- Southside Egrets
Once again south suburban Chicago lakes, ponds and sloughs are the home to migrating Great Egrets. In the springtime they … Read more - White Trout Lily, a Magical Wildflower for Spring
A wonderful surprise to wake up to this morning. One of my photographs of white trout lily flowers is in … Read more - Donkeys, Guardians of the Farm
The donkey, often misunderstood and underappreciated, is instead an intelligent and independent thinking animal. Their stubborn behavior only arises when … Read more - It Was Raining Sandhill Cranes
It was raining sandhill cranes. For a short time in mid-November, flocks and flocks of these magnificent birds flew into … Read more - A Prospering Colony
John Muir once said “Most people are on the world, not in it”, on a peaceful May afternoon I was truly in … Read more - Hidden Gold Mine
Like a typical gold mine, this one is brimming with the brilliant, shiny golden objects. Though these gems are not … Read more - Pelican Pond
For approximately one week in early April, Maple Lake in the Cook County Forest Preserve turned into Pelican Pond. Each … Read more - Bergman Slough Super Moon
Coyotes howl in the distance as the frost super moon rises over Bergman Slough. Smoke from a prairie fire lingers … Read more - Starved Rock Canyon Walls
Deep inside Illinois Canyon, the glowing St. Peter Sandstone cracked walls surround a burnt-out tree. Once a home to birds, … Read more - American Bird Conservancy Report
I am especially thankful when I see one of my photographs on a magazine cover. This photograph of a male … Read more - Eagle Visions
By looking through an imaginative lens, the allure of unaesthetic images can be freed to create an alternative vision. The … Read more - Backwards Tuxedo in a Straw Colored Hat
The bobolink travels over 12,500 miles from southern South America to spend some time at Springbrook Prairie in DuPage County. … Read more - Bird on a Wire
A white dove on a wire dreams of places to go and things to see in the wild blue yonder. - Queen Anne’s Lace
Whether you consider the Queen Anne’s Lace invasive or an elegant delight, its delicate beauty is a sight to behold. … Read more - Secrets for Gorgeous Flower Photos
Woodland flowers seem to bring life back to the world after a long, cold, and sometimes drab winter. Their subtle … Read more - Springtime Robins
Recently, I was fortunate enough to be asked by Shutterstock Blog to share some tips for photographing my favorite springtime … Read more - Attracting Hummingbirds and Orioles
A ruby throated hummingbird hovers over a solitary bright red monarda blossom in our backyard. We planted bee balm (monarda), … Read more - Do Dogs Get Colds?
Abe, our Labrador Retriever, is a wonderful soul. Though he loves all of the seasons, winter seems to be his … Read more - Migratory Birds Are Worth Protecting
In our backyard, Baltimore orioles have a choice of oranges and grape jelly. Keeping their feeders full is a small … Read more - Assembly Required
As the Rolling Stones song goes “You can’t always get what you want but if you try, sometimes well, you … Read more - Snow Blanket
Covered in a blanket of snow, the sugar maple trees and dark spring-fed waters of Black Partridge Woods create a … Read more - Country Lane Cranes
Its meadows filled with gone to seed ironweed, goldenrod and aster, Country Lane Woods was recently graced with the elegance … Read more - August’s Colorful Hues
Typically the colors begin to fade in the sun-drenched month of August. While this is true for most it is … Read more - Once Lost Now Found
Previously overlooked, ignored, forgotten or lost? Regardless the reasons, rediscovery of these odds and ends has been a treat. From … Read more - Layer Mask Tips
Layer Mask Tips and Techniques After applying a mask to an image, it is often desirable to see the exact … Read more - Forgotten Flowers
Summer’s beauty has gone and now these aging wildflowers go barely noticed. The change of seasons has taken its toll, … Read more - Autumn Color
Can’t see the forest for the trees, my feeling as I wandered the forest floor. Lost in autumn’s wonderland, trees … Read more - Lighting in Layers for a White Background
A white background is a great way to bring attention to the subject of a photograph. There are several methods … Read more - Ole Number 11
Beams withering, joints rusting and paint peeling, the adventures have come to an end. The once proud craft provided numerous … Read more - Flows
Like a sculptor with a chisel, nature used glaciers, wind and water to carve the St. Peter Sandstone into rising … Read more - Springtime Glen
Waterfall Glen is one of the most ecologically diverse forest preserves in DuPage County. The preserve includes prairies, savannas, woodlands, … Read more - Birdyard Migrations
By mid May, migratory birds are well on a northerly path from their winter to summer habitats with the culmination … Read more - A Mother’s Day Gift from Mother Nature
Virginia Bluebells Springtime along the dry riverbeds of the Messenger Woods provides a startling explosion of pastel colors. The blue, … Read more - Focal Length and Socrates
Image Impact to Changes of Focal Length Several months ago the forest preserve trails were in full bloom. The green … Read more - Tranquility of Water
Water often moves with power and force, yet over time it has a relaxing quality that displays a graceful calmness. … Read more - Hummingbird Migration – 2012
In honor of the first sighting of the hummingbird migration, I felt it was time to update the hummingbird gallery. … Read more - Morning Meeting
As I traversed the trails of Maple Lake on a cold December morning, the tips of my fingers began to … Read more - Hope of Springtime
As winter sets in with its colder days ahead of us, I thought some images of blooming trees with their … Read more - Hidden
On a journey to the grocery store a white object in the Kean Avenue prairie caught my eye. Upon looking … Read more - Autumn’s Metamorphosis
Autumn’s metamorphosis takes hold along a Cook County stream. As autumn colors take over the forest preserve, a recent rainfall … Read more - The Position of Light
The distance of the light source to the subject has a tremendous impact on illuminating your photograph. The relationship (called … Read more - The Angle of Light
One of the continuing themes I will blog about is the variety of techniques to control light using strobes/flashes. These … Read more - Silhouette
As you can see Abe is silhouetted against a bright orange orb. Abe, a wonderful model, never drops his guard … Read more
