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.

Freeport Fanlight

Another entry for Becky’s January Light Square Photo Challenge.  This image was captured at the Stephenson County Historical Museum in Freeport, Illinois.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Silhouettes

This week, Patti has chosen Silhouettes as the subject for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. I should probably state at the outset that I don’t think I’ve ever taken a picture of something or someone specifically as a silhouette. They’ve just turned out that way, either due to my woeful inability to manually set the camera to cope with the stark contrasts of light and shade or the failure of my camera’s auto mode to do the same. The following ‘silhouettes’ were captured, however inadvertently, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Volkening Heritage Farm at Spring Valley, Old World Wisconsin and the Stephenson County Historical Museum in Freeport, Illinois.

 

 

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Volo Auto Museum

Included in the topics for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week, Auto fitted in very nicely with a post that I had already prepared on a trip we did to Volo Auto Museum recently. Next to baseball, one of our grandson’s favorite things is cars (the Matchbox variety) so we thought he would enjoy this family-friendly museum in Volo.

One of the things that make this museum so interesting is that many of the cars on display are actually for sale. I remember once taking our older grandsons for a visit here and listening to the two of them planning how they could scrape enough money together to buy one.  It’s good to dream big!

Of course, what makes many of these autos special is the fact that they have appeared in the movies or have been owned by famous celebrities.

I have to admit, I’m not a great auto expert as evidenced by the fact that on several occasions I’ve tried to climb into someone else’s car mistaking it for mine. Perhaps if I had one like the one above I wouldn’t get so confused. However, like many of my sex, I can’t resist the lure of a bit of sparkle and shine even if it is only the engine of a fantastically expensive motor car.

 

 

They’ve added a lot to the museum in the last few years, making it much more appealing to younger children, with many larger-than-life characters from the movies and a nice outdoor play area. They’ve also added several new collections such as vintage pedal cars, bikes, scooters, snow mobiles, amusement rides and jukeboxes.

With all this, a huge antiques mall and more importantly somewhere to grab some lunch, Volo makes a great day out and one that youngest grandson thoroughly enjoyed.

For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to Week 4 Photo

June Squares – Roofs 2

My second entry for Becky’s June Squares is the distinctive roof at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin.

For more on June Squares go to The Lost Roof

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Waving the Flag

This week, the flags are flying for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge.  The first three images were captured in Chicago, one at the Tall Ships Festival at Navy Pier and two at Wrigley Field.

Next we travel up to the Maritime Museum at Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin.

A little closer to home, flags add a festive air to the carnival at Melas Park in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

Two events in Skokie, where flags of many nations are prominently displayed. The first at Skokie North Shore Sculpture Park and the second at The Skokie Festival of Cultures.

For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to Flags or Banners

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge – Through a Window

This week, Cee is asking us to look through a window for her Black & White Photo Challenge. The following pictures were taken on our recent visit to Milwaukee, the first two at the Milwuakee Art Museum.

Windows seemed to be the prevailing theme on this trip as evidenced by these two images captured at The Domes in Mitchell Park.

For more on Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge go to Through a Window

Weekly Photo Challenge – Story

Every city, town or village has a story to tell and Marion in southern Illinois is no exception. Whenever we visit somewhere that is new to us we like to explore and find out as much as we can about the place, not only about the present but also the past, and the best place to learn about the history of Marion is undoubtedly the Williamson County Historical Society Jail Museum and Library.  Every floor in this building is packed with interesting memorabilia and artifacts. The jail itself has a story of its own which can be seen here  in Jail Time

The past and present are defined by the mix of buildings in the Town Square vicinity, some of which date back to the early 1900’s.  While many of these buildings have been well-maintained, some, like the old offices of the Marion Daily Republican newspaper have fallen into disrepair.

The Marion Cultural and Civic Center has undergone extensive renovations but I was happy to see that they had preserved the old entryway inside the new lobby.

This memorial in the Town Square tells another story about the terrible destruction that Marion suffered during a tornado, one of the largest in Illinois history, that touched down in 1982, killing ten people and causing close to $100 million in damages.

It’s interesting to see the different styles of architecture in this city of some 17,800 inhabitants, from the stark lines of the First Baptist Church to the more ornate exterior of the Carnegie Library and even a touch of whimsy as evidenced by a mural painted on the side wall of a local artist co-op that tells its own story.

For more on The Weekly Photo Challenge at The Daily Post go to Story

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Treasures of the Lizzadro

Cee has reached the final letter in her ‘alphabet with a twist’ segment of the Fun Foto Challenge and I had no problem coming up with a subject for the letter z.

The wonderful thing about the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Elmhurst, Illinois, is that it combines the beauty and splendor of nature with the skill and craftsmanship of artisans who have created some of the most breathtaking pieces of artwork that you will ever see.  Here are just a few of the treasures that you will see if you visit the Lizzadro.

A turquoise carving donated from the collection of Cheng Kong Man Ying.

The Lohan, Buddhist monks carved in ivory.  Although I deplore the use of ivory, the incredible skill with which these figurines are carved cannot be denied.

An Italian cameo is delicately worked onto a helmet shell.

A bracelet set with 288 sapphires and 45 diamonds in white gold,  a ruby and diamond bracelet set in platinum by Tiffany & Co made in 1928 and a seed pearl parure by Bailey & Co made in 1850.

This Chinese figurine, one of a pair, is made of rose quartz.

Beautiful little snuff bottles, intricately carved on ivory, agate, porcelain and other natural materials.

A gorgeous Chines figurine carved in jadeite.

Two impressive Chinese spinach green vases carved in nephrite.

Detail from an Italian statuette of Henry IV, King of France carved in ivory and set with gemstones.

Two exquisite Japanese pieces carved in ivory.

Two skulls made of carved and polished stone from the “Faces of Eternity” exhibit at the Lizzadro.

For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Letter Z anywhere in the word or people or animals catching some Zzz’s