The Green Light
Dappled light peeks through the surrounding trees, highlighting the native plants.
Photo captured at Bliss Woods in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
The Rainbow Forest
Enter the Rainbow Forest, where hopes and dreams survive.
Mates for Life
Canada geese are monogamous, staying together their entire lives.
Photo taken at Lake Loon in Yorkville, Illinois.
Dance to the Sun
The sunflower — lover of light — begins its inexorable dance to the sun.
Extra Innings
The baseball rests gingerly on the pitcher’s mound, awaiting the emergence of today’s unknown hero.
The Prairie Path
Queen Anne’s Lace decorates the afternoon prairie path.
Photo taken at Peck Farm in Geneva, Illinois.
Man’s Best Friend
Find your friend.
One Language
The eyes have one language everywhere.
~ George Herbert
No Exit
Morning shadows crisscross the beautiful grounds and signal a new day, save for the inhabitants.
Photo taken at historic Oak Mound Cemetery in Somonauk, Illinois.
Embracing the Blues
Blue sky and water make for a perfect sail on sparkling Lake Michigan.
Photo taken in Chicago.
On the Besançon Streets
I spent my junior year in college in Besançon, France. Although an interest in photography was still years away, I was able to capture this timeless street scene: a nun crossing the narrow street to greet a friend.
While grainy, there are several elements of the photo that I like — the elevation of the narrow road, the cobbled sidewalk, the parked vehicles, the Jura mountains looming in the background, and the mystery of the habited nun greeting an unknown friend.
Photo taken on Rue de la Vieille Monnaie, circa 1980.
Sunset in the Country
The sun gently descends along the rolling fenceline, announcing an end to the rural day.
Photo taken near Sugar Grove, Illinois.
In Glorious Enthusiasm
A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.
~ John Muir
Dog Sitting 101
Dog Sitting Rules:
1. Provide for the health, safety, companionship, and general needs of your temporary friend.
2. Enjoy the experience.
3. Whenever possible, get a photo op.
Photo of Katy, a family friend, enjoying the afternoon sun.
Higher Plane of Existence
Graceful and free in flight, the seagull conjures memories of Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
Piano Hands
“If I’m going to Hell, I’m going there playing the piano.”
~ Jerry Lee Lewis
The Stylish Workers
In preparation for the expected sun worshipers, two stylish workers clean the beach in the morning hours.
Photo taken in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
A Free Spirit
Hair blowing in the wind, she exudes the wonderful qualities of a two year old — curiosity, adventure, and living in the present.
Photo of my niece.
Corpus Christi Bay
Taken in 2005 on a cold, blustery January afternoon in Corpus Christi, Texas, I have always enjoyed the mood and potential stories of this photo — the beautiful tones of the sky signifying an impending end to the day, the infinite ocean, and the solitude of the woman in the colorful red jacket seemingly pondering her existence and significance in this vast world.
Choices to Make
An age old dilemma. Enjoy your wine selection…
A Magical Confluence
When birch and willow trees meet water, the result is magical.
Photo captured at Mayslake in Oak Brook, Illinois.
The Serpentine Path
A thick patch of fog envelopes the curvy path in the early morning hours.
Photo taken in Aurora, Illinois.
Field of Dreams
The four-way intersection of trees, dreams, color, and abstraction.
Painting the Past
A mural on the exterior wall of the Northside Diner in Chesterton, Indiana highlights celebrities from the 1950s and 1960s, including James Dean, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Buddy Holly, John Wayne, Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn.
Artist: Ramon Sydni
Played by the Rain
Rain gracefully cascades from the hood of the wind chimes, creating its own special tune.
The Eternal Road
The beauty and desolation of the unending rural road.
Life’s Twists and Turns
Life is never straight and easy.
Photo taken in New Buffalo, Michigan.
Deep in the Forest
When you are deepest in the forest, light shall emerge.
Photo taken at Bliss Woods in Sugar Grove, Illinois and painted in Corel.
Wine & Music
Wine & Music — a sensory and auditory feast.
Small Town Ambience
Consume a cone, cut, and cocktail in small town America.
Photo taken in Chesterton, Indiana.
Colors of Solitude
Isolated, ostracized, and alone on the street, the man enjoys a smoke while absorbing the colors of his surroundings.
Photo captured in Chesterton, Indiana.
Window Shopping
The feline sits inside the store, gaze fixated on the outside world.
Photo taken in Sycamore, Illinois and processed in Corel.
Trapped on the Street
One requires an uncanny faith when faced with the absurdity of walking the urban jungle.
Photo taken in Chicago.
The Outsider
In a protected state under hat, she surveys the sun’s warm rays, while avoiding direct participation.
Fabric of Our Freedom
The beauty of a democracy is that we retain a unique voice — a voice to express, acquiesce, or protest. The winds of time may shift and skies may threaten, but the fabric of our freedom will not yield, withstanding any tumult while growing stronger and more vibrant with each passing storm.
Eye of the Percheron
A portrait of a beautiful Percheron work horse at Kline Creek Farm.
A Stroll Through Time
Cross the bridge and step into the 1890’s, where beauty and tranquility meet.
Photo taken at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago, Illinois.
The Fountain of Youth
On a hot afternoon, a young child rejuvenates in the cool waters of the fountain.
Photo captured at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois.
Proud American Barn
In honor of Memorial Day — a uniquely American barn located in DeKalb County, Illinois.
Nature’s Palette
The varying colors of the morning sky and shapes of the clouds never cease to amaze, creating a natural palette of light, color, and beauty.
Pushing Up Daisies
A lovely field of daisies frames a distant gazebo on a summer afternoon.
We Are One
One world, one set of eyes.
Artist: Bridget Gaynor
The White Chapeau
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,
places to play in
and pray in,
where nature may heal
and give strength to body and soul.”
~ John Muir
Robin’s Hood
The robin sits atop the bridge, absorbing the sights of the neighborhood.
The Home of Faded Dreams
Dare to stay at the Hotel Plaza where vacancies abound and colorful dreams fade into the night.
Floating with Matisse
A reconstruction of Matisse’s famous Icarus image.
Artist: Bridget Gaynor
One Among Many
The lone poppy stands proudly against a field of many.
Photo taken at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois and softened in Corel.
Convergent Forms
Beautiful forms — flora and female — converge in the gardens at Cantigny Park.
Changing Faces
Various incarnations of the female visage.
Artist: Bridget Gaynor
Hard Times
As the snow begins to flurry, a man waits on the desolate street with his belongings nearby.
Popular Images
Brian Gaynor Photography 