Image of the Week: Aon Center from Millenium Park, Chicago

Do you always carry your camera? I mean, every time you go out the front door, do you have some sort of camera rig with you? DSLR? Point-and-Shoot? Holga? 120 Folder? 35mm? Anything?

Yeah, me neither.

I know, it's pathetic. Here I am, a photographer and all, and whenever I'm out on a quick errand, I forget to grab a camera. But then again, when I pack a camera bag, I tend to pack as if I were storming a beach: camera body, 2-3 lenses, hotshoe flash, extra batteries, memory cards, polarizing filter, small tripod, notebook. Before I know it, I've thrown together nearly 10lbs of gear for that quick trip to the market.

That's why the gear often stays home on these little jaunts.

But not anymore. I'm changing my ways. I've resolved to leave the house only if I'm carrying some sort of imaging device, not counting the camera on my cellphone (the quality is so bad, I don't bother with it). Yes, that means I'll always be laden with 5 to 10lbs of DSLR gear, but I won't miss out on anything I see along the way. And if some generous soul out there wants to buy me the new Canon G9 P&S, all the better.

This week's photo wouldn't have happened had I adhered to my usual behavior. While in Chicago visiting friends and shopping around some portfolios, I took a morning off to visit the Art Institute. It's a short walk from the hotel, and I didn't see much reason for hauling my camera bag along -- the museum staff usually make me check it at the entrance anyway. Strolling across Millenium Park, I was struck by the graphic interplay of the Pritzker Pavilion with the surrounding buildings.

Have questions, comments? Let me know what you think.