Finally!

For about 5 years now, I've envisioned shooting a majestic photo featuring a local church in the shadow of an ominous growing storm system. That church is Calvary United Methodist church in Normal, IL, which is located about a mile from my house.

Last week, as Michele and I were leaving the house to eat at a local Chipotle, I spotted an incredible storm system growing to the North of us. Without hesitation, I turned the car around, drove home to get my camera, and detoured for the church parking lot.

Michele was hungry, and at this point not too happy, but the photographer in me was on a mission, and nothing was going to stop me from photographing this:

2016 Sweet Corn Blues Festival

It's that time of year again when Uptown Normal proudly features its annual Sweet Corn Blues Festival. This year we took a pass on the sweet corn, as we just weren't feeling it. Instead, we headed over to The Rock restaurant and feasted on gyros, Then we ventured out and listened to some blues from the stage at the roundabout:

With food in our bellies and smiles on our faces we wandered home knowing that this adventure was definitely worth our time.

Racquetball!

My good friend Jonathan and I get together three times a week to play racquetball. About a week ago, Jonathan thought it might be neat to put his camera on a tripod outside the huge window on one side of the court and have it take pictures automatically while we played. This is a sampling of what we ended up with:

Not pretty by any measurable standard, but kind of interesting, assuming that two old guys playing racquetball can be considered interesting.

Nick's Back at College

We spent this past weekend moving Nick into his new apartment at Missouri State. Naturally, I took the opportunity to take lots of photos with a wide angle lens that a friend is letting me play with:

Wishing Nick all the best as he continues his college adventure.

Monarch Butterfly

I ventured out again today, camera in hand, hoping for a stunning shot of something. I saw numerous monarch butterflies flying about, but only one landed close enough to me to get a clear shot:

More nature to come as I continue my trek into the world of the very small.

A few More Photos of the Bee and the Flower

It's a Small World

Today I set out to photograph a bumblebee pollinating a plant, and this is what I ended up with:

Keep in mind as you look at this photo that it is just 1 of over 200 attempts.

Family Photo

With the end of the summer closing in fast, I decided it was time to get a photo that includes the whole family:

May not get another opportunity for a photo like this until Christmas.

Congratulations Kirsten and Kyle!

Today, our good friend Kirsten married Kyle, her high school sweetheart:

A beautiful couple with a beautiful future. Congratulations you two love birds!

Dolly is a Doll

Dolly is a rare beauty, even when she's sleeping: