Field Note: Observations from the Streets

These aren’t just snapshots. They’re notes from the field, visual evidence of moments that asked me to pause, reframe, and reflect.

Field Notes is where I document the spaces between. A passerby’s gesture, a forgotten corner of a city, the way light hits a surface at 4:47 PM, each entry holds a trace of motion and memory.

Captured on Leica cameras, these moments are more than photographs. They’re timestamps in a moving world.

I started Field Notes not as a blog, but as a ritual. A place to mark small discoveries. A sketchbook made of shadow, geometry, and instinct.

Each image is paired with a short caption or handwritten thought, part journal, part visual poem.

The goal isn’t perfection. Its presence.

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John Hendrick || Staff Photojournalist Pepper magazine || UTSA Photography Instructor 8/10/25 John Hendrick || Staff Photojournalist Pepper magazine || UTSA Photography Instructor 8/10/25

Interwoven Cities at Bright Coffee

From Vision to Opening Night: What I Learned Putting on My Latest Show

When I started preparing for Interwoven Cities, I had a clear vision: exactly which images I wanted, the size they’d be printed, and the feeling I wanted people to walk away with. The idea was to provide a highly tactile experience, showcasing prints in their purest form, no frames, no glass, nothing between the viewer and the work. I wanted a more darkroom vibe, that raw moment when an image first comes to life.

The 40x60 prints demanded attention. Up close, you could see every detail, every grain. To hang them, I used simple wooden hangers clipped to the top, an unconventional choice that turned into a conversation starter all night. Alongside them, I offered one 12x18 print for each large image, signed, one of a kind, and never to be reprinted in that size.

Here’s where the reality check came in: I gave myself three weeks to prepare. Factor in travel right before the show, and that left me just two days to set up, order refreshments, sort out the music, and hang the work.

The Night Of
Bright Coffee was alive, friends, friends of friends, and plenty of new faces filled the space. The DJ spun vinyl, the coffee shop hummed, and the prints soaked up every bit of attention. I had planned to give a short speech about 30 minutes in… but the night swept me up. Before I knew it, someone had to say, “People want to hear from you.” I kept it brief, sharing the story behind the work, then went back to the part I love most, connecting one-on-one.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

Promote earlier & louder – The turnout was solid, but earlier marketing could’ve reached beyond my immediate circle.
Price & present for sales – Prints sold even without price tags, but I know I left some sales on the table.
Delegate the flow – A dedicated event coordinator could’ve kept the schedule moving and freed me to focus entirely on guests.
Extend prep time – Three weeks was tight. Six weeks would’ve meant less scrambling and more refining.

Looking Back
It wasn’t perfect, but it was alive. The energy, the conversations, the music, the scale of the work… it was more than I could have asked for. If you missed it, the prints will remain up at Bright Coffee until September. See them in person. Stand close. Let them pull you in. And maybe, just maybe—you’ll leave with a print.

Thanks yous

Huge thank you to @brightcoffeesa for opening your doors and letting Interwoven Cities live on your walls. The space and energy were perfect.

To @soundsby.disndat, your vinyl set was the heartbeat of the night. Every track carried the room and made the work feel alive.

And to everyone who came out, took photos, shared reels, and made the night unforgettable, I’m grateful for each of you. You turned this from a gallery opening into a true gathering of community, art, and connection.

The show is still up through September. If you haven’t stopped by yet, see it in person.

📍 Bright Coffee | 1705 Blanco Rd | San Antonio, TX

- John Hendrick

Here is a summary of the night from Harrison on IG @stufflikethatthere