Art With Heart / Walnut Point State Park

Something I should have blogged about days ago but didn't for the simple fact that I have much on my plate lately is that tonight I will be participating in a local benefit called Art With Heart. It is an opportunity for artists and creative professionals to donate their wares so to be bid on via silent auction with 100% of the proceeds benefiting cancer patients and their families who are struggling financially. Without getting too personal other than to acknowledge that losing my parents to this disease has affected me greatly, I am donating a stack of matted photography prints to hopefully aid others who understand the hardship. Click the above link to learn more.

As for the second part of this blog, on Wednesday I took my nephew to Walnut Point State Park located in Douglas County IL. He is on break so it worked out perfectly in being able to visit a destination that is new for the both of us. Enjoyable as the outing was for having ideal weather, it also proved to be a good educational opportunity for him as well as I.

















Embarrass River


Got him hopping up...


and back down!






Leaving out


Heading back we stopped by Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area located SE of Sullivan IL which is another new one for us and a location we intend to explore again.

Lightning at Bloomington IL

A little after midnight or so, a cluster of robust storms fired along a boundary dropping through the region. At their closest pass over the city of Bloomington IL which is about an hour N of my location, I managed to pick out detail with the 300mm. Clear skies and a bright moon hovering to the S definitely helped the situation. To have been up in the next county and out in the country would have been ideal. Just like trying to finagle annoying power lines into an aesthetic composition, sometimes you just have to make due.

Cool Clouds

Interesting textures out ahead of showers lifting from the SW this morning.