Abstract Sailing Dreams
Sigmund Freud said that “dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy.”
This abstract piece incorporates the elements of waves, water, sailing, and distortion — a dream that might make Van Gogh and Freud proud.
The Single Sail
A solitary sailboat frames the rocks of Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois.
Red Barn Doors
The morning sun highlights the color, textures, and shapes of the old red barn.
Photo taken at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in Saint Charles, Illinois.
Rural Repose
The beautiful old barn and inviting picnic table offer a peaceful rural setting.
Photo taken at Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles, Illinois. Processing done in Corel.
Enter the Canopy
An inviting summer canopy of foliage found at Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva, Illinois.
Easy Rider
Dogs like the open air and freedom of the road, too.
A Peaceful Path
A summer walk in nature along the endless peaceful path. Photo taken at St. James Farm in Warrenville, Illinois.
The Old Man and the Lake
A day of fishing and tranquility are in store at the lake.
Photo taken at Lake Loon in Yorkville, Illinois and processed in Corel.
Old Main
Old Main at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, completed in 1857.
In 1858, Old Main was host to the fifth of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in their senatorial contest. It is the only extant site of those debates, and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
For a fascinating read detailing the architectural significance of Old Main, please see Prof. R. Lance Factor’s account in Chapel in the Sky: Knox College’s Old Main and Its Masonic Architect
Purple Prairie Plant
Beautiful purple wildflower found at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville, Illinois.
Backlit Buzz Cut
Couldn’t resist the urge to take a fun snap of a patron at the ball game, whose noggin and short red hair were perfectly lit by the sun.
Liberty For All
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
— Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861
Fun Day at the Beach
Maisy, enjoying her playtime on the sands of Lake Superior.
Puddle of Leaves
Autumn leaves glisten in the puddle of water.
The Sun Rises
The sun rises in this fractal artwork.
Horseshoe Seams
Weathered by generations of hands, bats, and unadulterated joy, the dimpled hide reflects a sense of time and character. Baseball is the roller coaster of life that teaches how to accept the good and bad, and if fortunate — like the horseshoe seams — receive an occasional lucky bounce along the way.
Psychedelic Eyes
Swirls of psychedelic eyes courtesy of Mandelbrot fractal art.
Peace, Love, and Grass
Throwback to the 1960s and 70s when peace, love, and grass were in abundance.
Tree Alley at St. James
Rows of trees line the woods around St. James Farm in Warrenville, Illinois.
Art of the Cow
Public art in New Glarus, Wisconsin.
Red Tulips
Red tulips fill the gardens at Phillips Park in Aurora, Illinois.
Wheel of Color
Fun with kaleidoscope digital art includes this transformation of stained glass into an artistic wheel of shapes, patterns and color.
Feeling the Blues
Feeling the blues on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, North Carolina.
Reflections on the Rock
Solitude on the rock – an opportunity to appreciate nature and ponder life.
Plant Hairs
From Wikipedia:
Trichomes (/ˈtraɪkoʊmz/ or /ˈtrɪkoʊmz/), from the Greek τρίχωμα (trikhōma) meaning “hair”, are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a plant is an indumentum, and the surface bearing them is said to be pubescent.
Hotel Higbee
Rendering of the Hotel Higbee in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The hotel opened in 1852 as the Dodgeville House and assumed its current name in 1895. Today, it is an apartment house.
Nature’s Oasis
Light and shadows paint the circular bridge at the Japanese Tea Garden. Taken at Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva, Illinois.
City at Twilight
The great skyline of Chicago, viewed from Navy Pier as twilight takes hold.
Portrait of a Friend
Maisy — expressive eyes, warm heart.
Distant Headlights
Distant headlights emerge from the foggy country road.
Fog Envelopes the Woods
Fog in the woods in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
The Master Lock
The old lock — offering both protection and beautiful patina.
Follow the Tracks
Animal tracks snake through the snow.
Photo taken at St. James Farm in Warrenville, Illinois.
Blue Skies Ahead
If you can traverse the obstacles, you will find blue skies.
Interrupting the Winter Whiteness
Maisy — enjoying and contrasting with the winter whites.
Sun, Clouds, and Winter Trees
Clouds roll across the bare trees on a January day in Chicago.
Light and Dark
Sun drenched plants light the path at Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva, Illinois.
Alone in the Field
Surrounded by fog and field, the tree stands alone in the early winter landscape.
Twin Tails
A tale of tails at St. James Farm in Warrenville, Illinois.
Mystical Nature
Trees, color, art, nature, and psychedelia form a mystical palette.
Catching Water
The simple pleasures of childhood.
City Reflections
The beautiful architectural skyline of Chicago, Illinois.
Full Flavor of Fall
The full flavor of fall color is on display at Bliss Woods in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
River of Fog
A foggy start to the day on the Au Train River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Big Bay Lighthouse
From Wikipedia:
The Big Bay Point Light is a lighthouse which stands on a tall bluff over a rocky point near Big Bay, Michigan, on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is the only operational lighthouse with a bed and breakfast, and is reputed to be haunted. The novel and movie Anatomy of a Murder were inspired by a murder rooted at the lighthouse.
Trees of Pictured Rocks
One of the many hiking trails at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan.
Processing with Corel.
Steps to Paradise
Gentle sand dunes beckon you down to the surf of Lake Superior.
Photo taken in Au Train, Michigan.
Day’s End
The moon rises and the sun sets over the river, capping an end of the day in Au Train, Michigan.
The Wind and the Wisps
Nature at its finest on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Whitecaps on Superior
Cold, rainy weather in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula contributed to the beautiful churn of whitecaps on Lake Superior.
Popular Images
Brian Gaynor Photography 