Photos from the past photographica since 2004 for the blue challenge.

reflections      Keyhole 

Beauchart Gardens BC      smiles 

The Bean 3      Koi 

River    clouds3  

Framed      UK2 

Ravello Italy      doorsnwindows6 

IMG_0912      BlueJayDay 

ParisDoors5 

 

I don't have to much appropriate for the challenge, but I do have this. Lover's Toast It was taken at the Garfield Park conservatory here is Chicago, which was hosting an exhibition of Niki de Sainte=Phalle's sculpture.
And as long as we are talking about love, I should include one of my daughter, Tuesday.Through the Looking Glass

A couple of people expressed an interest in seeing the color version of my previous post, so I thought I would put it up today  Lover's Toast - Color along with some others.  All these were taken at Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago which featured an exhibition of her work incorporated into there usual exhibits.
Girl in the Golden Swing Water Jugs
A Romp in the Garden Tidal Dance
JazzMan
These are good examples of the rotund, voluptuous figures she is known for.  Interestingly, Ms. Sainte Phalle was a fashion model in her youth and remained quite slender through her life.
The conservatory also has fine collection of exotic plants.
Zebra Leaves AlienFlower

Through the glass inside the Shedd Aquarium, temps outside about 5 degrees with a brisk 15 MPH wind, they are crazy (and young)joggers Pastel colored sky over
frozen Lake Michigan and part of Chicagos Cityscape reflected in ice
I didn't get to the marinas as planned due to having to return home early.

Full Length
Sunset
Covered Bridge
Falls End
Lighthouse With Splash, Muskegon, MI
Road Ends
Ship
Here is the Church
From the Underside

Odds & Ends that make me want to go somewhere...out of the cold Chicago winter... somewhere warm... but since I'm held prisoner in a flower shop, no trip until after the big V-Day... that's Valentine's Day for those who still like celebrating this Day of Love... I can't wait 'till it's over; I'm tired already just thinkin' 'bout it... then vacation, ahh... Can't wait...

Thanks for looking.

that didn't make it...
Macro-web drops
or portraits -Chicago fountain baby or Aliya

Yesterday's mornings snowfall here in Illinois came down fast and wet, plastering itself to everything facing the wind.  The snow gave an eerie appearance to this rural cemetery about fifty miles outside of Chicago.

December - Cemetery in Snow #1 Cemetery in Snow #2 Cemetery in Snow #3 Cemetery in Snow #4

Well for 2 weeks we have been planning on going to Chicago to walk Michigan Ave & State Street for the Holiday lights, etc... Yesterday it was Pouring rain and windy & cold, so the only shot I kinda liked was through the windshield of the Chicago Public Library We also tried Navy Pier, but the Holiday decorations start this coming weekend.
The thumb is a parking attendant for the Bears game (they lost, again) I snapped while sitting in traffic.

So, I had to visit Chicago recently for a conference for work.  Of course I had to bring my camera along!  I had only been to Chicago once before, but I remember enjoying walking around the city just taking in the skyline.  So enjoy the shots :)

This is a view of one of the lake from McCormrick Place, the largest convention center in the world.
chicago bay

As I walked downtown, I came across some cranberry farmers whom had taken over a fountain in front of the Chicago Tribune.  They had made a cranberry bog!
cranberries

One of the parks featured several sculptures.  This one reminded me of a giant silver kidney bean.  But the cool thing was I could see the skyline reflected in the sculpture.
silver kidney bean

One of my sidetrips was to The Field Museum.  They had a wonderful gem stone display.  I loved the shadows in this shot and how the stone just pops out at you.
pretty stone

 What do you think?

A July hike west of Denver along Hells Hole Trail.  ALil flower or two along the way, a resting place, a place to sit and I also felt like I was being watched.Who's that?

Chicago Skyline

Taken in Feb 2007 from the Hancock Tower.

Not the best quality but you get an idea of the storms passing through Chicago.

storm 1 looks like the start of a tornado. Shot wide with 12-24mm f4 at ISO of 1250.

Switched to the fastest lens that I have, 50 mm f1.8 at ISO 1250.
storm 2 this is about as close as the actual color of the sky.

After the initial front passed then the thunderstorm began.

lightning 1
lightning 2

I've been looking through my pictures and trying to figure out which one is my very best.  I've narrowed it down to these twelve.  If you had to pick just one, which would you choose?  What made you decide to pick that one?1_Toronto_Ship 2_Niagra_Falls 3_Fountain 4_Chicago 5_Greenville_SC 6_Greenville_Reedy_R 7_Maine 8_Bass_Harbor_Maine 9_Lexington_KY 10_Butteryfly 11_Charleston_Sunset 12_Sisters_Bay

Thanks in advance for your input.  I'm really trying to develop my photographic eye and skill.  Feel free to offer any kind of criticism.

Roundabout

I was walking along Lake Michigan and I found an interesting subject Crash. Then I saw this cool old sailor man Dakota. Then we went out to eat at Ed Debevic's,where the waiters are paid to be really rude to you Ed Debevic. Earlier, we went to one of the only buildings that survived the Great Fire in Chicago and I took a few pictures, Water Tower and Water Tower Square. I also saw some kiddos having fun so I snapped one off Kiddos. Here are a couple night shots from my soon-to-be sister-in-law's apartment Casper and Chicago at Sundown. And that's it for this story, also check out my Wrigley story!

Various pictures I've taken over the past few months.

13 c chicago2_003 chicago2_010 self portrait melaura pink tree

Received an email from the photo workshop team. They were trying to put together enough interested people to do some in flight photography. I don't like to fly and was already on edge over the up coming commuter flight from Salt Lake City to St George. Not more than 20 seats on that flight. And I discovered that we would also be on a commuter flight on the way home from Chicago to Hartford. I had to take full responsibility for these flights since I booked them! Now the crazy people wanted me in a HELICOPTER!!!!!!!

I causally mentioned the email to Wildman. Told him I thought it would be pretty expensive, probably wouldn't want to spend the extra cash.
Hell no, sign us up right away before all the flights are taken......

up up and away

I had the greatest time!!!

It wasthrilling
awesome breath taking

And I'd do it again in a second!
Our flight was the last to take off for the day. Not yet sunset, the lighting wasn't the best but who cares it was wonderful.

I think it would be fun to learn how to fly one..........

We went out for a Sunday drive in the small towns far west of Chicago and saw a sign. It said "Waterfights Today" Curious, we fliped the ol' pick-me-up truck around...
This is what we found:

Let the games beginBoys versus girls Maybe we can distract them Teamwork Object of the game Waterfight Waterfighters Water Taking aim The Battle Drying out Back of the old truck

The firefighters from local towns including Shabonna and Aurora and Waterman were having some 4th of July fun; Johnny Cash singing "Ring of Fire" blasting from the D.J.'s speakers and hot dogs & ice cream for all!  Don't know who won, they had many more elimination rounds to go!

and just 'cause:

At the side of the country road

Thanks for looking.

 

The last set from the trip to Denver last week. Not overly happy with the pictures but figured I would share them just the same.

The Red Rocks Amphitheater  is located about 15 miles West of downtown Denver. The amphitheater was built into this geological formation. Below are some other various pictures.

Red_Rocks_1a
Red_Rocks_1b
Red_Rocks_1c

The next time I find myself in Denver I plan to try again but at sunrise. The lighting from the East would be such a help compared to the mid afternoon sun.

The thumbI haven't decided to keep it. It was taken on the flight back from Denver to Chicago.

Charlie's camera left the US from Chicago's O'Hare airport at 9:01pm June 2 2007.Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Chicago's  Millenium Fountains