Chris, my son, needed a portrait taken for his new job.
After a wonderful taste-testing party at the kitchen of their caterer for the upcoming wedding, we went to Washington Park for a short shoot.
This is the best portrait I have of Chris.
I love the look of his eyes, and the slight smile.
On my Flickr pages there are more photos from the shoot.
On my way to pick up my bride, Karen, after work. I spied this statue out of the corner of my eye as I whipped on down the road.
I made a circle of the street blocks and came back to explore it, photographically.
It is a depiction of what appears to be Lady Liberty, with a U.S. Marine soldier and sailor. At the base of the statue, the phrase “Remember the Maine” is etched in granite.
This is a link to the Wikipedia article on the Spanish-American War of 1898.
From my reading, it is probable that the battleship Maine was not sunk due to an attack, but by an unfortunate accident.
The green patina of bronze adds much character to this dominating depiction by the side of the street.
That’s what caught my eye.
I’ve driven past this monument probably hundreds if not thousands of times, without noticing the detail, such as the rope in the sailor’s hand.
There are two other images of this statue, from other angles, which are found at my Flickr home.
Different views of the everyday, which, upon reflection, develop a beauty to the eye.
As for statues or monuments to those people who died in wars, I hope one day, that they are ancient historical artifacts, rare markers of a distant, violent past.
Sr. Francis Mary O.P. - My choir director.
I was at choir practice tonight, preparing for Sunday and Easter. Chrisy, the Flautist and SFM, were practicing a Mozart piece before the beginning of practice, while folks were gathering.
I couldn’t pass the opportunity to take some action shots of them
I missed getting a good photo of the two of them, so I captured them separately. Only one picture of the day though.
We have so much fun at practice. Some time too much fun!
Sr. Francis Mary keeps us in line, with gentle reminders that we only have so much time, and so much music to go over. We listen, usually. 
When we put our best efforts together, we sound wonderful. Practice does make perfect (not that we’re perfect, just better when we practice).
I love playing the guitar and singing with this group of friends.
After a meeting, the sky greeted me with it’s brilliant beauty.
This is a photo that I just snapped away to see what the settings would capture, with no real composition in mind.
One I would have deleted as not worth it.
I noted the cobalt blue sky and made the decision to hold on to it until I could pixel peep it on my monitor at home.
Good thing, that hesitation and decision to save.
The combination of the yellow brick, the sodium-based lights with their signature copper coloring of the surroundings, against that sky!
Bonus - the reflection of the lighter blue/pink sky in the side-mirror of my car.
Majestic beauty for my eyes.
A feast of color.
Downtown Springfield, Illinois, USA
A set of statues, depicting the family of President Abraham Lincoln, prior to his being elected President in 1860.
The only home he ever owned is restored to life here in Springfield. Much of the travel and tourism industry revolves around Lincoln, his days as a State Legislator, County Lawyer, and erstwhile candidate for political office (he failed at several elections prior to his election to the Presidency).
This is the back of a set of statues of Abe, his wife Mary Todd, and one of their sons (I cannot recall which at this time). There’s another statue of an older Lincoln child a few steps further, to which the young son is waving.
The scene is right outside of Mr. Lincoln’s law office which he shared with his partner William Herndon. The bricks to the left are the corner of that office.
I take it for granted, living in the same town as Lincoln did. He’s also buried her in a grand tomb.
I’ve not traveled much, but I wonder if it’s the same familiarity which a native of Rome, or Paris, or Singapore, or Cairo feels to walk the same path that others in history have.
I stare in wonder at the new, I glaze over the familiar.
Somehow, looking through my camera lens, has given me new perspective to see the old familiar as new - when I take time to see.
The very top of our Illinois State Capitol Building.
I would not want to be the one to raise and lower these flags.
405 feet (123 meters) up in the sky. (See this site for more info: www.ilstatehouse.com/ )
Makes my palms sweat just thinking about it.
I took an alternate route home in search of today’s photo.
While stopped at a traffic light, I saw this to my left.
Of course, the camera was in my right hand at the ready.
3 quick snaps and this is the result.
A view of someone’s frightfully high duties.
Dipping into the files, I played with this one.
Gave it the cinematic crop, some textures and here you go.
Grainy.
Speaks to me about the drive at night. The road illuminated, the tail-lights ahead, the stripes leading the way.
Never be afraid to experiment. Every moment had magic within it!