More spring exploration #hikingwithdogs #springephemerals #wildflowers #kanecountyforestpreserve #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinois
Friday Morning in O'Hara Woods Featuring... 1. The largest population of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) I've ever seen! 2. A Male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 3. A Carex species, not sure which one. 4. And Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) #illinoisnativeplants #nativeplantid #illinoisnaturepreserve #springephemeral #ecology #ecologicalrestoration #ecologist #willcountyillinois #theconservationfoundation @tcfheron
#forestpreservesofcookcounty #intothewoods #forestpreschool #naturelovers #illinoisnaturepreserve
Lost their home. The Bartlett bald eagle nest collapsed on April 3rd. I was there at 7:40 p.m. that night and it looked like the adults were circling the nest tree. On April 4th I was there with representatives from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. No eaglets were located. The adults did not appear to incubate eggs long enough this year to have any young. In 2015 they fledged one eaglet. The original nest tree was destroyed in a July 2017 storm. They rebuilt the nest and fledged two eaglets in both 2022 and 2023. Hopefully they will rebuild again. #baldeagle #illinoiswildlife #illinoiswildlifephotography #baldeaglephotography #naturephotography #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturephotography #illinoisnaturepreserve #natureloveschicago
Great horned owls #greathornedowl #greathornedowlsofinstagram #owlsofillinois #owlphotography #wildlifephotography #illinoiswildlife #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisbirds #natureloveschicago #illinoiswildlifephotography #owlstagram_feature
Missed. Bald eagle goes after hooded mergansers but they saw it coming and dived. #baldeagle #illinoiswildlife #illinoiswildlifephotography #baldeaglephotography #naturephotography #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturephotography #illinoisnaturepreserve #natureloveschicago
Head in a hole. Eastern gray squirrel looks out the door. #easterngraysquirrel #squirrelphotography #kanecountywildlife #kanecountyforestpreserve #illinoiswildlife #illinoisnature #illinoiswildlifephotography #yourshotphotographer #illinoisnaturepreserve
White-tailed deer near sunset #whitetaileddeer #deerofinstagram #wildlifephotography #illinoiswildlife #illinoiswildlifephotography #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturelovers #illinoisnaturephotography #natureloveschicago #illinoisdeer #illinoisnaturepreserve
Trumpeter swans in Harrier Lake #swans #swanphotography #trumpeterswansofinstagram #birdphotography #dupagecountywildlife #dupagecountyforestpreserve #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoiswildlife
Possibly the nicest little tufts of moss I've found this season. And a whole lot of other nice nature. I sure do love a leafless forest in a misty morning. Barrick Oaks Homestead Preserve, Byron IL #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinois #nature #moss #getoutside
Unfortunate eastern cottontail falls victim to a red-tailed hawk #redtailedhawk #raptors #illinoisbirds #kanecountywildlife #kanecountyforestpreserve #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoiswildlife #illinoisnature #illinoisphotographer #illinoiswildlifephotography #yourshotphotographer
O'HARA WOODS-AUTUMN-231027-0010: At O'Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois, tumbling maple leaves were captured by a long-fallen tree before they reached the golden carpet. Limited edition prints are available for purchase. Please contact for details. And you can find many prints on my website: https://www.chicagonature.com/product-category/print/nature/ #chicagophotography #chicagowoodland #woodland #romeovilleillinois #o'harawoodsnaturepreserve #o'harawoods #wildgeranium #geranium #falsesolomonsseal #woods #trees #forest #chicagowilderness #chicagonature #naturephotography #landscapephotography #illlinoisnature #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisdepartmentofnaturalresources #willcountyforestpreserves #willcounty #mapleleaves #maples #mapletrees #goldenleaves #autumn #fall #autumnleaves #fallleaves #autumnwoodland
Three little owlets #greathornedowl #greathornedowlsofinstagram #owlsofillinois #owlphotography #wildlifephotography #illinoiswildlife #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisbirds #natureloveschicago #dupagecountywildlife #illinoisnature
Great horned owl & owlets #greathornedowl #greathornedowlsofinstagram #owlsofillinois #owlphotography #wildlifephotography #illinoiswildlife #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisbirds #natureloveschicago #dupagecountywildlife #illinoisnature
Trumpeter swans #swans #swanphotography #trumpeterswansofinstagram #birdphotography #dupagecountywildlife #dupagecountyforestpreserve #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoiswildlife
Saturday, February 10 - @peregrinesilnature returned, sharing their strength and smiles as we opened up the savanna to more sunlight! It was a spectacular workday. Join in this Saturday, February 17, from 9am-12pm. Meet at the Nature Center. Wear waterproof boots if you have them, and a snack to share if you'd like! Please RSVP at the link in our bio, even if you're a "maybe"! It helps us plan for tools and snacks. #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #nature #Illinoisnature #IllinoisBeachStatePark #volunteer #biodiversity #savanna #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject #volunteering
February sunset #sunset #sunsetphotography #skyphotography #illinoisskies #illinoisnaturepreserve #kanecountyforestpreserve #naturephotography #naturephotographer #kanecountyphotographer
Who's there? Eastern gray squirrel answers the door of its tree house. #easterngraysquirrel #squirrelphotography #kanecountywildlife #kanecountyforestpreserve #illinoiswildlife #illinoisnature #illinoiswildlifephotography #yourshotphotographer #illinoisnaturepreserve
Both Waukegan juniper and the day's final rays light weave their way through the sand dunes at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Illinois. Limited edition prints are available for purchase. Please contact for details. And you can find many prints on my website: https://www.chicagonature.com/product-category/print/nature/ #chicagophotography #illinoisphotography #ZionIllinois #illinoisnature #prairie #sandprairie #prairiephotography #fineartphotography #IllinoisBeachStatePark #illinoisdepartmentofnaturalresources #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturepreservescommission #illinoisprairie #dunegrass #trailingjuniper #Waukeganjuniper #sanddunes #dunes #landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography
An evening fog cloaks dunes and sand prairie at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois. Limited edition prints are available for purchase. Please contact for details. And you can find many prints on my website: https://www.chicagonature.com/product-category/print/nature/ #chicagophotography #illinoisphotography #ZionIllinois #illinoisnature #prairie #sandprairie #prairiephotography #fineartphotography #IllinoisBeachStatePark #illinoisdepartmentofnaturalresources #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturepreservescommission #illinoisprairie #dunegrass #trailingjuniper #Waukeganjuniper #fog #mist #foggy #misty #sanddunes #dunes #landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography
Just out of reach. Coyote can't get to the mallard ducks in Brewster Creek. #coyote #naturephotography #naturephotographer #illinoiswildlife #illinoiswildlifephotographer #illinoisnature #illinoisoutdoors #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisstateparks
Northern Mockingbird, the master mimic. It can imitate many other bird calls. #northernmockingbird #mockingbirdphotography #illinoisbirds #birdphotography #dupagecountywildlife #illinoiswildlife #illinoiswildlifephotography #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturepreserve
Throwback to our beautiful New Years bonfire last month! It was so incredible to see so many people! #nature #conservation #conservationist #wildlifeconservation #naturelovers #conservationbiology #conservationeducation #conservationmatters #restoration #sommepreserves #sommewoods #volunteering #volunteer #volunteers #volunteerwork #plants #northbrook #chicagonature #forestservice #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturelovers
THE DEAD RIVER LIVES: Well, I did my below-zero photo shoot on Monday. It was one below, so it qualified. What's interesting about this scene is that it shows the Dead River flowing into Lake Michigan. This isn't a common occurrence, as its name comes from the fact that it doesn't seem to flow. But sometimes it does, breaking through the sandbar that separates it from the lake. Here, the water flows beneath a thin layer of ice and emerges around the bend. Photographic Information: Most of the time, the wind is my nemesis. But on this day, instead of fighting the wind, I went with it. The trick is to slow down the shutter speed to a point where the grass tops render as discernable and sweeping at the same time. (It helps to zoom in to see the effect.) Otherwise, you just see a confusing blurry mess leaving viewers to wonder what their looking at. #chicagophotography #illinoisphotography #ZionIllinois #illinoisnature #prairie #sandprairie #DeadRiver #prairiephotography #fineartphotography #IllinoisBeachStatePark #illinoisdepartmentofnaturalresources #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturepreservescommission #illinoisprairie #grasses #landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography #winterphotography #icephotography #lakemichigan #LakeMichiganBeach #greatlakes #greatlakes
Sunset on frozen Pickerel Lake #sunsetphotography #winterphotography #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturephotography #illinoisnaturepreserve #dupagecountyforestpreserve #naturephotography
It's Wildlife Wednesday! Today we celebrate the JDCF staff and volunteers who spread 12 bins worth of locally sourced prairie seed over 12 acres at the Rutherford Refuge at Twin Bridges Nature Preserve in Warren, IL. This was part one of a prairie restoration project that will provide habitat for native insects, birds, and other wildlife far into the future. We thank the Northwest Illinois Chapter of @theprairieenthusiasts for providing local seed from their seed-picking program. Funding for this project was provided by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. #prairierestoration #illinoisnaturepreserve #driftlessregion #galenacountry #landstewardship #usfws
We have big news to share! Our Lost Flora Fen on Raccoon Creek was approved as an Illinois Nature Preserve today by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission at their 246th Meeting. Thank you to staff of NLI and INPC for helping with this process and making it happen. Lost Flora Fen has many high quality natural features that helped make it qualify for this highest level of legal protection for a natural area in Illinois. Aerial photos by Curt Johnsen, Boardwalk photo by Jill Kennay. Get link to full news release in our bio. #illinoisnaturepreserve #lostflorafen #lostflorafenonraccooncreek #raccooncreek #illinois #landpreservation #landconservation
Saturday, January 20 - Four volunteers bundled up on this cold morning and got back to work on the dune! #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #nature #volunteer #IllinoisBeachStatePark #Illinoisnature #Illinoisnaturepreserve #biodiversity #dune #prairie #prairielove #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject
It’s Tuesday! Let’s go for a virtual hike on the prairie together(Link in bio). #winterstorm #prairiesnowfall #prairie #tallgrass #nativeplants #milkweed #hiking #januaryontheprairie #prairiepondwalk @lisleparks #dragonflylanding #belmontprairie #prairieremnant #illinoisnaturepreserve @downersgroveparks #tuesdayfeeling #prairiebloggers #writersofinstagram #tuesdaysinthetallgrass #naturegirl
January in Illinois #illinoiswinter #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturepreserve #winterphotography #illinoisnaturephotography #natureloveschicago #naturephotography #kanecountyforestpreserve #illinoisphotographer
Nature's recycling crew. Crimped gill fungus #fungus #fungusphotography #fungusamongus #illinoisnature #naturephotography #naturephoto #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturephotography #natureoutdoors
Can’t get enough. #naturephotography #prairie #winterprairie #illinoisprairie #illinoisnaturepreserve #winterseeds #winterwalk #favoritewalks #seeds #seedheads
The Sun will set at 4:30pm today. Progress! . . #enjoyillinois #illinois_shots #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturepreserve
Saturday, December 30 - Nine enthusiastic volunteers gathered on this last workday of 2023 to cut and burn brush! It started out frosty but the sun came shining through. 🌞 Happy New Year! We look forward to another year of taking good care of Illinois Beach. All are welcome to join our eco-restoration community! #ecologicalrestoration #ecorestoration #nature #Illinoisnature #biodiversity #IllinoisBeachStatePark #volunteer #Illinoisnaturepreserve #HappyNewYear #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject
Saturday, December 23 — a misty morning. Nine of us cut and burned a huge amount of brush to bring back light to our favorite prairie dune located in the newly-dedicated part of Illinois Beach Nature Preserve Join in! Next time out is Saturday December 30, 9:00 AM #ecologicalrestoration #ecorestoration #Illinoisnature #IllinoisBeachNaturePreserve #biodiversity #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisBeachStatePark #volunteer #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject
It was cold . . #illinois_shots #illinoisnaturepreserve #wintry #reflectiongram
Saturday, December 9 - six volunteers cleared and burned brush in a savanna swale! #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #nature #biodiversity #ZionIllinois #Illinoisnature #naturelove #IllinoisBeachStatePark #volunteer #volunteerspirit #Illinoisnaturepreserve #naturepreserve #Illinois #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject #ecology
Saturday, December 2 - seven volunteers cut and burned brush to restore the prairie dune! #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #nature #IllinoisBeachStatePark #prairie #dunesland #ZionIllinois #Illinoisnature #habitat #volunteer #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject
Girls' night out. White-tailed does at sunset. #whitetaileddeer #deerofinstagram #wildlifephotography #illinoiswildlife #illinoiswildlifephotography #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturelovers #illinoisnaturephotography #natureloveschicago #illinoisdeer #illinoisnaturepreserve
Sunset and moonrise #sunset #moonrise #skyphotography #illinoisskies #sunsetphotography #moonrisephotography #kanecountyforestpreserve #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturepreserve
SOMME much fun cutting brush at Somme Prairie! 🪵 Makin’ room for plenty of flowers 🌿 Coming up… Tuesday (tomorrow) at Somme Woods or Prairie Grove. Eriko will be hosting! Join us from 10-1 for brush cutting/burning (and maybe seed collecting too, if it’s not raining). Friday is brush cutting & burning with Sai (plus maybe a little seed collecting) 9-12 with potluck lunch at 12:00 around the fire. Bring food to share or just come; there’s usually plenty of food. Next Sunday the 26th, we have brush cutting and burning with Christos from 9-12 at Somme Woods! #nature #conservation #conservationist #wildlifeconservation #naturelovers #conservationbiology #conservationeducation #conservationmatters #restoration #sommepreserves #sommewoods #volunteering #volunteer #volunteers #volunteerwork #plants #northbrook #chicagonature #forestservice #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturelovers
Saturday, November 18 - 7 volunteers cut and burned brush, then took a walk to discuss future workday priorities. Our next workday is this Saturday, November 25, 9AM-12PM. @peregrinesilnature will be joining us! #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #nature #Illinoisnature #biodiversity #IllinoisBeachStatePark #volunteer #ZionIllinois #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject
The chilly season is here! You know what that means…Buckthorn burns at the Somme Woods site! Click the link in bio to get involved 🤗 #nature #conservation #conservationist #wildlifeconservation #naturelovers #conservationbiology #conservationeducation #conservationmatters #restoration #sommepreserves #sommewoods #volunteering #volunteer #volunteers #volunteerwork #plants #northbrook #chicagonature #forestservice #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturelovers
Saturday, November 11 - 10 volunteers went back to remove more brush from the prairie! It was a beautiful day. #ecorestoration #volunteer #ecologicalrestoration #nature #IllinoisBeachStatePark #ZionIllinois #Illinoisnature #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject #Illinoisnaturepreserve
A Fall walk #easternbluebird #redbelliedwoodpecker #yellowrumpedwarbler #blackcappedchickadee #americangoldfinch #birdsofinstagram #wild_illinois #wildlife #wildlifephotography #illinoisnaturepreserve
🍂🍁☀ #hikeillinois #illinoisnaturepreserve #naturepreserve #hikingtrails #hiking #hikingadventures #nature #explore #adventure #outdoors #hike #naturephotography #photography #naturelovers #explorepage #exploremore #outdoorphotography #sunset #leavenotrace #lnt #enjoyyourworld #optoutside #getoutside #findyourpark #illinois
November sunset #sunset #sunsetphotography #illinoisskies #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturephotography #illinoisnaturepreserve #dupagecountyforestpreserve #naturephotography #skyphotography
Fall colors late in the day #fallcolors #fallfoliage #autumnleaves #naturephotography #illinoisfall #illinoisautumn #natureloveschicago #autumn #illinoisnature #autumnvibes #illinoisnaturepreserve
Saturday, October 28 - Another great workday cutting and burning autumn olive! As the weather grows colder, it feels good to warm up near the burning brush piles. Come join us on Saturdays, 9am-12pm! #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #Illinoisnature #nature #volunteer #IllinoisBeachStatePark #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisBeachNaturePreserve #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject #ZionIllinois
Fall color #fallcolors #fallfoliage #autumnleaves #naturephotography #illinoisfall #illinoisautumn #natureloveschicago #autumn #illinoisnature #autumnvibes #illinoisnaturepreserve
Fall color #fallcolors #fallfoliage #autumnleaves #naturephotography #illinoisfall #illinoisautumn #natureloveschicago #autumn #illinoisnature #autumnvibes #illinoisnaturepreserve
Saturday, October 21 - six volunteers cut and burned autumn olive and treated crown vetch! Join us on Saturdays 9am-12pm to help take good care of this special place. #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #volunteer #IllinoisBeachStatePark #Illinoisnature #nature #IllinoisBeachNaturePreserve #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject
Diversity thrives in unexpected places! 🌸🐦 In Chicago’s urban green spaces, you'll find a mosaic of life—colorful birds, buzzing pollinators, and resilient native plants. These spaces are hubs of biodiversity, contributing to a healthier, more balanced urban ecosystem. Join us in celebrating the marvels of city wildlife. Photo credit : Federal park reserves Illinois #UrbanBiodiversity #CityEcosystems #wildcitylife #chicagowilderness #natureloveschicago #illinoisnaturepreserve
Recently I had the pleasure of visiting the Philip Juras exhibit. What amazing paintings of beautiful Illinois nature preserve prairies—brought to life by his gorgeous details, colors, and lighting. Here is a pretty closeup, but most of his others were more broad landscapes—all interesting, realistic, and he captured the essence of these areas. So glad I could visit before his exhibit leaves next week. #philipjuras #illinoisnaturepreserve #prairiestate #tallgrassprairie #prairie #illinoisstatemuseumlockport #illinoisstatemuseum
October at Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve, Loves Park, IL. #prairies #lovesparkil #remnantprairie #illinoisnaturepreserve #harlemhillsnaturepreserve #prairieskies #cellphotography #octoberontheprairie #naturegirl
It’s Tuesday! Let’s go for a virtual hike on the prairie together (link in bio). #uwmadisonarboretum #harlemhillsnaturepreserve #prairieremnant #prairiestewardsoninstagram #prairiestewards #naturephotography #naturewriters #prairiebloggers #hikingadventures #illinoisnativeplants #wisconsinnativeplants #tuesdaysinthetallgrass #illinoisnaturepreserve #naturegirl
Beautiful day for SOMME seed picking at the Somme Woods site! Our volunteers collected lots of Cream Gentian, Indian Grass, Sky Blue Asters (+many more) seeds! #nature #conservation #conservationist #wildlifeconservation #naturelovers #conservationbiology #conservationeducation #conservationmatters #restoration #sommepreserves #sommewoods #volunteering #volunteer #volunteers #volunteerwork #plants #northbrook #chicagonature #forestservice #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturelovers
October sunset #sunset #sunsetphotography #illinoisskies #illinoisnature #illinoisnaturephotography #illinoisnaturepreserve #dupagecountyforestpreserve #naturephotography #skyphotography
#nature #fall #midwest #illinoisnaturepreserve
#36/40 Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve (Loves Park,IL). One of my absolute favorites in our “40 for the 40th” anniversary adventures. Wow. One of Illinois’ finest examples of dry-mesic gravel hill prairies, right in the middle of suburbia. We’ll be back! #prairieremnant #illinoisnaturepreserve #georgefell #lovesparkil #prairiestewardsoninstagram #tallgrass #prairie #nativeplantsofillinois #40thanniversary #naturegirl
It was a beautiful Thursday morning as three volunteers sprayed a big patch of crown vetch in the savanna! Join us this Saturday morning at 9am to help care for this precious place. #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #Illinoisnature #volunteer #nature #IllinoisBeachNaturePreserve #IllinoisBeachStatePark #ZionIllinois #Illinois #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject #LakeCountyIL #Illinoisnaturepreserve #volunteering #volunteerism
Hey there herbiciders — certified or licensed — we are needed to spray crown vetch, a major threat to biodiversity in the savanna. Join Ashley, Jerome and Eriko tomorrow morning, October 5th, to go back to some priority areas for follow-up spraying. Meet at the Illinois Beach nature center parking lot at 9am. Let us know if you plan to be there so we know how many backpacks to get ready. Bring water that you can have on you while carrying a backpack sprayer, and an energy bar in your pocket. #ecologicalrestoration #ecorestoration #nature #Illinoisnature #ZionIllinois #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisBeachStatePark #volunteer #volunteering #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject
Here are some more plants we saw when we went south of the Dead River to pull sweet clover this past Saturday, September 30. Prickly pear, smooth blue aster, hairy puccoon, downy yellow painted cup, and showy goldenrod. 🌿🌿🌿 #volunteer #ecorestoration #ecologicalrestoration #Illinoisnature #ZionIllinois #nature #botany #plants #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisBeachStatePark #IllinoisBeachNaturePreserve #fallplants #earlyfall #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject #autumndays
A gorgeous, productive morning collecting seed in the highest quality area of the nature preserve. #northbranchrestorationproject #fpdcc #sommepreserves #illinoisnaturepreserve
Saturday, September 30 at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve — six volunteers walked along the peaceful Lake Michigan shore to pull invasive sweet clover in a remote high-quality prairie. Join in to care for the rare ecosystem! We will meet every Saturday at the nature center at 9:00 for the time being. #ecologicalrestoration #ecorestoration #volunteer #Illinoisnature #nature #IllinoisBeachStatePark #IllinoisBeachNaturePreserve #Illinoisnaturepreserve #IllinoisDuneslandRestorationProject #ZionIllinois
WOW! A perfect prairie day!! Today the Somme team tackled some late season seed collecting! We were able to spot some beautiful Purple Fringe Gentian. Join us tomorrow for more seed collecting at the Somme Woods site! #nature #conservation #conservationist #wildlifeconservation #naturelovers #conservationbiology #conservationeducation #conservationmatters #restoration #sommepreserves #sommewoods #volunteering #volunteer #volunteers #volunteerwork #plants #northbrook #chicagonature #forestservice #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisnaturelovers
Dixie Briggs Fromm Nature Preserve is 150 acres of precious open space with rare wetlands, woodlands, sedge meadows and dry hill prairies. Rare prairie remnants exist on the site. Miles of mowed trails make it easy to enjoy. We saw a bit of it today but intend to visit next year and follow the self-guided trail map which points out some of the best features. The Preserve was full of all sorts of goldenrod and asters. We even saw stiff gentian which always thrills me. 💕 #wetlands #dryhillprairies #hillprairiesofillinois #illinoiswildflowers #illinoisnaturepreserve #goldenrods #asters #gention #tallboneset #monarch #pollinatorpathway #hikeillinois #conservation #openspace #butterflies #trails #dundeetownshipopenspace #algonquin #dixiebriggsfrommnaturepreserve #selfguidedtour #ecology #conservation #savetheprairie #rewildsuburbia #compassplant #newenglandaster #stiffgention #dogwood #collaboratetosavetheworld #prairieremnants
Landscape Photography Lesson: Photography the Relationship, Not the Individual Subject matter is important, but for an image to rise to the next level requires something more. Usually, it is the addition of atmosphere or light. But I've also learned that landscape photography is most interesting when relationships are celebrated, which can include a mix of different elements. More often than not, the story of a diverse community is richer and more interesting than a gathering of just one species. It is a performance where several actors offer their own unique colors and textures. In the case of the second image, the glowing leaves of compass plant steal the show. #fpdcc #fineartphotography #forestpreservedistrictofcookcounty #prairiephotography #chicagnature #shoefactoryroadprairienaturepreserve #shoefactoryroadprairie #hoffmanestates #chicagoprairie #illinoisprairie #illinoisnature #IllinoisNaturePreserve #compassplant #prairie #fog #mist #blazingstars #roughblazingstars
#Geranium blooms in early May at Raccoon Grove. #chicagophotography #chicagowoodland #woodland #moneeIllinois #raccoongrovenaturepreserve #raccoongrove #wildgeranium #geranium #falsesolomonsseal #woods #trees #forest #chicagowilderness #chicagonature #naturephotography #landscape photography #illlinoisnature #illinoisnaturepreserve #illinoisdepartmentofnaturalresources #willcountyforestpreserves #willcounty