Images: 2018 photo contest monthly winners
A look back at the monthly winners for 2018 of our amateur photo contest.
A photo of the north edge of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range captures fall colors last September in an area just west of the town of Ridgway, CO. This photo won in the month of August.
Leo Cox of Elk Grove Village
I always anticipate the Spring migration of the Bald Eagles. These two were taken on the Black River near Onalaska, WI. A combination of a warm water discharge, and a Gizzard Shad die-off, has led to dozens of eagles fishing in a very accessible area. This photo won in the month of March.
Bill Geister of Dundee
This was an amazing day hike with my son, Todd, and my grandson, Will. The warm day made the ice glisten, and the blue sky and the clouds were stunning. Matanuska Glacier is about two hours east of Anchorage, Alaska. This photo won in the month of April
Tom Knutson of West Chicago
A ghost crab takes an early morning walk on the Padre Island Nation Seashore in Texas on Memorial Day weekend. This photo won in the month of June.
Tony Filippo of Green Oaks
A girl texts as she walks her dog along the beach during a spectacular golden sunset in Pismo Beach, California last March. This photo won in the month of April.
James Fleming of Palatine
This frost pattern on our window was taken back in February of 2015. The variety of shapes and sizes reminded me of pillow feathers. This photo won in the month of January.
Mike Weimer of St. Charles
This photo was taken in Dec. at Whalon Lake. I drove to the area with the hopes of catching the sunset. I hit the timing just right. I was very pleased with the composition and the placement of the sun in relation to the tree. The thing that really set this photo off for me is the reflection of the sun in the foreground. The colors are beautiful with the hues of pink and orange spread throughout the bare branches of the tree. This photo won in the month of January.
Nancy Havener of Naperville
The Murrow family is reflected in the daughters goggles last weekend during a ski trip in Granite Peak Ski Resort in Wausau Wis. This photo won in the month of February.
Mike Murrow of Mundelein
I went to take sunset photos tonight (Friday November 2) ... and the skies were beautiful. Then, there was a fisherman near me and he caught a fish. It took him a while to unhook the fish to throw him back. All of a sudden, dozens of Seagulls came flying around (hoping to eat the fish) ... I was so excited to capture the flying seagulls during a sunset. The fish safely went back into the lake. This photo won in the month of November.
Cindy Spudich of Lake Zurich
A photo of a hawk I took in my backyard. This hawk is the largest I have ever seen up close. I loved the way it was framed by the leaves and the branch and I loved the background colors which enhanced the photo. This photo won in the month of November.
Nancy Havener of Naperville
Breathtaking view of Manhattan from Jersey City, NJ! This photo won in the month of November.
Jane Serbus of Bartlett
The Great Horned Owl as it peaks around the tree at Stillman Nature Center, South Barrington, on the afternoon of Oct 21, 2018. This owl, as the other birds at Stillman, had their handlers nearby, so that the public could appreciate the birds outside of their mews. This photo won in the month of October.
Sue Kowall of Hoffman Estates
This photo was taken on a recent visit to Seattle. I loved the comparison of these solar flowers/mushrooms with the famous Space Needle. This photo won in the month of September.
Naomi Krodel of Batavia
These two young elk bucks are practicing what will be a real battle over breeding rites a few years from now. I photographed this pair in Rocky Mountain National Park this past September. This photo won in the month of October.
Milton Hoskins of Hampshire
A colorful Hawaiian Garden spider was photographed in its web near a hiking trail in Kauai, Hawaii in May, 2018. This photo won in the month of August.
Kristin Kohl of Libertyville
Early morning on Lake Finley near St. Germain, Wisconsin this month. This photo won in the month of July.
Pam Balcer of Rolling Meadows
Two squirrels peek out from their home in a tree at River Trail Nature Center in Glenview this month. This photo won in the month of May.
Lynne Solway of Buffalo Grove
Our tour guide in Linz, Austria this past summer, was framed by these yellow tour buses as she negotiated a path through them on our walking tour. I thought the lone figure framed by the bright yellow buses created an interesting image. This photo won in the month of December.
Anita Sloma-Martinez of Elk Grove Village
On November 9, we had our first measurable snowfall in the Chicago area. I like this shot taken at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. In a single photo it shows both seasons - the remaining fall colors on several trees, and a bare tree etched with winter's first snow. This photo won in the month of November.
Mike Weimer of St. Charles
I took this photo at the entrance to the Hyatt Lodge in Oakbrook. Mom was lying in the grass a few feet away watching the young ones play. When the little ones saw me it appeared as Big brother was protecting little sister. This photo won in the month of September.
Todd A. Sherlock of Downers Grove
The star lights glow from a pair of deck chairs dusted in snow creating the perfect touch to winter on January 15 in Grayslake. This photo won in the month of March.
Kelley Dorner of Grayslake
Mallards really don't get the credit they deserve on their beauty. The sun was at the right angle when these two mallards took off in flight, showing off their colors. This photo won in the month of March.
Bonnie Graham of Lombard
A lizard is camouflaged against the plant leaves at Hilton Head Island, S.C. last September. This photo won in the month of January.
Kristin Kohl of Libertyville
I took this picture of a recently planted cornfield in Hampshire. This particular photo was taken a couple of years ago although it could have been taken this past spring. I like the uniformity of the plant and row spacing while the rows follow a curve dictated by a nearby creek. Thanks to all of you who farm. This photo won in the month of July.
Milton Hoskins of Hampshire
The confident gaze of a green-eyed farm cat in Iowa on Thanksgiving weekend. This photo won in the month of May.
Amy Magsamen of Mount Prospect
Alligators bask in the warmth of the sun at Gatorland in Orlando, Fla. in April of 2015. This photo won in the month of January.
Doris Krandel of Palatine
My husband, son, and I were walking home in the fog after Naperville Central's graduation ceremony Monday night. Everything was quiet and eerie. I think this picture captures that. This photo won in the month of June.
Julie Kulak of Naperville
A couple wade upstream in the Rio Grand at Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas as it passes through the Santa Elena Canyon last month. Mexico is on the left and the United States is on the right hand side. This photo won in the month of April.
Tony Filippo of Libertyville
I have noticed lately some of the horses boarded near me are laying down some of the time. I caught this one laying down today on this cold April day. When we get an occasional warm day this spring the horses are running around. I can sympathize. When is Spring going to come? This photo won in the month of April.
Mary Lou Roder of Elgin
During a recent spring trip to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, I spotted these two Painted Turtles sunning themselves along the edge of Lake Marmo. This photo won in the month of June.
Mike Weimer of St. Charles
This was the top piece of a five foot high ceramic, fired glazed, sculpture. A real “work of art” by a Sun City West, AZ. Clay Club member. I took a low angle shot to “catch” the UFO in the clouds. I then used photo editing software cloning tool, to brush in clouds below the subject. This created the airborne effect. This photo won in the month of May.
Randy Link of Winfield
I took this picture of my favorite tree on one of the really foggy mornings this past week. Looking at it's like the only tree in the world. This photo won in the month of February.
Tom Nicol of Geneva
Colorful parasols hang from the ceiling in the greenhouse at Chicago Botanic Garden highlighting the beautiful orchids on display last month. This photo won in the month of March.
Lynne Solway of Buffalo Grove
While visiting friends in Florida recently, we visited Tarpon Springs. Pelicans frequent the area behind a restaurant, hoping for a handout. This brown pelican was more than happy to grab a piece of fish from a local fisherman. I was more than happy to take his photo! This photo won in the month of February.
Robin Green of Warrenville
I was taking fireworks photos in Bloomingdale on July 3, and they had an exceptional fireworks display. As I was looking at the photos I thought how nice it would be to include our flag in the photo. I absolutely love the way it turned out. This photo won in the month of July.
Emil Schiavo of Itasca
I took this picture of a dragonfly on my fishing pole while I was on Dunn Lake in Spooner WI. This photo won in the month of August.
Alex Scherf of Elgin
A giraffe comes up to a truck for a lettuce snack at The Wilds near Columbus, Ohio. It's the largest conservation facility in North America. This photo won in the month of June.
Fred Share of Arlington Heights
Is it ok to come down? Is that our prince? In our pond. This photo won in the month of August.
Colette Parzygnat of Lombard
This image was taken during the Grant Park Symphony's final concert of the year. To me, I felt like capturing the movement of the sky, the captive audience, the beautiful skyline and the powerful sounds of Carmina Burana made for a perfect event! This photo won in the month of September.
David Genty of Bartlett
Reflection of three girls as they admire the lily pond at Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe this month. This photo won in the month of July.
Lynne Solway of Buffalo Grove
Small Red Dragonfly. I find these to be very intriguing. They are so small, you can't see them unless you look for them, when you capture the photo you can see their intense, huge eyes. They do not use their six legs to walk ... only to perch. This photo won in the month of September.
Cindy Spudich of Lake Zurich
This angle appeared of the lighthouse, Navy Pier, and city skyline at the conclusion of the Air & Water show, summer 2018. This photo won in the month of December.
Steve Tassler of Libertyville
A reflection in sunglasses at Wrigley Field. It was edited so the reflection in the sunglasses is in full, vivid color so it really pops against the black and white of the rest of the photo. This photo won in the month of December.
Shane Pysh of Elgin
I took this through the windshield of my car. I like the pattern of the ice. I call it ''Winter comes Early”. This photo won in the month of December.
Todd A. Sherlock of Downers Grove
I took this photo of a double rainbow out our back door in Naperville, after the storm on Tuesday, September 25th. This photo won in the month of October.
Barb Johanneson of Naperville
I worked at a Dude Ranch the summer after I graduated college. People looked down on me because I had a college degree and was cleaning bathrooms. But this- this view was one of reasons I did it. 'The Look Out'- Moose, Wyoming at Lost Creek Ranch. This photo won in the month of October.
Hillary Scaletta of Hawthorn Woods
During a May visit to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, I photographed this fascinating fern with it's repeating “handlebar mustache” shapes. I don't know whether the curves will stay that shape, or straighten out like the lower leaves as it grows over the summer months. This photo won in the month of May.
Mike Weimer of St. Charles
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