Chicago Pictures From Northerly Park

Chicago is loaded with opportunities for photographers to capture a wide variety of images. The downtown area is great for street photographers and many of the buildings are ornate with a lot of architectural detail. It is also one of the easiest cities to get skyline images. Northerly Park offers great vistas of the city. Looking West from the park you can capture the Chicago skyline to the North and South. Walking trails allow easy access to viewing sites. The park also has a beach, boat harbor, and the Adler Planetarium. One tip I need to pass on: parking is available at Adler Planetarium and there is a parking garage as well, but these will cost you about $20.00 to $26.00. They are convenient, but public parking is available on street and at a public lot at the park visitor center for $1.00 per hour, with a three hour maximum. You can park, take your photos, and more on to your next stop. The park has a map and information online here. Located nearby you will also find the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum. Chicago's residents know the area well, but few visitors venture past the attractions in the area. It is well worth the visit. I have found it relatively easy to get to on weekends. During the week you have to contend with traffic, but access is still straightforward if you avoid rush hour. I stopped on the same day as the Chicago Marathon, next time I will check the paper for events in the area. I have more images from my visit on my site.

The Philips Hotel & 1921 Restaurant Valentine's Day Celebration

Celebrate Valentine's Day at the 1921 Restaurant with dinner

specials and special offerings. A complimentary photo will

be taken and given to all guests who are interested. 

Saturday, February 12 from 4 - 10 pm

Sunday, February 13 from noon - 8 pm

Monday February 14 from 4 - 10 pm

The menu and schedule is available online.  

The restaurant is located in The Philips Hotel, Philipsburg, PA.

Susquehanna Valley Shutterbugs Photo Show

The Susquehanna Valley Shutterbugs 18th Annual Members Photo Show opening reception is Feburary 4, 2011 at the Thomas T. Taber Museum, Williamsport, PA. The wine and cheese reception is from 6:00  to 9:00 PM. Admission is free. Come and vote for your favorite photographs. The exhibit continues until April 22, 2011.

Williamsport First Friday Art Event

Friday, November 6, 2010, I will be at the Williamsport Visitor Center at 210 William Street, Williamsport, PA from 5PM until 8PM as part of Williamsport's First Friday Arts Event. The exhibition opens with a reception from 5 to 8 PM, and then continues though November.

UPCOMING SHOW!! Susquehanna Valley Shutterbugs Black & White Exhibit

The Susquehanna Valley Shutterbugs' First Annual Black and White Shows opens October 1, 2010 and runs untill January 14, 2011. The show opens with a wine and cheese reception from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Friday, October 1, 2010. Photographs will be exhibited at the Thomas T. Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society in Williamsport, PA. I have several images on exhibit. Hope you get a chance to stop by. I have included links for more information.
http://www.tabermuseum.org/
http://www.susquehannavalleyshutterbugs.org/

Rotary balloon Festival 2010

The Rotary Balloon Festival was held September 18th & 19th at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, PA. The move from the Williamsport Airport proved to be a good idea. The fog from the river that plagued last year's even was not present. The weather was great and the balloons were able to take off. I posted several photos on my website. You can follow the link below to check them out. I have also included this year's link for the festival.

http://stephenbhoffphotography.shutterbugstorefront.com/g/balloon_fest_2010

http://www.rotaryballoonfest.com/home.html

Penn State Arboretum-H.O. Smith Botanical Garden

I recently discovered the H.O. Smith Botanical Garden in State College, PA. The garden, located across from the law school on Penn State Campus, is a wonderous place to photograph floral and fauna. I especially like the lily pond. It is best to visit early morning or late to early evening when the light is not as harsh as during the day. Any overcast or cloudy day would also be a good time to visit. The diverse varieties of plants make it an everchanging sea of color. You will need to visit every few weeks to capture the changing landscape. It was recommended to me by a friend and I thank her for that. I have included a link to the aboretum for more information as well as a few photos from my last visit.

http://arboretum.psu.edu/