A Few From My Visit to Illinois

[Patti Edens]

I had to go out to one of our Pipeline Stations in Illinois Sunday through Wednesday and I was able to do some shooting when I arrived on Sunday and when I was finished working on Tuesday. It was way too cold for this southern Texas wimp. I brought all my warm clothes and still froze.

Here are some deer that were in a state park that I visited late Tuesday. The light was just beginning to fade away and a nice golden color. I didn't color correct any of the shots.



This buck was very skittish. I grabbed this shot and then I moved left a tad and squatted down some to get a clear shot without the branch. I got it all lined up perfectly and... he bolted. Rats.



This was a very curious doe. She just kept getting closer and closer to me.



These last three should probably be in other sections - landscape and city, but I didn't want to start any more threads, so let's just pretend there's wildlife in there somewhere.

This is in Vandalia, Illinois - where I was staying. It was founded in 1819 to be the capital of the new state of Illinois. In the foreground is a life-size bronze statue of Lincoln. He began his career as a state rep at the State Capitol in Vandalia from 1834 to 1839.



This one is Lake Carlyle, all frozen over. It was about 15F when I shot this one and my hands and feet were numb.



The moonrise was spectacular. But I was too cold to get out of the car again, so I just shot it out the window, hand-holding my 400 (no IS.) It isn't so good, but you get the idea. It was just a huge yellow ball.

[DigitalDiva]

Great shots Patti, I like the light on the first one and the background on the second.
When Barry and I went out on our first date (over 30 yrs ago) it was
minus 23, and we walked to the movies. Dare to guess what movie?

[Roy]

Good ones Patti! Really cool that your work can take you places for wildlife photography. This part of your post hits home as I expect it does for many others..."I got it all lined up perfectly and... he bolted"... Happens to me all the time.

[DigitalDiva]

Oh, I forgot to mention the moon picture reminded me I have some New Braunsfel smoked cheddar in the fridge, yummy!

[Glassman]

Patti, they all look good but the second one looks like it could be on a hunting magazine cover. I know you had fun.

[mjdmike]

Nice work Patti. Pretty light on the deer. And it does look cold!

[popawalker]

Glad you were able to get time away from work and get these shots. The third one looks like she wanted to pose for a portrait. Nice color moon.

[Patti Edens]

Originally Posted by DigitalDiva

Great shots Patti, I like the light on the first one and the background on the second.
When Barry and I went out on our first date (over 30 yrs ago) it was
minus 23, and we walked to the movies. Dare to guess what movie?

Hmmmm. Over 30 years ago. Randy and I went to a movie on our first date over 30 years ago. Over 35 years ago even. Ours was The Last Picture Show.

I'm gonna guess Old Yeller just because it's one of my favorites.

What was it?

[Patti Edens]

Originally Posted by Roy

Good ones Patti! Really cool that your work can take you places for wildlife photography. This part of your post hits home as I expect it does for many others..."I got it all lined up perfectly and... he bolted"... Happens to me all the time.

Thanks Roy. Yeah, most of the pipeline stations are in out of the way tiny little towns. Most people tell me how sorry they are that I don't get to go to San Fran or New York and have to go to Kalkaska, MI or Houma, LA instead. I'm just delighted to avoid the big cities and go to rural area backroads and parks.

Originally Posted by Glassman

Patti, they all look good but the second one looks like it could be on a hunting magazine cover. I know you had fun.

Oh my. That's some pretty high praise! Thanks Billy!

Mike and Steve, Thanks much. It was awfully cold, Mike. Steve, that doe just kept getting closer and then she stopped and stretched out her neck as if she were trying to see if I was going to give her some corn or something. I suspect people feed them. I don't know if it is legal in Illinois or not.

[jfoureyes]

Patti this is a fantastic series! All of us that live down here in this area don’t really know what “cold” is until we go up north in the winter. I use to do a lot of traveling to that part of the USA in the 70’ and 80’s in the winter time and it’s COLD!!! Those folks up there would give me the devil about being a thin blooded Texan. Of course it would all even out when one of them would have to come to Houston in August when it was 90 degrees and 90% humidity and I’d get to call them thick blooded Yankees and chuckle at them.

[TexasTrails]

Nice work

[DigitalDiva]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

Hmmmm. Over 30 years ago. Randy and I went to a movie on our first date over 30 years ago. Over 35 years ago even. Ours was The Last Picture Show.

I'm gonna guess Old Yeller just because it's one of my favorites.

What was it?

Oh God

[Patti Edens]

Originally Posted by DigitalDiva

Oh God

That was a funny movie! Funny is good for a first date. The Last Picture Show was not funny and was not good for a first date. Oh well, I guess it wasn't too bad.

Jonathan, Thanks!

Jim, Thanks for the kind words. I'll have to remember that "thick blooded Yankee" line for when those Illinois folks come to Houston for the next face to face meeting. I'll make darn sure to set it up in August. They made fun of me the whole time - said if I put on any more clothes, they'd have to roll me out to the sample shack.

[lhdvies]

Oh Patti, you're making me homesick. I was raised in south central Il.about 30 miles from the Mississippi. Lot of people don't realize the large amount of wildlife there is in that area. Very nice shots!!
By the way, I like the 2nd shot also. I like shots that demostrate the environment the subject is in as well as the subject.

[Patti Edens]

Originally Posted by lhdvies

Oh Patti, you're making me homesick. I was raised in south central Il.about 30 miles from the Mississippi. Lot of people don't realize the large amount of wildlife there is in that area. Very nice shots!!
By the way, I like the 2nd shot also. I like shots that demostrate the environment the subject is in as well as the subject.

Thanks Leon. I can sure see why you would be homesick. It was absolutely beautiful where I was. It is beautiful no matter what time of year, but I really like this time - even though I can't stand the cold. I didn't want to come home.

I must have been really close to where you were raised. Our station is just off of Hwy 51 on a road (Dickey Pond Road) right between Vernon and Patoka. I usually stay at that Microtel on Lake Carlyle but it has gone downhill for some reason, so now I just stay in Vandalia.

There are so many photo ops (old barns, farm equipment, windmills, critters, flowers, beautiful trees, hay bales, etc., etc.) on all of these County Roads in the area. I just wish I had more time there when I go. Usually when I drive by this stuff, it's midday at lunchtime - lousy light. I get to the station when it's dark and don't usually leave work 'til it's dark. Next time I need to take a few days of vacation.