About Ian J. Battaglia
Monochromatic Aberration is the blog of Ian J. Battaglia. As that link says, I'm a writer, photographer, and philomath–among other things–based out of Chicago.
I'm a writer of both fiction and nonfiction. I'm currently working on a novel manuscript, and trying to get some short stories published. I'm the author of The Translator's Voice, a column at The Chicago Review of Books where I interview translators behind contemporary literary translations. I've also written about my own experience learning Japanese for Tofugu, where I also served as an editor. See my portfolio for more info on my writing. Photographically, my personal work tends to be in fine-art street photography.
Shoot me an email or get in touch on my contact page.
About Monochromatic Aberration
I wish I could say "this is a blog about carpentry joinery techniques," or whatever, but the truth is a lot broader than that. I've always had a really wide range of interests and passions, and those have only expanded over time, creating a vast network of skills and experiences, hopes and dreams, and thoughts and aims. I've written here about writing and reading, Japanese and language learning, photography, meditation, and much more.
When considering what I wanted to explore on this blog, I kept coming back to this: I want a space to explore, document, and directly share my attempts to see and perceive the world more vividly, think clearer and more broadly, and find a more thoughtful and holistic connection to myself, my interests, the people around me, and the world.
Really, this is a blog about yearning.
It's about trying new things, and striving for new heights. It's about the connection between creation and cultivation, art and life, thinking and action. It's about finding new ways to relate to the world around you. It's about attempting to see the familiar as wholly original, and to be attentive to the most minute details. And like the tagline, it's about wonder.
If that sounds like something you're interested in, become a member by clicking on the subscribe button, or on the "Sign Up" link up top to join me on this journey. I'll send you my newsletter, Monochromatic Aberration, where I write about the things I've been thinking about, and interested in, and share my work directly with you. Let's explore together.
I also write a bi-weekly newsletter called Refrakt, which you can learn about on the newsletter page.
From Chicago with love,
Your Faithful Commander,
– I
