Went for a dog walk this morning in the Forest Preserve (next to my home ) and took camera with newest lens. Like Jim challenges himself with a fixed lens, I was determined not to rely on zoom. Knowing that the forest preserve is not really alot of forest, actually it is mostly prairie, I am usually stumped for the lack of magesty you mountain range people have around you. But, this is August and prairie flowers are in full bloom and on horseback they look like english gardens.

So from the flatland of Illinois, here is my entry. (okay, the thistle is not what I should be showing to advertise the prairie but I could not help since there were four insects fighting over this one blooming weed! (what is a weed a anyway? )

Great to see some entries!

I am not sure I am going to be able to participate this month. We are having an unusual heat wave the past couple of weeks - it is 111 degrees as I type this at 5:00pm.

I am not photographer enough to be schlepping my equipment around the neighborhood when it is over 110. I guess I am a wimp.

LOL, Dave, don't worry. BTW, your shirt is ordered. Sorry for the delay, it just took me a bit to get it done!

James

Hey Everyone,

Beautiful submissions from everyone. Really nice so far!

Here is mine. It was taken tonight after work:

Upper Canyon Viewed From Gobblers Knob,
Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Front Utah
Aug 2011

Schlepp it in the morning, schlepp it in the evening and avoid the mid day like the plague.

[quote=RomanJohnston]Schlepp it in the morning, schlepp it in the evening and avoid the mid day like the plague.

Amen to that - though I completely hear Dave's point. When Chanthee and I were in Vegas visiting Steve (going for a wedding), it was 108F on the Vegas Floor. It was pretty ugly. Having said that, I now carry the Oly Pen for that very reason. It allows me to have a camera at all times. It does not replace my 5dii, but it is nice to have around.

James

It's been too hot to get out here in San Antonio. Most of our natural wonders (river, bat cave, and such) have all been decimated by the drought. We are loosing our wildlife. The cattle industry will be changed for decades to come.



This is a chameleon shot it the front flower bed. He had just leaped up to drink the water on the hibiscus.

Hey Everyone,

The Contest is now locked. I will put together a poll tomorrow when I publish the newsletter.

Thanks to all who participated. This was hard for me and I am really pleased with what I got (given both the time constraints and my limit to what I consider 'nature' in NYC).

James

James,
how do you vote in the poll?

Jim