenes

Given that our shoot had to take place mid morning to accommodate our subjects’ schedules, I had to find a way to tame the mid-day sun. So I put together a 4×4 frame and skinned it with Roscoe 3004 Half Intensity Soft Frost diffusion material, which cut down on the harshness of the light and also reduced it’s brightness by 50%. Then I put a Elinchrom Rotalux 100cm Deep Octa softbox on the other side and paired it with a Chimera Chimera Medium Stripbox over their opposite shoulder. Effectively, the sun became my fill and I didn’t really need to worry about the direction of the natural light because my background was flat and mostly lit by the octabox. I used the same approach on the two “face” portraits.

Behind the scenes photography of me shooting Beto Soberanis and Armando Ramierez for Positively Aware Magazine in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

Photography by Rick Guasco

The sun wasn’t much of an issue when I was shooting Beto (below) since it was blocked by the building he was leaning against. So this time I placed the octabox opposite of the sun. Then I put the strip box across the alley, just outside of the frame on the left side to edge his body and separate him from the background. I would have moved it closer, but cars kept driving through our set.

Behind-The – Scenes photography of Gilberto (“Beto”) Soberanis, 31 posing for Positively Aware Magazine in Chicago. Photography by Rick Guasco

Front cover backstory

Colorful ethnic murals are scattered throughout Pilsen, a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Chicago. Portions of three murals are featured in this issue of POSITIVELY AWARE—on the cover, the contents spread on pages 4 and 5, and on page 28 of the print edition—photographed by John Gress. Another example of a wall making a statement is the Declaration of Immigration. No human being is illegal, asserts the mural. Underscoring that message is Gilberto (“Beto”) Soberanis, 31 (left), diagnosed HIV-positive in 2003, and recently out as undocumented. Soberanis and his family came from the Mexican city of Guerrero, crossing the border on foot in 2006. Although his family has since returned to Mexico, Soberanis remains in the U.S., having been granted Deferred Action for Early Childhood Arrival a few years ago. He is active in Chicago’s HIV community, working to overcome stigma and helping to raise funds for HIV organizations.

—Rick Guasco

One-on-One with Guillermo Chacón

The Executive director of the Latino Commission on AIDS talks about what it will take to end AIDS in Latino communities

INTERVIEW BY JEFF BERRY

Since its founding in 1990, the Latino Commission on AIDS has become the largest organization in the U.S. advocating for the health needs of the Latino community in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Also known as Latino AIDS, the commission works with community organizations in developing HIV education, prevention programs, and capacity building. The commission, which began in New York City, now serves Latino communities in more than 40 states and Puerto Rico. Guillermo Chacón has been president of Latino AIDS since 2009.

JEFF BERRY: What do you see as some of the broader issues facing the Latino community?

GUILLERMO CHACÓN: First of all, it’s extremely concerning that new HIV infections have increased among young black MSM [men who have sex with men] and young Latino MSM. It’s around 21%, for Latinos, of new HIV infections in the latest data. We are always concerned about the effectiveness of our response. And when I say our response, it’s the communal one. It’s the CDC, it’s the community. One particular segment we recognize is the transgender community, which we need to understand and engage because they are one of the most challenging that we face. That’s something that has been reported, but it’s not a national commitment. I use “trans” because it’s my understanding that there are striations and variances in the community. Someone came to me and said, “We prefer ‘trans.”

But also I’m sure you know that when we look at Latinos in general we also need to identify women who are still being impacted. I always try to be careful and mindful about explaining to many community-based organizations throughout the U.S. that the reason why so much attention focuses on women is because of new HIV infections among this population. Now, of equal concern for us is the level of homophobia that I believe represents a major challenge for our community across the board. The stigma of homophobia and transphobia is across all communities and all institutions.

Click here to read more about this topic in Positively Aware magazine.

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After driving back to Chicago from a photoshoot in Des Moines, I met with Bhuttu Matthews for a late afternoon magazine cover portrait session for Positively Aware Magazine, which was comprised of simulated action and portraiture. Not only do I love using my Photek Softlighter II umbrellas for portraits, I love shooting back lit images against a blue sky, because it allows me an opportunity to shape the light in the foreground, while exposing or the sky and using the sun as a hair light.

A rugby player learns to overcome obstacles to care and treatment

by Rick Guasco
photography by John Gress

From the time he was a young boy in India, Bhuttu Matthews loved sports. An all-around athlete, he played soccer and volleyball and competed in track and field in school. He was much like his father, who was a boxer and track and field athlete.

“My first memory is of my dad teaching me how to hold a cricket bat,” Matthews said. “Sports have always been a huge part of my identity.”

All that was uprooted, however, after Matthews and his mother moved to the United States when he was 16, while his dad remained in India to preserve his retirement benefits. Matthews played soccer and swam while attending his new high school in Chicago, and then competed in martial arts while attending DePaul University. But he felt disconnected from a part of himself, and depression began to set in.

“Being closeted and coming from a culture that was very conservative and not accepting of gay people, it became an internal struggle that led to depression,” Matthews said. “Sex was the only thing that made me feel good. The more I felt depressed about non-acceptance, the more I turned to sex. From the time I was 18, I was going to a bathhouse, and once the internet became popular, I was looking for sex online.”

In the spring of 2004, Matthews tested HIV-positive. “Once I was diagnosed with HIV, I just threw caution to the wind,” Matthews said. “It seemed only natural to me that I would continue on this path through artificial means.”

Matthews began experimenting with crystal meth in the fall of 2005. By the following July, he was injecting it. “I would wake up in the morning and start thinking about when I could get high again,” he said. “Once I had started doing it, I just wanted to keep doing it. Looking back at it now, I can recognize that I was an addict, but at the time, I did not think of my use in those terms.” … Read More

Positively Aware Magazine Cover Photoshoot in Chicago Behind The Scenes

I used a Photek Softlight II and a Profoto D1 to capture Bhuttu while using a Variable ND filter on my camera so I could shoot at f2.8.

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