the hygge chalet

A relaxing weekend away at this cute A-frame in Grant, Colorado!

Tracks from a friendly pheasant visitor

 Cute matching birdhouse

bring it on, winter

Captured this painterly-like shot crossing the river through the fluffy snow in River North early Sunday evening

winter beauty

wintertime.

New England winter has arrived!

snow people

I work with a creative bunch.

january nears an end

I'll give you one guess on how old this woman is...

Lil Schmarje, 96, talks to daughter Vicki Schmarje's second-grade class at Westwood Elementary School in Woodstock Wednesday morning. The elder Schmarje spoke on her 96th birthday about what life and school was like when she was a child, on the students' 96th day of school.
And eerily enough, I took 96 photos...

Tim McCormic carves ice into a groundhog outside of Two Tails Market/Eatery in Woodstock on Wednesday. McCormic, a chef, has carved ice since 1982 and was sculpting the rodent for the Chili Cook-off in Woodstock on Saturday.

From left to right, sophomores Johnny Robson, Christian Hughes, Zach Hellman and Nick Marvich listen to teacher Diane Dorn talk about making nylon in their honors chemistry class Tuesday morning.

Senior companions David Johnson, 70, left, and Oliver "Gil" Snyder, 83, both of Crystal Lake, chat at Snyder's home. The pair met through Senior Services Associates and meet once a week.

David Johnson, 70, left, and Oliver "Gil" Snyder, 83, enjoy talking about politics and history and their weekly meet-ups.

Children watch Huntley play McHenry in a Friday night match-up at Huntley High School.

a snowy tuesday

Here is a winter feature from last week.
Ice fisherman try their luck on Crystal Lake on Tuesday afternoon. In general, new ice is usually stronger than old ice, and four inches of clear, newly‑formed ice may support one person on foot.

merry christmas!

the tree is lit

I photographed the tree lighting ceremony at Daley Plaza Nov. 24, on a wet and chilly evening, with bad traffic making for a slow commute. After parking close to a red line stop I hopped on the El and made it down to Daley Plaza with 10 minutes to spare. I even got to photograph ANOTHER member of the Cusack clan! Joan Cusack introduced Mayor Daley for his last tree lighting ceremony as mayor. 

Fireworks explode in the sky downtown Chicago after the lighting of the Christmas tree from McHenry at Daley Plaza on Wednesday evening. Mayor Daley, actress Joan Cusack, and property owners John and Pat Colomer helped introduce the event.

Tree propery owners John and Pat Colomer of McHenry wait to light the tree as the After School Opera sings at the Christmas tree lighting at Daley Plaza in Chicago on Wednesday evening.

blue spruce in new home

The blue spruce from McHenry sits in its new home in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago where it arrived Friday night. The tree will be the centerpiece of a tree lighting ceremony on November 24. Watch a video of the tree chopping by Danielle Guerra here:
http://ssm.nwherald.com/northwest-herald/video/20101104McHenryChristmasTree/mchenry-christmas-tree/

norge ski jump

I shot a preview of the 105th annual Norge Ski Jump Tournament the other day. To get some different angles and the shots I wanted I climbed the 150 foot tall ski jump, which wavers in the wind and is not for those not friendly with heights. I also got stuck climbing down, but made it eventually carrying 3 cameras.

Watch my video here:
http://vimeo.com/10756285