Square Perspectives – McCormick House

My second entry for Becky’s Square Perspectives Photo Challenge includes different views of McCormick House at Cantigny Park. From any perspective this is an interesting place and well worth a look, inside and out (although no photography allowed inside.)

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Old and New

This week, Amy is looking for comparisons between Old and New for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. I suppose, for me, the best examples of old and new can be found in the architecture of downtown Chicago. Although the buildings in the city can in no way be considered old when compared to some of the more ancient edifices in other parts of the world, there is still a noticeable difference between past and present.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge – Up and Down

This week, Cee is looking for outdoor ways to move up and down for her Black & White Photo Challenge. Here are a few of the more unconventional methods including maintenance platforms hanging from Marina Towers in downtown Chicago, a maintenance lift at the mall in Mount Prospect, the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier in Chicago and grandson bungee jumping at the Renaissance Faire.

Square Tops Photo Challenge – Topknots

The Merriam-Webster definition of a topknot describes it as: an ornament, such as a knot of ribbons or a pompom, forming a headdress or worn as part of a coiffure: a crest of feathers or tuft of hair on top of the head. I think these might qualify for Becky’s Square Tops Photo Challenge.

Square Tops Photo Challenge – Tops in Chicago

The theme for Becky’s Square Photo Challenge this month is Tops.  Much of the architecture in downtown Chicago is stunning and nowhere more so than on the very top of some of it’s most illustrious buildings.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Pick A Topic

This week, Cee has asked us to choose a topic from the picture she has kindly provided, for her Fun Foto Challenge. Right away, the vintage car caught my eye. As you may be aware, if you read my previous post, I’m a big fan of Volo Auto Museum and since it was one of the last places we were able to visit before everything started closing down, this challenge provided a good opportunity for me to share a few more images that I captured while I was there. Thanks, Cee!

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Reflections

This week, Miriam, our guest host over at The Showers of Blessings, is looking for Reflections for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge.  On a recent trip to Volo Auto Museum, I was so impressed by how bright and shiny all the cars are and, looking at the resulting pictures, I can see how I inadvertently captured reflections, not so much of images but the lights of the various showrooms that brought out the meticulous care and attention to detail that is lavished on these beautiful machines.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Treasure Hunt

I always enjoyed participating in scavenger hunts, from the day-long searches that involved driving from town to town in order to collect or take pictures of the items on our list, to the “what’s in your handbag?” games at bridal and baby showers, so when Tina suggested a Treasure Hunt for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, I was eager to get started, all from the comfort of my own home. Here is the list of items we must find.

Challenge Items: Sunrise and/or sunset, Something cold and/or hot, a bird, a dog, a funny sign, a bicycle, a seascape and/or mountain landscape, a rainbow, a church, a musical instrument, a boat, a plane, a waterfall

Extra Credit Items: An expressive portrait of one or more people, a very unusual place, knitting or sewing, a fish, an animal you don’t normally see, a bucket, a hammer, a street performer, a double rainbow, multiple challenge items in a single image.

To start the hunt, I found a rainbow (looks like it might almost be a double) over our garden and a waterfall at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan.

Next up; a bird hood ornament perched on a car at Volo Auto Museum, a mermaid (not a creature you usually see) and a fish that were part of a Disney display also at the Auto Museum (which a cousin visiting from England this past weekend observed was a very unusual place), the massive organ in the Cathedral of St. Paul in Minnesota and a sunset over the waters of Lake Michigan.

From there we move on to a plane flying over a boat at the Air & Water Show in Chicago, a funny sign in McGovern Centennial Gardens in Houston, Texas and some remarkable sewing on display at a quilt show in Columbus, Indiana.

Next we have two street performers in Chicago one of which has a musical instrument, and a clown with an expressive face.

Lastly, a man on a bike who was competing in a marathon race among the mountains of Utah, a dog all dressed up for Christmas, a cold drink and ice cream on a hot day and a blacksmith with a hammer and bucket at the Wade House Historic Site in Greenbush, Wisconsin.  Thanks, Tina! That was fun! I’m definitely in favor of doing this challenge again on a regular basis.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Capital

This week, guest host Viveka has given us the topic Capital for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge.  We have visited a few State Capitals on our travels around the US so here is my take on the subject.  Living in Illinois as we do, Springfield would be the obvious place to start.

Madison, is about the halfway point between our house and where our daughter and her family live in Wisconsin, so we sometimes meet there to visit places like Olbrich Botanic Gardens and the Capital Building.

We have family living in Indiana so a trip to Indianapolis is usually one of our destinations. Just my luck, one of the sharpest pictures I ever took was one of the steam plant, which is the only reason I include it here. Also pictured, The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, White River Gardens and a fountain at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

A recent visit to St. Paul, Minnesota resulted in some pictures of the Capital Building, the Cathedral of St. Paul, and the Conservatory at Como Park Zoo.

Our youngest daughter and her husband lived in Salt Lake City, Utah for a brief period so we spent a week there taking in the sights which included the Capital Building, Temple Square and the College of Pharmacy.

Our visit to Cheyenne, Wyoming was only a short one as we were on our way to Utah, but we stopped long enough to visit the Capital Building.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Seeing Red In Chicago

This week, Patti has asked us to Find Something Red for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. I can’t wait for the weather to warm up so I can take a leisurely stroll around downtown Chicago with the camera.