Late Afternoon Sun
Looks a bit more like moonlight! I'll have to use this for Halloween.
Fast shutter metered directly on the sun partially hidden by clouds, helped to create this eerie looking sky.
Taken at the Joliet Iron Works.
Late Afternoon Sun
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Late Afternoon Sun
Late Afternoon Sun
First Light
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First Light
First Light
Nothing beats seeing nature wake up, problem is you have to get up pretty early to capture it. - Get up, get dressed, get the gear together, drive to your destination, get the gear out, hike to a spot and wait. That means 4:30 am this time of year.
Will it be cloudy? Foggy? That's part of the fun, and you never know what you're going to see. Most of the time I set up and discover something else I'd rather capture - like this: the Illinois and Michigan Canal just before sunrise. You often find the best colors just before sunrise or right after sunset.
Sledding
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Happy Sledding
Happy Sledding
The look on Dan's face says it all! Take a hill, add some snow - instant fun!
This hill is one of the many at Dellwood Park, in Lockport, Illinois. Not much snow left, just enough to make it slippery.
Reflections of the Past
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Reflections of the Past
Reflections of the Past
A calm winter afternoon along the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal about a mile east of Lemont, Illinois. The trails in this area of the National Heritage Corridor run between the canal and several water-filled quarries. It's quite remote here, and you can't help but feel as if you're miles away from civilization.
Several foot bridges (and even a log or two) allow you to cross the canal to walk along the towpath on either side.
Silo Sunset
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Silo Sunset
Silo Sunset
Driving home one evening, I spotted an abandoned farm I haven't come across yet. I stopped and checked out the farm, and when I turned to leave, I spotted this sky.
Icy Patterns
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Ice Patterns and Frost
A few feet from the base of a waterfall feeding the Illinois and Michigan Canal, I discovered some very interesting patterns below the top layer of ice. I'm guessing the action from the canal current and the waterfall produced these patches of white ice mixed with clear. Then a layer of clear ice formed over the top of both. The patterns remind me a bit of a dry lake bottom. I wonder if the ice began to melt, shrink and pull apart, then it froze again, or if the patterns are frozen foam from the waterfall.
However it happened, I found it quite interesting to view at sunrise.
Ice Patterns and Frost
A few feet from the base of a waterfall feeding the Illinois and Michigan Canal, I discovered some very interesting patterns below the top layer of ice. I'm guessing the action from the canal current and the waterfall produced these patches of white ice mixed with clear. Then a layer of clear ice formed over the top of both. The patterns remind me a bit of a dry lake bottom. I wonder if the ice began to melt, shrink and pull apart, then it froze again, or if the patterns are frozen foam from the waterfall.
However it happened, I found it quite interesting to view at sunrise.
Hidden Waterfall
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Limestone Waterfall
Along the Illinois and Michigan Canal just east of downtown Lemont, a small stream cascades down the limestone walls cut over a century ago by Irish, German and Swedish immigrants. This portion of the canal needed to be cut through solid limestone rather than just clay and soil, so the stream ended up becoming a waterfall that spills into the I and M Canal.
Most people who walk or bike the National Heritage path along the canal have never even noticed this waterfall. Because the towpath is about 10 feet above the surface of the water at this point, it can be passed right up. While it's not a huge waterfall, it's certainly not minuscule; at approximately 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide, it's impressive and makes quite a bit of noise.
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The Waterfall From Above (looking east)
Viewing the falls from the towpath is pretty easy, though it may be somewhat obscured by trees and shrubs in summer. Getting down the limestone walls of the canal isn't impossible if one is in prepared for a climb. Soil carried over the falls by the stream has created a small island in the center of the canal right in front of the waterfall. This is a great vantage point to see the waterfall as well as the canal from a unique perspective.
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Sunrise, From the Island in the Canal
This was taken early Sunday morning, about 20 minutes before sunrise. It's an HDR image, (High Dynamic Range) created out of three photographs taken at different exposures - one set for the shadows, one for the midtones, and one for the highlights. The images are merged together in Photoshop to create one image that is perfectly (I hope) exposed. A lot of HDR images are very odd looking, it seems that most people overdo it and the photos have a surreal look to them. I prefer an HDR image that is well exposed and not "painted."
Limestone Waterfall
Along the Illinois and Michigan Canal just east of downtown Lemont, a small stream cascades down the limestone walls cut over a century ago by Irish, German and Swedish immigrants. This portion of the canal needed to be cut through solid limestone rather than just clay and soil, so the stream ended up becoming a waterfall that spills into the I and M Canal.
Most people who walk or bike the National Heritage path along the canal have never even noticed this waterfall. Because the towpath is about 10 feet above the surface of the water at this point, it can be passed right up. While it's not a huge waterfall, it's certainly not minuscule; at approximately 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide, it's impressive and makes quite a bit of noise.
click to enlarge
The Waterfall From Above (looking east)
Viewing the falls from the towpath is pretty easy, though it may be somewhat obscured by trees and shrubs in summer. Getting down the limestone walls of the canal isn't impossible if one is in prepared for a climb. Soil carried over the falls by the stream has created a small island in the center of the canal right in front of the waterfall. This is a great vantage point to see the waterfall as well as the canal from a unique perspective.
click to enlarge
Sunrise, From the Island in the Canal
This was taken early Sunday morning, about 20 minutes before sunrise. It's an HDR image, (High Dynamic Range) created out of three photographs taken at different exposures - one set for the shadows, one for the midtones, and one for the highlights. The images are merged together in Photoshop to create one image that is perfectly (I hope) exposed. A lot of HDR images are very odd looking, it seems that most people overdo it and the photos have a surreal look to them. I prefer an HDR image that is well exposed and not "painted."
Tree Skirts
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Ice Tree Skirts
A walk along the Illinois and Michigan Canal towpath east of Lemont, Illinois, yields some interesting historic and geologic features. Lemont sits directly on a vast limestone deposit, which, throughout it's history, was quarried for building material. Many of the local buildings, as well as the Chicago Water Tower, were made with stone quarried in Lemont. These abandoned quarries can be seen today, but have filled with water from underground springs. The towpath of the I and M Canal takes you right next to these quarries, now a haven for wildlife and fishermen.
A rare geologic feature is also present along the towpath, a limestone fen. A fen is a wetland (which is really common) but a natural limestone fen is rather rare. Mineral rich waters seep up through the limestone creating shallow ponds that support an interesting variety of plants and wildlife.
The image above was taken as the water in the limestone fen near the "Icebox Quarry" froze and began to drop in level. The ice remains attached to the tree, but since it's floating on the water, it drops with the water and creates interesting rings around things it touched.
Ice Tree Skirts
A walk along the Illinois and Michigan Canal towpath east of Lemont, Illinois, yields some interesting historic and geologic features. Lemont sits directly on a vast limestone deposit, which, throughout it's history, was quarried for building material. Many of the local buildings, as well as the Chicago Water Tower, were made with stone quarried in Lemont. These abandoned quarries can be seen today, but have filled with water from underground springs. The towpath of the I and M Canal takes you right next to these quarries, now a haven for wildlife and fishermen.
A rare geologic feature is also present along the towpath, a limestone fen. A fen is a wetland (which is really common) but a natural limestone fen is rather rare. Mineral rich waters seep up through the limestone creating shallow ponds that support an interesting variety of plants and wildlife.
The image above was taken as the water in the limestone fen near the "Icebox Quarry" froze and began to drop in level. The ice remains attached to the tree, but since it's floating on the water, it drops with the water and creates interesting rings around things it touched.
Tiscornia Park
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Target Sighted
Another visit to the St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse, this time from Tiscornia park just north of the lighthouse pier and the St. Joseph River. Warmer temperatures made this trip a lot more comfortable than the last.
The snow covered dunes were deceptive. Drifts were over three feet deep in places, and the snow was just firm enough to walk on, but every few steps we'd suddenly drop in past our knees!
Target Sighted
Another visit to the St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse, this time from Tiscornia park just north of the lighthouse pier and the St. Joseph River. Warmer temperatures made this trip a lot more comfortable than the last.
The snow covered dunes were deceptive. Drifts were over three feet deep in places, and the snow was just firm enough to walk on, but every few steps we'd suddenly drop in past our knees!
Overcast
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Overcast
While wandering through the Joliet Iron Works ruins along the Illinois and Michigan Canal trail, the sky turned an interesting color. As we walked toward the evening sun, the trees appeared to be painted directly on the clouds.
Overcast
While wandering through the Joliet Iron Works ruins along the Illinois and Michigan Canal trail, the sky turned an interesting color. As we walked toward the evening sun, the trees appeared to be painted directly on the clouds.
37th Annual Ice Fishing Derby
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Ice fishing in Comfort
What a great day for an ice fishing derby! 48 degrees, sunny and still plenty of ice on the lake - no need for a shanty. This year's ice fishing derby had much better weather than previous years.
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Everyone Enjoyed the Derby
Ice fishing in Comfort
What a great day for an ice fishing derby! 48 degrees, sunny and still plenty of ice on the lake - no need for a shanty. This year's ice fishing derby had much better weather than previous years.
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Everyone Enjoyed the Derby
Evening Sun
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Early Evening Sun
Driving home from St. Joseph, Michigan, I stopped by the Lake Michigan shore to view the lake from Shoreham, Michigan. The low angle of the sun created a beautiful glow in the snow, and great shadows as well.
Early Evening Sun
Driving home from St. Joseph, Michigan, I stopped by the Lake Michigan shore to view the lake from Shoreham, Michigan. The low angle of the sun created a beautiful glow in the snow, and great shadows as well.
Montrose Harbor
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Montrose Harbor, Chicago, IL
A cold, overcast afternoon doesn't necessarily mean that people will avoid the Chicago lakefront. I was spotted as I snapped this photo, by the person walking out onto the pier, and by several fishermen in the area. This part of the lake isn't frozen solid like the east shore, so fishermen can still enjoy themselves in February.
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Fishermen At Montrose Harbor
Montrose Harbor, Chicago, IL
A cold, overcast afternoon doesn't necessarily mean that people will avoid the Chicago lakefront. I was spotted as I snapped this photo, by the person walking out onto the pier, and by several fishermen in the area. This part of the lake isn't frozen solid like the east shore, so fishermen can still enjoy themselves in February.
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Fishermen At Montrose Harbor
St. Joseph Lighthouse
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Outer Range Light
A winter visit to the St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse is always interesting. The past few years have seen an increase in the ice out on Lake Michigan on the Indiana and Michigan shorelines - so much so, that for weeks this year, water could not be seen with the naked eye. A slight thaw in early February has turned some of the lake back into water.
A trek out past the inner range light was a bit hazardous, but well worth the trip. Judging by the footprints, I was the second person to venture out to the outer light in weeks. The ice and snow covered path was only about 14 inches wide, with the lighthouse base on one side, and the frozen lake eight feet below on the other side.
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Inner Range Light as Seen from the Outer Light.
The photo above shows the path from shore. It was certainly a glorious day to be out in nature.
Outer Range Light
A winter visit to the St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse is always interesting. The past few years have seen an increase in the ice out on Lake Michigan on the Indiana and Michigan shorelines - so much so, that for weeks this year, water could not be seen with the naked eye. A slight thaw in early February has turned some of the lake back into water.
A trek out past the inner range light was a bit hazardous, but well worth the trip. Judging by the footprints, I was the second person to venture out to the outer light in weeks. The ice and snow covered path was only about 14 inches wide, with the lighthouse base on one side, and the frozen lake eight feet below on the other side.
click to enlarge
Inner Range Light as Seen from the Outer Light.
The photo above shows the path from shore. It was certainly a glorious day to be out in nature.
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