Rovaughn Hill — Comedian, Chicago

I photographed Rovaughn Hill years ago, long before I realized how much that session would shape my work with comedians. Those images ended up opening doors I didn’t know I was knocking on at the time. In a lot of ways, that shoot marked the beginning of something for me.

Rovaughn has always been a presence. In the Chicago comedy scene, he’s known as unpredictable, loud when he wants to be, and quick to throw a line that catches you off guard. Some people find that energy exhausting. Others find it magnetic. Both reactions are usually happening at the same time.

What gets lost in the noise is that he’s sharp. He listens. He understands timing. And when he’s on, he’s devastating in the way only comics who trust their instincts can be. Offstage, he’s generous, deeply loyal, and far more thoughtful than his reputation suggests.

He’s also a proud Chicago sports fan — Bears, Bulls, all of it — which has made him a long-running rival of mine as a Cleveland fan. It’s an argument we’ve been having for years, usually loudly, usually in public, and never seriously enough to matter.

Rovaughn once referred to himself as a “sex god.” He meant it jokingly. Mostly. Comedy, like confidence, depends on who’s listening.

Looking back at those early portraits, I realize I wasn’t just photographing a comedian. I was learning how to photograph people who live comfortably in contradiction — chaotic and disciplined, abrasive and kind, impossible to ignore.

Training for Shidokan: Derek Jackson, Chicago

I met Derek Jackson at Chicago Kickboxing and Muay Thai gym. We take the morning class taught by one of the best coaches in the world, Cris Ortiz.

In November 2025, Derek competed in The 45th Shidokan Open International Championship & Yousef Shihan Memorial Cup in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. This is the longest running international tournament, pulling competitors from Japan and all over the world to compete and honor this style of martial arts.

Derek had been training for this tournament long before he ever stepped into that ring. I always liked Derek. He trains hard, he's humble, and his anime cuts with his own highlight reel is something I marvel at.

Around the same period, Derek was awarded his first-degree black belt — Shodan — a milestone that marks the beginning of mastery rather than its completion. For practitioners of karate and related disciplines, it’s a moment earned through years of consistent training, not outcome alone.

Some people like to beat the representation drum, and I'll also have to jump on this drum line. For me, not often do I see a black man that's also 5'6" be so dedicated to martial arts and even in defeat show so much grace. It's something I aspire to.

Photographing fighters like Derek is an honor. He represents hard work, discipline, and dedication — qualities that show up long before competition and remain long after the outcome is decided.