The Great Lakes Falconers Association will be in Urbana for a major meeting from February 13-15. As in the past, members of the club can take this opportunity to capture some great images. Plan to meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Comfort Suites (2001 Lincoln Ave.) in Urbana if you are interested in this event. If you have not attnded this before, one of the club members will be happy to give you some advice.

Kim Ormsby will call the meeting to order. The program for the meeting will include presentations by Doug Mills and Lynne Rudasill from trips to parts of Indonesia. Doug will show us images including some of the beautiful dragonflies he captured in Papua, and Lynne will provide images and information from various islands near Bali.

Challenge: Black and White (the subject is black & white, not black & white by editing); Bumpy; Bokeh

Steve Heater will provide the program. Topic: Ebird and Birding Photography plus an exploration of the resources from Cornell University related to the topic.

Challenge: Silver, Tiny, Side Light

Topic: Club Meeting-Challenge and Birding and eBird presentation 1/26 6:30pm
Time: Jan 26, 2026 06:15 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83370214553?pwd=lklM7XgalqY99prveqCjZWnRicB9ax.1

Meeting ID: 833 7021 4553
Passcode: 583966

Challenge photos - Contrasting colors, ornaments, ICM (Intentional Camera Movement)

Program - Shea Belahi will share her pictures from a recent trip to Japan

This is near Winamac, Indiana, and is about a 2.5 hour drive.  Indiana State Parks do charge a $9 entry fee.  See links below for the park, the trails and a google driving map.  This park does have some historic structures, along with varying habitats.  There's prairies, woods, some sandy trails, and wetlands, and are rated easy to moderate.  While there won't be a huge variety of birds, that just adds to the challenge.  Lots of other opportunities for photography. We are leaning towards doing the trail 1, 4 and 5 loop, but will discuss with participants on site. Time to shake off the rust and get out in nature! 

Early look at the weather looks good.  Sunny, limited wind, temperatures 25-35, wind chills 18 to 30.  Any decision on cancelling will be made on or before January 1st.

AGENDA: (All times here are central time, the park is on eastern time)

5:00 am: Leave Casey's in Urbana

7:11 am: Sunrise

7:30am: Arrive (Parking lot near vault toilets heading back to nature center)

Hike until we are done

430pm: Sunset

LINKS:

Main park link

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/tippecanoe-river-state-park/#Activities

Park Map:

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/files/tippecanoe_river_trail.pdf

all Trails link for the park:

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/indiana/tippecanoe-river-state-park

RSVP to Steve Heater at cccc-champaign-county-camera-club@googlegroups.com

The challenge will consist of 3 subjects-a color, a subject or object, and a camera or editing technique. Each of these can be interpreted differently by each photographer. It is up to the interpretation of the photographer how and what subjects are photographed.

Up to 6 photos can be submitted, but only 2 of any one subject. Bonus points for 2 or 3 subjects in one photo.

AI USAGE- This is an issue in many contests and challenges, so here is how we are going to handle it. NO AI images submitted that are generated strictly from a prompt. Adding an object using AI is not allowed. Both of these defeat the purpose of looking for the subjects. AI noise reduction or AI distraction removal is allowed.

You can send your images to champaigncountycameraclub@gmail.com, or you can bring them on a drive the evening of the meeting.

Lisa Foster will talk to us about focus stacking and we will make time to look at our photo challenges!

Cancelled due to weather forecast!

We thought we would include a couple of events here that might be of interest to families during this holiday season. This list is quite random and certainly not complete!

Douglas-Hart Nature Center, Mattoon.

This is December 13, 3:00pm to 7:00pm.

https://www.dhnature.org/holiday.html

Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington, IL

December 12,13,19,20  5:00pm to 8:00pm

Wild Lights

https://www.facebook.com/share/17tb2zPEMA/

https://www.bloomingtonparks.org/facilities/miller-park-zoo/upcoming-events

On December 6 we are planning to go to Whalon Lake near Bolingbrook.  It's about a 2.5 hour drive. The trails are all considered easy, with distance varying from 2.1 miles to over 5 miles.  Habitats include a wetland, prairie, an 80 acre lake, and a portion of the DuPage river. The preserve opens at 8:00am, so we need to leave about 5:30am for those caravaning.  Come in off Royse Road, go down Lisson Road past the dog park to the Running parking lot.  Links on location and directions at the end of the email;

AGENDA:

5:30am - Leave QuikTrip in Champaign (Neil and I74)

7:04am: - Sunrise

8:00am - Arrive at Whalon Lake

Links:

Main website: 

https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/preserves/whalon-lake/

Detailed map:

https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/preserves/whalon-lake/

Google Maps Link:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/G3NdK4JTYtUFs69N7

AllTrails Link for all the trails:

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/illinois/whalon-lake

Ebird Link for possible species (bar chart)

https://ebird.org/barchart?r=L252503

BACKUP PLAN:  As this is close to Lake Michigan in December, and subject to winter travel issues, we will have a backup plan to Comlara Park (Bloomington), Carlisle Lake, or Shelbyville Lake to find better weather.

RSVP to champaigncountycameraclub@gmail.com if you plan to go.

TBD

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday!

Let’s go to the Peoria Zoo and the Luthy Botanical Gardens on November 22nd.  The zoo opens at 10am, so let's meet there just outside the gates at 9:50am.  Admission is $12.50.  

Luthy Botanical Gardens is a short distance away, and will have a Poinsetta show during that time.  Luthy has free admission.  Links at bottom of email.

It should be a fun day!

Peoria Zoo:

https://peoriazoo.org/

Luthy Botanical gardens:

https://peoriazoo.org/visit/luthy-botanical-garden/

Bonus side trip. Let Steve know if you want to go up there early, and prowl a couple areas along the river from 7:30am to 9:30am. Going to look for any unusual gulls and waterfowl among other birds in the area. 

RVSP for both or either adventure to Steve Heater at cccc-champaign-county-camera-club@googlegroups.com

A new park to explore-Portland Arch Nature Preserve and National Landmark.  This is near Fountain, IN, about an hour away.  It has some amazing terrain, and features, including a natural arch, stunning stone features, a cliff, and many other habitats.  There are 2 trails, each about a mile long, so if time, we can hit up both. Let’s leave Caseys in Urbana about 5:15am.  Please check out the links below, lots of information and history regarding this Preserve.

Agenda: (all times Central Time to reduce confusion)

5:15am-Leave Urbana Caseys

6:15am-Arrive at the park

6:20am:sunrise

Hike until we are done.

LINKS:

Main Park Links(s)

https://www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/files/Portland_Arch.pdf

https://www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/files/np-Portland_Arch.pdf

https://brookandholler.com/blogs/trail-guides/portland-arch-nature-preserve-exploring-indianas-frontier-past?page=2

AllTrails preserve information:

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/indiana/portland-arch-nature-preserve

Please RSVP to Steve Heater at cccc-champaign-county-camera-club@googlegroups.com if you are interested in joining us.

Join us for a presentation by Craig McMonigal on the History of Photographers. He will be bringing along some old books and framed photos to enhance our understanding of the past.

Our challenges this week - Color - lavendar; Subject or Object - curves, Camera or Editing Technique - pattern. Send your entries to cccc-leadership@googlegroups.com. If you wish to bring images to the meeting please come early so your flash drive may be uploaded for display. See you there!!!

Here is a new park to explore-Portland Arch Nature Preserve and National Landmark.  This is near Fountain, IN, about an hour away.  The features include a natural arch, stunning stone features, a cliff, and many other habitats.  There are 2 trails, each about a mile long, so if there is time, we can hit up both. 

Agenda: (all times Central Time to reduce confusion)

5:15am-Leave Urbana Caseys

6:15am-Arrive at the park

6:20am:sunrise

Hike until we are done.

Main park information - https://www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/files/Portland_Arch.pdf

AllTrails information - https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/indiana/portland-arch-nature-preserve

Google Maps image for directions - https://maps.app.goo.gl/6XfoCRJA1qxbhy636

Please RSVP to to cccc-Champaign-county-camera-club@google.groups.com

At least two nice, wooded trails are available here and hopefully some color will remain.  

Agenda:

7:15 AM - Meet at the Walnut Hill shelter (just before you go over the bridge)

After meeting we can decide whether to go to the Flicker Woods tail or the Oak Ridge trail, although there are many other trails out there that we can choose from.

We suggest you pack a lunch and make a day of it!

NOTE: Weather forecasts may be iffy.  Being a close preserve, the call to cancel will occur either late November 1 or early November 2.  

Please look through the information below about the park and trails.  If you have a preference for trails you would like to do, let me know when you arrive.

Homer Lake Information:

https://www.champaignforests.org/forest-preserves/illinois/homer-lake#a-600-1128

Brochure and map:

https://www.champaignforests.org/Portals/0/adam/Content/G6lYMCKGHUG6YSnGIqSgeQ/Link/HL_map_brochure_v2022.pdf

Please RSVP to cccc-Champaign-county-camera-club@google.groups.com

RULES:

1.  The challenge subjects will be announced roughly 60 days before the meeting.  We want you to go out and see the world in a different way.  HAVE FUN and BE CREATIVE! 

2. The challenge will consist of 3 subjects-a color, a subject or object, and a camera or editing technique. Each of these can be interpreted differently by each photographer.  It is up to the interpretation of the photographer how and what subjects are photographed.

3.  Up to 6 photos can be submitted, but only 2 of any one subject. Bonus points for 2 or 3 subjects in one photo.

4. AI USAGE- This is an issue in many contests and challenges, so here is how we are going to handle it.  NO AI images submitted that are generated strictly from a prompt.   Adding an object using AI is not allowed.  Both of these defeat the purpose of looking for the subjects.   AI noise reduction or AI distraction removal is allowed.

Note: No official judging of images will be done, but if you ask for critique we can do that.

What is in your camera bag? A chance to share and trade if you so wish to join in the swap meet.

The challenge for this meeting is Dark Colors, Eyes, and/or Story Telling. If you are bringing your images on an external drive, please come early so we can get them loaded.

Forest Glen Preserve is near Westville, Illinois.  It is an 1,800-acre nature reserve in McKendree Township in Vermilion County, Illinois, located about 4 miles east of Illinois State Route 1 between the towns of Westville and Georgetown. The address is 20301 E 900N Road, Westville. 

Agenda:

7am: Meet at the Urbana Caseys

8am: arrive at the Gannet Outdoor Education Center parking lot inside Forest Glen

Hike and photograph until we decide to call it a day.

Vermillion County Conservation District Map

Google map of entire park and facilities.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=18-V_LbpXtLjaJPsf6nXUbOtgPWe_LCR-&ll=40.0199409735428%2C-87.55654685473938&z=15

AllTrails map of trails. NOTE: the River bend loop needs a $5 permit to do the entire loop, and is a tough go for a single day.  Look at the map listing all the smaller trails for ideas on which ones we may do.

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/illinois/forest-glen-preserve

Please RSVP to cccc-Champaign-county-camera-club@google.groups.com

RULES:

1.  The challenge subjects will be announced roughly 60 days before the meeting.  We want you to go out and see the world in a different way.  HAVE FUN and BE CREATIVE! 

2. The challenge will consist of 3 subjects-a color, a subject or object, and a camera or editing technique. Each of these can be interpreted differently by each photographer.  It is up to the interpretation of the photographer how and what subjects are photographed.

3.  Up to 6 photos can be submitted, but only 2 of any one subject. Bonus points for 2 or 3 subjects in one photo.

4. AI USAGE- This is an issue in many contests and challenges, so here is how we are going to handle it.  NO AI images submitted that are generated strictly from a prompt.   Adding an object using AI is not allowed.  Both of these defeat the purpose of looking for the subjects.   AI noise reduction or AI distraction removal is allowed.

Note: No official judging of images will be done, but if you ask for critique we can do that.

Join us for another excellent meeting in the Champaign Public Library where Thomas Nelshoppen will present a program on Sports Photography. If you have seen any of his work, you won’t want to miss this.

The Challenge for this week is Autumn Colors, Quiet Streets, and/or Leading Lines. If you are brining your entries on an external source, please be sure to come early so they can be loaded.

See you there!

Opportunities for landscapes (fall color?), wildlife, and macro at least, plus the Howard Virgin Timber Park has an old cemetary to photograph. Since the Black Beach Locust parking lot is still fenced off, we can meet at the Honkers Island picnic shelter parking lot.  This should give us good views of sunrise reflections in the lake. 

AGENDA:

6:30am: meet in the parking lot mentioned.  Gives us enough time to set up for sunrise.

Plan on doing the Scenic Lake loop first, after the beach sunrise photos.  If time, we can do the other 3 trails as well.

7:02am:  Sunrise

10:30am: Leave and go to Howard Virgin Timber Park. 

Head for home at your leisure.

LINKS:

https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.moraineview.html

https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/parks/documents/moraineviewsitemap.pdf

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/illinois/moraine-view-state-recreation-area--2

You can see all 4 trails under this link.

https://www.leroy.org/visitors/things-to-do/local-parks-and-recreation/profile/howard-virgin-timber-park

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/howard-virgin-timber-park

Please RSVP to cccc-champaign-county-camera-club@googlegroups.com