Thomas Mangelsen Video

This one will bring a smile to your face.

Visit Thomas Mangelsen's website at: www.mangelsen.com

A weekend in Galena

Spent the weekend in the rolling hill country of historic Galena, Illinois. A quaint bed and breakfast provided comfortable lodging within walking distance to the many shops, restaurants, and historical attractions Galena has to offer. An enjoyable way to spend a weekend!

The innkeepers of the Avery House, B&B, were delightful hosts who made their guests feel at home. At breakfast, Leslie and Craig would tell humorous stories that set the tone for the day.

No visit to Galena would be complete without a tour of the historic "Grant Home". Below is a short clip of the tour.

Frank

A Vist to Chicago Botanical Gardens

Sunday, a group of us visted the Chicago Botanical Gardens in Glencoe, IL. If you're a garden lover, be sure to visit this botanical garden and stroll though its 375 acres of plants, ponds, and shops.

 

While at the gardens, we stopped to watch a chef's cooking show about how to make blueberry scones.

Her two daughters participated in the show and were quite entertaining.

If you listen close, you can hear her daughter ask if she should include the bag in the mix, as her mother

had instructed to add the "whole thing" in the mixing bowl.

 

Naperville Triathlon, August 2011

At the last minute, I decided to grab my camera and go to the triathlon.

The event was for men and women, a swim, bike, and run. It took place along Naperville's riverwalk; the swim at Centennial Beach, the bike and run along and around the riverwalk.  It began at 7:00 AM, with the first leg being the swim. I'd have to bet the water was COLD!

Apple's IPod

Never having used an Apple product of any kind, I finally gave in and bought an IPod Touch. In a word, impressive! I've had it about a week now and haven't put it down since I got it. I can see how people become so attached to their IPhones, IPods, IPads.

Although I have two Android tablets, they just don't seem to measure up to the IPod. Could be there's an IPad in my future!

Along the Riverwalk

Out and about this morning for a stroll along the riverwalk.














pictured: The Veteran's Memorial, Naperville Riverwalk

A Day at Starved Rock

pictured: a view of "Starved Rock", ... where the park's legend began.

more info here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starved_Rock_State_Park


On Monday, July 4th, took a drive out to Ottawa, IL and spent the day at Starved Rock state park. In a word, ... crowded, but that's to be expected on a holiday I guess.

The visit brought back some recent memories when a friend and I photographed its many canyons.

I'll return when the park is less crowded.

It's over :(

Another "Eyes To the Skies" festival has come to a close. While shooting conditions weren't ideal for the first two days, Sunday did provide a great day to finally get some shots of the balloons!

I was disappointed that the festival committee erected a six foot high chain link fence along the hill at the east side of the launch field, which made shooting from that position impossible. That area, on the hill, has long been a favorite place to shoot from for many photographers, myself included.

Now that the festival has come and gone, like the Cubs faithful refrain; "just wait 'till next year!"

Third time's a charm!

This, the third morning of my balloon launch vigil, I was rewarded for my perseverance. Not only did the balloons launch this morning, they did so in numbers I haven't seen in a few years. There were about twenty balloons on the field for launch.

I have more shots to process and will be posting them to my PBase gallery later in the day.
http://www.pbase.com/doneworkn/galleries

Have a safe and enjoyable 4th everyone!
Frank

Most viewed

                                                                                                                                   

This photo is one of the most viewed in my gallery of the weekend's balloon shots.

Link to my online galleries: http://www.pbase.com/doneworkn/galleries

Frank                                        

Eyes To the Skies - 2011

Pictured: A balloon crew struggles to control the balloon as it's being inflated in the windy conditions

The "Eye's To the Skies" festival is underway. I've been out every morning at five AM, hoping to catch some good shots of balloons in flight.

So far, the weather has been uncooperative, threatening skies, and too windy for the balloons to launch.

In that respect, photography is a lot like fishing, you never know what, if anything, you're going to "catch". I have better luck at photography than I do at fishing though!

With one day left, I'm hoping tomorrow morning will provide the window of opportunity for a launch.

Meanwhile, you can visit my gallery and view some photos of last year's Eyes To the Skies.

http://www.pbase.com/doneworkn/galleries

Frank