Interlude

Jellies

2012-01-29T20:16:00.000-08:00

Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL

Chicago

2012-01-28T23:23:00.000-08:00

The Dancer

2012-01-17T20:17:00.000-08:00

"Winter Blues"

2011-12-30T15:16:00.001-08:00

Warm Winter Wishes

2011-12-29T21:26:00.000-08:00

Though I have previously posted this image, it's still one of my favorite winter scenes.

Tangled

2011-12-28T20:21:00.000-08:00

Intrigue

2011-11-15T21:58:00.000-08:00

Writing Lesson

2011-11-06T21:29:00.000-08:00

In Loving Memory

2011-11-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

In loving memory of my husband, Bill Modesitt.

(November 3, 1952 - June 30, 1989)

Lover's Leap

2011-10-31T07:17:00.001-07:00

Mirror, Mirror

2011-10-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Set Sun

2011-10-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Reflecting

2011-10-29T09:41:00.001-07:00

The Cove

2011-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Ghosts, Goblins, and Zombies...

2011-10-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

...arriving just in time for Halloween!

A Bouquet For You

2011-10-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

I Knocked, But No One Was Home

2011-10-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Showing Off

2011-10-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

Honorable Mention

2011-10-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

SymmeTree

"SymmeTree" received an Honorable Mention in the 2011 Batdorff Photography B&W Photo Contest.

Check out the incredible winners of nearly 900 entries in "what has become one of the largest B&W contests in the United States...potentially seen by over 20,000 visitors."

Photographer John Batdorff's blog is found here: http://blog.batdorffphotography.com/blog/2011/10/07/2011-black-and-white-contest-winners-announced/#comment-7258

The winning entries are here: http://blog.batdorffphotography.com/blog/2011-bw-photo-contest-winners/

Rush

2011-10-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

On With The Show

2011-10-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

Rolling Down The Highway

2011-10-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

Chicago Farmer

2011-10-04T19:00:00.001-07:00

The Proposal

2011-09-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

My first engagement session was for Katie and Shawn and took place in April.

They were married on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

Best wishes to the bride and groom!

Playtime

2011-09-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Haley

2011-09-04T22:29:00.000-07:00

Reach

2011-08-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

"Belong" performed by Chandler Koepke at Adagio School of Performing Arts Summer Dance Festival

Hogsback Over The Vermillion

2011-08-12T11:26:00.001-07:00

Thanks For The Memories

2011-08-07T22:03:00.000-07:00

Thinking of all the fun hours spent with family and friends on these waters.

Good Morning, Illinois River Valley!

2011-08-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

Best Friends

2011-07-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

A tribute to a very special pet who passed much too soon at only 3 years old.

Rest in peace dear, sweet Briggs.

DeDee's Tulips

2011-07-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

The Great White Pelican

2011-06-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

Their wingspan reaches 9'! Canadian Geese look small next to them.

Enhanced

2011-06-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

I took an on-line class with Doug Landreth through "creativeLIVE" on adding texture to images.

I am inspired. The technique adds a new dimension to artistic expression.

(Yes, you may have recognized this Blue Heron from a previous post.)

Shirley King

2011-06-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Daughter of legendary blues performer, B.B. King, Shirley gave a wonderful performance

at the Twin Rivers Wine and Jazz Festival in my hometown.

Neck-titude

2011-05-31T19:38:00.000-07:00

Reminds me of girls with attitude. ;-)

Pristine

2011-05-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

Grayton Beach State Park, Florida

Evening Cruise

2011-05-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Wilson's Walnut Grove

2011-05-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

Triplet

2011-05-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

White Pelicans

The Day Remains

2011-05-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

Blue

2011-05-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Taking Flight

2011-05-13T20:08:00.001-07:00

The Rock

2011-05-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

White Pelican Migration

2011-05-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

Taken below the Starved Rock Dam, Utica, IL

Reggie aka "Caveman"

2011-05-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Outside My Window

2011-05-01T21:20:00.001-07:00

Zack Arias On creativeLIVE This Weekend!

2011-04-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

I first became aware of Zack Arias through the creativeLIVE on-line workshop offered by Chase Jarvis.

Zack is a gifted photographer with a generous spirit toward helping other photographers to attain their goals of improving their craft.

Zack's blog offers an overview of his plans for this workshop. http://zackarias.com/blog/

I’ve been teaching workshops for about four years now and I’ve met hundreds and hundreds of photographers. I would venture to say that most photographers entering the industry today are self taught. You read blogs, watch DVDs, go to workshops, attend conferences, read books, and do a lot of trial and error. We all do that. We are all learning and growing and trying to move forward but from my experience working with a lot of emerging photographers these days I see a number of holes in a lot of people’s foundations. There are a number of missing ingredients and this weekend’s class is designed to identify those weak areas in the industry and fill them in with knowledge and practical advice.
The goal you should have for yourself is to be able to walk into an environment, size up your subject, your shooting conditions, and your camera bag and formulate a plan quickly, efficiently, and with a smile on your face. Before you ever open your camera bag you should already know which lens you are going to need. You should have an idea of where your subject needs to be, what your background will be, and what you are going to have to do to the light. It’s like the matrix. You have to see the code.

Here is the creativeLIVE link for this weekend's schedule: http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=af872ba88a454e16a24cbee2d&id=dfb0d62d83

I cannot say enough about the creativeLIVE team, its featured guests, and sponsors. All those involved have come together to create a wonderful photographer's resource. If you want to learn something new and you are willing and able to make the time this weekend, check it out! You'll be glad you did!

Breathe In The Beauty Of Spring

2011-04-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

Patience

2011-04-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

A Study In Breeches - Dutchman's To Be Sure

2011-04-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

Nature's Reply To Spring

2011-04-12T20:36:00.001-07:00

Out The Window

2011-04-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

Abandoned building on Damen Avenue, Chicago

Whenever we drive past, I'm always impressed by the graffiti on it.

Take A Hike

2011-04-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

Owl Canyon, Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL

Mid-Stream

2011-03-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

Clear For Take-off

2011-03-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

What Lies Beneath

2011-03-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

SymmeTree

2011-03-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

This image was recently chosen as the winner of a "Winter In B&W" challenge by members of

the Chicago Digital Photographers' Meetup Group.

Red Fox

2011-03-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

This fox was sunbathing in my mom's backyard...and she lives in town!

Duck, Duck...No Goose

2011-02-26T20:08:00.000-08:00

Weathered Sentinel

2011-02-23T21:55:00.000-08:00

This was taken at the start of the recent blizzard.

Bejeweled

2011-02-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

Thaw

2011-02-20T18:35:00.001-08:00

Rhythm of the Thaw

2011-02-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

Council Overhang

2011-02-16T18:58:00.000-08:00

Here Fishy, Fishy

2011-02-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

Chambers Of The Fall

2011-02-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

Backside of a Frozen Waterfall

Harbor Light

2011-02-12T21:06:00.000-08:00

Fall Water

2011-02-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

A crack has developed...

...one section down.

You get an idea of the scale here. This was taken before a portion of the left side fell.

Ottawa Canyon Waterfall at Starved Rock State Park near Utica, IL

The Day After

2011-02-08T22:01:00.000-08:00

What The Blizzard Blew In

2011-02-02T21:57:00.001-08:00

Ottawa Canyon

2011-01-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

This waterfall is 35-40' in height.

Mirrored

2011-01-28T20:26:00.000-08:00

Locking Through

2011-01-26T17:25:00.000-08:00

Visitors

2011-01-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

"Step on a crack..."

2011-01-23T09:30:00.001-08:00

3 For 1

2011-01-22T22:30:00.000-08:00

It's nice to see how different edits impact an image. Do you have a favorite?

Incoming

2011-01-20T20:10:00.001-08:00

Soar

2011-01-19T19:55:00.000-08:00

Sycamore Tree

2011-01-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

Eagles

2011-01-16T21:05:00.000-08:00

From The Heart

2011-01-15T18:19:00.000-08:00

Days Gone By

2011-01-12T22:29:00.000-08:00

Roxy

2011-01-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

Left Gate

2011-01-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

Blow

2011-01-06T20:23:00.001-08:00

Curious

2011-01-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

Home Sweet Home

2011-01-01T20:12:00.001-08:00

Home Sweet Home, originally uploaded by Lori Nicoli.

Hoar Frost

2010-12-29T20:29:00.000-08:00

Delicate

2010-12-27T17:16:00.000-08:00

Season's Greetings To All

2010-12-24T21:26:00.000-08:00

The Flute Studio Ensemble

2010-12-13T18:42:00.000-08:00

'Tis The Season

2010-12-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

The Rock Launch

2010-11-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

Barbed

2010-11-29T19:09:00.001-08:00

Enthusiasm

2010-11-27T21:21:00.000-08:00

Giving Thanks

2010-11-25T21:05:00.000-08:00

Tyler

2010-11-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

Portal

2010-11-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

Tribute

2010-11-11T23:04:00.000-08:00