Interesting Nature and Wildlife Photography Tips

     Have you ever wondered how professional photographers seem to have an eye for the perfect picture?  I have always been impressed by beautiful landscape shots or animals caught in action.  It takes a lot of time and practice.  Florian Schulz, a professional German photographer, sat down for an interview and shared some of his tips.  I found it especially useful when he explained using all of the different lenses he has with him.  That means instead of taking a picture of his subject with just one lense at one angle, he takes multiple pictures with different lenses to get a variety of scenarios.  This video has a lot of useful tips that I hope pertain to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oGt9b2tOs0

The Adventure to Find the Stone Bridges

    On a recent blustery afternoon, I decided to take the Stone Bridge Drive.  I had a set of directions that would lead me to all of the destinations and my camera ready to go.  My sister came along to keep me company and help me with directions.  Before long we were cruising out to the countyside to find these bridges.

     My first stop on my drive was right inside of Columbia.  I took a left onto Gall Road and immediately saw this pleasant sight.  The red brick building on the right was the old Shoemaker School.  The school and bridge are both dressed up festively for the holiday season.  After a while we decided it was time to move on to our next stop.  Unfortunetly, this is where our good-luck started to end.

      We continued down Gall Road winding through the countryside.  This part of the drive was scenic. Trees grew alongside of the road and at times almost formed a canopy over us.  Farms spread out before us with cows roaming the fields.  We slowed down to look at a herd of deer grazing right beside us on a hill.  They were not shy at all.  All in all this was a very pretty and scenic drive as we looked for our next turn to go into Waterloo.

     Once we were on our way to Waterloo and our next stop, the sun started to disappear before a huge bank of clouds.  I was a little worried about how the lighting would be for the next stop.  I just hoped we would have enough daylight to finish the rest of the drive.  I entered Waterloo on Il-3 and turned right onto Il-156 and a quick left onto Lakeview Drive. 

     Lakeview Drive goes past a couple of neighborhoods but soon turns into fields and trees.  The name of the road also changed into Maeystown Road.  This road leads right into Maeystown.  We had to stay on this road for a couple of miles before stopping.  This was when I realized the weather was not going to cooperate.  Huge gray clouds began to blot out the rest of our daylight.  I realized we were probably not going to finish the tour but at least make it to the next one because we were so close!

     My directions said to find Holy Cross Lutheran Church and continue a half a mile.  The next bridge would be on the left.  I did exactly that but we didn't see the bridge.  I thought maybe I had gone too far so I turned around.  We drove by in the other direction looking but still didn't see it!  It was getting so dark, though, that I had to turn on the car's lights to see.  I realized I was going to have to stop for the day.

     I was disappointed that I didn't even get to see half of the bridges.  Next time I will plan and give myself more time and check out the weather!

Monroe County Stone Bridge Drive

     I was really excited when I read about a stone bridge tour through Columbia, Waterloo, and the surrounding area.  It sounded really neat and different.  Scattered throughout the countryside, the bridges are remote and a piece of local history.  I did a little bit of research about the bridges before I went, and it helped me get a little bit of their background story.

    All of the bridges are European-styled limestone arch bridges.  The German immigrants that settled in Monroe County brought with them this design.  Midway through the Eighteenth Century they started builiding these sturdy bridges that could stand up to the weather.  The bridges were built with local limestone and placed above creeks and streams.  Time has proven how sturdy they are because they still stand perfectly today.  I knew that I had to do this stone bridge drive!

    

Nature's Precarious Creations

     Only Mother Nature can create these beautiful rock creations found all over Giant City State Park.  Scattered near bluffs and cliffs, they stand in reminder of the harsh affects of erosion over time.  Almost all of the rock pictured here is standstone.  It was formed 12,000 years ago.  It took thousands of years of folding and faulting in the geological world to create the rock formations and its scenery.

     It is very neat to walk along the trails and take in the beauty of the park.  I love how the boulder in the picture above is precisely balanced over the wide gap.  Held in place as if almost by magic, it bides its time.  That is how everything acts in nature.  It is isn't on a time schedule or in a hurry.  It slowly creates beauty like the scene above.  Trees grow slowly, leaves litter the ground, grasses start to take root over the rocks.  The picture above didn't all happen in one night.  I left with the idea that change doesn't happen overnight, but takes our time and effort to create something beautiful if we make up our minds to start the change.

Devil's Standtable

    Balanced precariously on a pillar of sandstone, stands Devil's Standtable in Giant City State Park.  Pictured here from the back, it shows how high off the ground it is.  Compared to the trees in the background it stands nearly three quarters as tall as some of the trees.  

    Years and years of erosion formed this monument.  Erosion ate away the soft layers of rock, carving out the giant gap between the cliff and Devil's Standtable.  For the adventurous soul, it offers a leap of faith and the defying of gravity if you wish to stand on top of it.  In the right of my picture you can barely see another ledge jutting out closer to it.  That is where you can make the leap.  I have never done it before, but I have seen others make the yard long jump.

    Don't feel pressured into making the leap.  You can enjoy the breathtaking view safely on top of the cliff without having to worry about falling.  The view from being above the forest floor is beautiful and satisfying.    

Exploring Giant City State Park

     The long scenic drive to Makanda is worth it.  About 4,000 acres of trees, cliffs, and rock formations make up Giant City State Park.  It is a beautiful park to go see.  Multiple trails run through the Shawnee National Forest, and fall is a great time to see the trees in their full beauty.  Whether you would like to hike, fish, horseback ride, or rappel down the side of a cliff, Giant City is the place to do these activities.

     I have taken many hikes around Giant City, and I love coming back every year.  Everywhere you turn are trees.  They tower above you.  Sometimes they are slim and are as straight as an arrow pointing up to the sky, and other times they are wide and take a couple of people to fit their arms around the base of their trunks.  

     Native Americans once lived in this area.  You can still see signs of their inhabitance in the cliff overhangings.  Looking up at the rock ceilings are blackened patches caused by their fires.  

     This is one example of the huge cliffs rising out of the forest's floor.  Spindly trees try to grow out from under them reaching for sunlight.  You can see how this would have been an ideal place to take shelter.  It offers shade from the sun, wind, and rain.  Waking up and seeing the forest spread out before you must have been a picturesque morning view.

      With over seventy-five different species of trees, miles of trails, and winding creeks, Giant City State Park is a feast for your senses.  If you are interested in visting, here is the address:  235 Giant City Road, Makanda, Il 62958.  Get out and enjoy the stunning fall leaves!

At the End of Pine Street

     Pine needles litter the trail underneath me, and the wind quietly sighs through the branches of the tall pine trees.  What an appropriate name that this peaceful street was given.  Pine Street is a small street in a residential part of Milstadt.

     I took this picture facing Pine Street with the pathway in front of me.  The trail above is part of the Pine Street Nature Trail.  I loved venturing down this part of the trail because it offered me peace and solitude.  While sitting on the bench, I had a couple of minutes to collect my thoughts and admire the pretty fall leaves.  The trees around me met overhead creating a natural archway.  A couple of lingering birds sang and flitted around the brush across from me.  

     It was when I paused on the bench to look around and sift through my thoughts that I realized that nature is one of the best remedies for a troubled mind.  I think Albert Einstein had it right when he said, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

A Flawless Autumn Sunday

     I parked my car in an empty lot not knowing what to expect from Pine Street Nature Trail.  The trail started at the bottom of a hill and through a gate.  Leaving behind my car, I started to see and feel the outdoors around me.  The crisp fall breeze picked up every leaf making it swirl and freshened the smell of the earth.  

     The paved path wrapped around in a circle.  I started out walking to the left up a small hill.  There was an open field with young trees growing and older trees and a small creek running around the perimeter.  The creek was tucked away behind a bend.  Beside the running water was a bench.  I stopped there for a little bit.  It was a wonderful place to sit and just let the sun shine on your face.  

     In the picture above, the water is slowly moving.  It almost looks still as it reflects the brilliant blue sky and a canopy of leaves from the trees growing around it.  I also like the large tree in the top right hand corner.  The grooved bark stands out on the tree, and the roots snake out in all different directions.  

     Dried leaves littered the trail, crunching under my feet.  My walk continued on in a circle through a canopy of pine trees.  Pine Street Nature Trail in Milstadt is a perfect getaway if you need to go for a walk or in need of a quiet place to think.  There are two park entrances if you are interested in going.  The entrance at the end of Pine Street is handicap accessable, and the one off of East Laurel has a small parking lot.  I parked in the parking lot off of East Laurel.  It is beside the Milstadt Sewer Plant, but do not let that deter you.  The sewer plant will not affect your hike in any way.  In fact, I can't wait to come back again but this time with my dog! 

      

It is Still Apple Picking Season!

     Don't let the month of November fool you into thinking there are no more apples left on the trees.  Braeutigam Orchards in Belleville still has apples to be picked.  Tucked away and hidden from view, it is a quaint orchard.  You truly feel away from town and the highway as you wander through the orchard.  It is located right off of highway 15 and a mile down a twisting country road.  The address to Braeutigam's is 2795 Turkey Hill Lane.                  

     This is just one little section of the apples.  They also offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that you can pick during different seasons.