Wintertime blues, oranges, reds and greens.

I was talking with a neighbor the other day who said, “I got a new camera for the holidays and I can’t wait until spring to start using it.” He knows my passion for photography, that's why he brought it up.

I asked, “What are you planning to take pictures of?” He said, “Outdoor scenes in and around Glen Ellyn.”  My response, “Why wait?”

When the warm weather leaves us, and cold weather comes marching in, many people believe there are two places to be: Your Home and your car. But if you put on a warm coat, gloves and all of the necessary clothes to venture out into the tundra (not really), there is a lot to be seen and photographed. Best part about it, and this is a very anti-social comment, there are many people who aren’t willing to go out and explore, giving you free reign of whatever you want to photograph.

If you did receive a new camera for the holidays, and you are looking to give it a test run before spring hits, there are some incredible photo opportunities in and around “Our Town.”

One of my favorite subjects to photograph are the barren trees in our parks—especially when they have snow on the branches. Throw in some water for reflection purposes and you have the makings of a photo that can make you feel like a pro; better yet, you can print it and put it on the wall in the home you used to not venture from during this time of the year. If you are looking for some of Glen Ellyn’s best parks to photograph wildlife and the best winter has to offer, it’s really simple---go to the Park District’s website. (Okay, I will make this even easier; here is their e-mail address---http://www.gepark.org. The listing of parks and facilities are on the top.)

Want the best colors of the day?  Shoot either early in the morning or 30 minutes before sunset---just remember, these are the coldest times during the day. But if you want drama, not the type of drama you have with teenagers, shooting photos during these times will create “wall-worthy” photos. Just remember to let everyone know the challenges you had to go through to find these incredible scenes---it makes the picture a lot more valuable.

So, next time you have the wintertime blues, put some color back into venturing around “Our Town”--- you and your camera will be happy you did.

Thanks for stopping by.