The Beauty of Gloomy Day

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin


This morning was warm, bright and sunny, yet by the time I got out it was cold and gloomy.  I was frustrated due to the amount of pain I'm still in from the car accidents and that I haven't completely recovered yet.


I knew if I just got myself up, out and walking that I could distract myself from everything.  I really wanted to walk along the beach and figured I'd be able to transform the mood into something beautiful if I just used my camera.  This is what I saw.

Early Spring at the gardens at the Bahai Temple in Wilmette, IL

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

It was the first warm spring day this year. I stopped by to see the gardens that surround the Bahai Temple in Wilmette

Lilacia Park (Lombard, IL)

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went to see the lilac's in bloom at Lilacia Park. Unfortunately, I think I got there a week or two too early for them to be in full bloom.

Smith Museum of Stained Glass and the Chicago Mosaic School

© (2011) photographs by Vicki Polin

While I was strolling around Navy Pier I came across the Smith Museum and decided to take a few pictures of some of the beauty I saw. Totally amazing work.

Navy Pier and Ohio Street Beach (Chicago, IL)

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

After an appointment I went for a walk along Navy Pier. I haven't been there since they had Chicago Fest there. I think that was back in the 1980s? They've completely renovated the place.

The Dunes of Indiana and Michigan

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I needed to get lost some where in nature. On my way to the dunes I heard a weatherman on the radio stating that this was one of the gloomiest April's in history for the Chicagoland area.  Fortunately today was a bright and sunny day.

The last time I was at the Indiana dunes was with a dear friend of mine who was murdered a little over 20 years ago.  The last time I was at Warren Dunes in Michigan I believe was during the weekend of my high school senior prom.  It was amazing to go back to both of these places, the beauty surrounded me.  

I was saddened though to learn there was a forest fire on the top of the highest dune at Warren Beach, yet the skelaton's of the trees remained.

For some reason I didn't remember that there were two nuclear power plants in the area.  It really disturbed me seeing them so close to the lake front, especially after what has been happening in Japan.

There are two videos below. The first is of the Indiana Dunes, the second is Warren Dunes.

Indiana Dunes


Warren Dunes

Timber Lake Park

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I had a need to be near farmland, yet living in the Chicagoland area means having to drive pretty far north. I kept finding myself crossing over into Wisconsin.

Puppies on the beach

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

It was an absolutely beautiful day when I went for a walk along the beach. I sat down on some rocks and just captured the moment. I had fun watching two dogs playing in the water.

Monday at the Lake

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

A day of solitude

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I walked for along various beaches today on an overcast day. At the end of the walk it got very foggy and could barely see a thing.

The forest in the early spring

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

On my way home I decided to stop by the forest to see what my deer friends were up to. I was amazed to see that the grass was green and soon enough there will also be leaves on the trees.

Wandering and spinning around Montrose Harbor and the Bird Sanctuary

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Took time out on a beautiful spring day to wander around Montrose Harbor and the bird sanctuary.

Spinning around at Montrose Harbor

Filmed by Vicki Polin
It was a beautiful day to go walking around Montrose Harbor

Wandering along on the beaches

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by Neil Diamond - I am

It was a beautiful sunny day when I went for a long walk along the beaches of the Chicagoland area. The water was various shades of blue and turquoise. The view of downtown Chicago was taken from the beaches in East Rogers Park, about 10 miles away.




You can watch the waves come in here:

The start of spring and melting ice

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin


I was wondering around at Tower Beach in Winnetka before a meeting and captured the remains of this past winter.

A tour of Lincoln Park Zoo - Mozart's Concerto #5

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I spent lunch wandering the zoo with my camera. I'm totally amazed how much Lincoln Park Zoo transformed during the 12 years I was away.

Below the first film is a clip of a Rhino playing around.

Sun shining from the forest to the sea (Lake Michigan)

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

It was a sunny day that started off at a local forest preserve and ended at Montrose harbor, watch ice fishermen.

East Rogers Park, Evanston and the Forest

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music: The Cure - Boys Don't Cry

During a break I first drove over to a beach in East Rogers Park and then drove over to one of the local forest preserves and snapped a few shots.

It was so sad to see homeless men sleeping out on a pier. Two men were guarding them and told me not to come any closer, yet they posed for me when I let them know I was going to put my pictures up on YouTube. They were excited they were going to be famous.

Showing a friend downtown Chicago

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music: The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun

I was showing a friend around Chicago. While we were downtown we heard tons sirens going off. Turns out there was a fire at the Bank of America Building right near where we were.

We started off the day at Montrose Harbor and then went to the Bean. We strolled around MillenniumPark, and then on to State Street, etc.

Balmy winter day in Chicago

© (2011) photographs by Vicki Polin
Music from Hair - Initials

This too will pass - Deer in the hood

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

The weather in Chicago in the winter can change so dramatically. Last week it was -30 with the windchill factor. Today it was in the 40's. I was wandering through a local forest preserve and was fortunate enough to capture several deer.

Music by Peter Himmelman - This too will pass

Gillson Park and Baha'i Temple - 2 days after the Chicago Blizzard of 2011

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin


Two days after the end of the Blizzard I was able to get into Gillson Park. It was amazingly beautiful to see how the mounds created by the snow and sand.

Chicago Cultural Center

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

During a break I cut through the Chicago Cultural Center with some friends. I haven't been inside in many years. It's still just as beautiful as I remembered it being.

The views of downtown Chicago were taken from inside the Cultural Center. It was 2 days past the Chicago Blizzard of 2011.

The Cultural Center was built in 1893 and was Chicago's central library and Grand Army of the Republic Museum.

Music: Both Sides Now

Chicago Blizzard of 2011 - Around the curve between Evanston and Chicago

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin


I took these around noon on Feb. 2, 2011 after the blizzard ended. I think these are the most amazing pictures I took today.  I was hoping to drive down Sheridan Rd. from Evanston into Chicago.  It was impossible.  I ended up walking around South Ave. Beach .


It was totally impossible, yet the area felt festive with everyone coming out to capture the moment.



Music by Simply Tsfat - A Niggun From Uman

Cruising around in Evanston after the big Chicago blizzard of 2011

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Besides wandering around in West Rogers Park, I also cruised over to Evanston and captured these images around noon on Feb. 2, 2011.

West Rogers Park After the Chicago Blizzard of 2011

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

After my car got dug out I had to drive around for a bit and migrated over to West Rogers Park at around 1:00 PM.

I was amazed at how quickly the city dug out all the main streets, yet the side streets were still plowed under.

Music by Michael Alon - D'ror Yikra

Blizzard of 2011: Driving around as the blizzard first hit

Here's several film clips of when the 2011 Chicago Blizzard first hit.  I'm driving around in East Rogers Park in Chicago and Evanston, and then a few taken later on in the evening.

The Beach


Juneway Terrace - East Rogers Park, Chicago


Sheridan Road between Evanston, IL and Chicago, IL


Sheridan Road Near Northwestern University - Evanston, IL


9:30 PM


11:30 PM

Start of the 2011 Blizzard in Chicago

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin


I took these images between 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, which was really the start of the blizzard.  The wind was blowing so hard near the lake that it was difficult to stay standing unless I was holding on to something.  I heard the winds were between 30 - 40 mph




Music: Winter wonderland

When you're gone. . .

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by Avril Lavigne - When you're gone


I ran away from home for a few hours this morning and brought my camera along for the ride.  It was a warm winter day for Chicago.  I ended up going to Gillson Beach in Willmette, IL.

Winter and Thumbelina

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

It was a beautiful day with fresh snow on the ground. I went for a walk along the lake and was surprised to see that I could actually see the water without ice over it.

Shabbat with some deer friends

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

It's been bitterly cold out the last few days and went out to do some drive by shootings with my camera. Ended up at one of the local forest preserves and stumbled upon a herd of deer.  There are two videos posted here. The first one is of still shots.  The second is a movie of two deers eating.



Two deers eating

Would you know my name

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went wandering around the Grosse Point Lighthouse today.  It will never stop amazing me how different the beach can look from one day to the next.  While I was walking around this song was playing in my head.

Music by Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven

Wandering around Gillson Park on a winter day

© (2011) Photographs by Vicki Polin


I ended up on Sheridan Rd. and decided to take a walk around Gillson Park to see if I could capture anything interesting.


Music by Eric Clapton - Classical Guitar

Quaking up at Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago, IL

© (2011) Filmed by Vicki Polin

Changes

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

Today was one of the few days lately that the sun was shinning brightly. I started off at Gillson Beach, went up to Tower Beach and ended my day at Glencoe Beach.  I could only be out for about 15 minutes at a time before my fingers started to freeze and my face began to burn.

To my delight while at Gillson Beach I bumped into a high school friend who's also a photographer.

It was amazing to see how the mixture of snow and ice created mounds. I'm not sure if I should call them glaciers or icebergs?

Desert of Snow and Sand

(2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

There were the last pictures I took in 2010. I went walking along one of the beaches in Evanston. I felt as if I was walking in a desert. It was amazing to see the snow melting on a 50 degree winter day in Chicago. It looked as if there was an earthquake, as the snow divided and cracked.

Music by The Beatles - Here, There, and Everywhere

Lunch with a deer friend

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

It was a warm day in December.  Everything was melting. I tried going to the beach yet with the melting snow, everything was mushy or slippery. I ended up going to St. Paul and Harms woods in Morton Grove and Glenview.  I took a break from picture taking to eat lunch, when I a spotted a lone deer in the woods.

Music by The Byrds - Turn, Turn, Turn

The Lincoln Park Niggun (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music - Magen Avot Niggun

It felt like the first day in weeks that the sun was shinning brightly.  I decided to take a walk in various locations in Lincoln Park.  I ended up spending most of my time by Montrose Harbor.  I don't know who this music is by, yet it just seemed to go perfectly with the mood of the day.

Sound of Music - Chicago Style

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

This represents the last two days of walking along the beach in Evanston and Chicago. I didn't realize until I went outside how much it snowed overnight. In some places with the snow drifts the snow went above my knees.

Music by Rogers and Hammerstein - Sound of Music

From Highland Park to West Rogers Park - Winter Wonderland

There are 3 different videos posted here from my day near the Lake Michigan.  The first group of pictures were captured at Gillson Park in Willmette, IL.  The second was my journey from Highland Park to Chicago along Sheridan Road and then into Juneway and Rogers Avenue Beaches.  The third is a movie of the ice covered waves along the beach.


1) Maoz Tzur - Rock of Ages (Gillson Park, Wilmette, IL)

Photographs by Vicki Polin

Music by Marc Cohen - Rock of Ages

It was pretty warm for a December day in Chicago.  I decided to go over to Gilson Beach for my daily walk.  It was like walking along in a winter wonderland.  Everything was frozen over.  The sand crunched with each step.



2) Cloudy
Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by Simon and Garfunkel - Cloudy
I decided to drive down Sheridan Rd after visiting a friend in Highland Park.  I couldn't help but capture the snow as it was falling on this famous winding road on Chicago's north shore.  Once I hit the Chicago border I stopped off at Juneway and Rogers Ave. Beaches.



3) Watching the ice capped waves.
I wanted to capture the ice capped waves in motion.

Winter Solstice Bonfire (Northbrook, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

A friend told me about the annual Winter Solstice Bonfire at Somme Woods Forest Preserve in Northbrook, IL.  It was a balmy day for Chicago, I think it was in the upper 20's, so I went.

It was a gather of folks to celebrate teh season with music and a towering bonfire of buckthorn wood.

I was told that the custom was to think of things you want to let go of in your life, or changes you want to make as you throw wood into the fire.

The event started out in the parking lot and the bagpiper lead a procession through the beautiful winter oak woodland to a mountain of invasive brush that has been cut during the last year.

The event was sponsored by Friends of Northbrook Forest Preserves, North Branch Restoration Project, and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

I couldn't find bagpipe music so I figured Celtic music was pretty close.

Music by Ceoltorii - Scottish Real Set

Sunset on the beach on a warm December day

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I happened to get to the beach just as the sun began to set.  It was a warm December day by Chicago standards.  I believe it was in the 20s.

Music by Simon and Garfunkel - Flowers Never Bend

This is what 7 degrees looks like. (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin


This is what the beach looked like after last nights storm. I was told by a neighbor that parts of Sheridan Rd. was closed because the waves were taking over the road.



This is what 7 degrees looks like. (Chicago, IL) from vickipolin on Vimeo.

Blowing in The Wind - Chicago Style

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went to a few forest preserves and along the lake to capture the wind.


Blowing Wind in Chicago from vickipolin on Vimeo.

Gilson Beach - Wilmette, IL (December 11, 2010)

© (2010) filmed by Vicki Polin

I wanted to go walking along the beach, yet the wind was blowing so hard I had to hold on to a tree while I tried to film this.

Hanukkah on the Beach (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

28th of Kislev -- Last night it snowed in Chicago and I wanted to capture the beauty of the lake with the snow.  It was about 17 degrees outside.

"I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering."

Photographs by Vicki Polin

Music by Led Zepplin - "Thank you"


It was a cold November day. I think it was around 30 degrees. While I was walking I noticed a woman undressing and getting ready to go for a swim in the lake. When I asked her if she was OK? She responded in a thick Russian accent. This isn't cold. I take a swim every day, even in the heart of winter.

Gillson Beach (Wilmette, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Growing up this was one of my favorite places to hang with my friends.

Music: Fiddler on the Roof - "Far from the home I love"

Beaches - Walking Along The Shore

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I needed to go for a long walk today, so I strolled along various beaches.

Music by Jewel - "You were meant for me"

Sunset Over Lake Michigan - Shabbat Shalom

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

The sun was setting so I had to pull over to capture the moment.

Music: Fiddler on the Roof - "Sabbath Prayer"

The Innocence of Childhood

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I stopped by the beach to capture the waves on a cold and stormy day in Chicago. My thoughts were with a friend, who is struggling with some childhood abuse issues. As I was taking these pictures, a particular song from Fiddler on the Roof kept playing in my head. As I put this video together it all just seemed to fit together.

Music: Fiddler on the Roof - Chava Ballet Sequence.

A Cold November Day At Montrose Harbor (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Filmed by Vicki Polin
It was a cold November afternoon that I went to the harbor to capture the waves.

Strolling Around The Bird Sanctuary of Montrose Harbor (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

This is for my friends who are feeling traumatized after they vote today. It's so sad and scary the choices we have been given. Hope this helps to get you out of that voting funk.

It was a beautiful fall day when I went for a stroll in the bird sanctuary in Montrose Harbor in Chicago. It was so odd that I heard so many birds, but never saw any.

Music by Don McLean - Babylon

Birds at an Evanston Beach

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

As I walked along the beach I took time to capture the moment on a brisk fall day.

Music by Joan Baez - Strange River

Walking Along the Lake

© (2010) photographs by Vicki Polin
Went of a long walk along the lake on a very windy day


Music: Suzanne Vega "Toms Diner"

Jewish Survivors of Sexual Abuse/Assault are NEVER ALONE!

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Yesterday while going on my daily walk I took the following photographs that I put up on YouTube. As I was taking them I kept hearing the song "Castle of the King" in my head and started thinking about the hundreds or maybe thousands of Jewish Survivors I've spoken to over the years. So many of those who have been sexually abuse/assaulted shared with me how they felt as if they didn't fit within any Jewish community. Many stating that they felt that because they were sexually violated that their communities saw them as damaged goods, not worthy of being apart of a place they once felt was home. Others felt as if they were just outcasts or misfits.

As we all know, so many Jewish survivors of sex crimes have walked away from observing in the way they once did, stopped practicing altogether or have converted to other faiths. Every time I hear the song "Castle of the King" I'm reminded of this plight; for that reason I am dedicating this film clip to them, to let them know that they do belong, that they are loved and are not ALONE!

I hope you find this film clip healing!

Music by Ayelet HaShachar - Castle of the King
Location: Grosse Point Lighthouse (Evanston, IL)

Downtown Chicago from the Adler Planetarium

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I wandered around the grounds just outside of the Planetarium and the 12th St. Beach, where you can see Adler Planetarium, Soldier's field, Field Museum, Burnham Harbor, Navy Pier, the John Hancock Building, Sears Tower, Mc Cormick Place, Standard Oil Building, Steel Factories in Gary, IN, Grant Park, Northerly Island and much more.

Music by Paco Pena - Granadinas

Sunset on Sheridan Rd - Between Chicago and Evanston

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I ended up walking up Sheridan Road just as the fog was lifting and the sun was setting. Absolutely perfect time for picture taking. It was sort of eery watching the sunset over the cemetery, and then this song by Joan Baez started playing in my head as I began to remember various things from my childhood.

Music By Joan Baez - The Dream Song

Messages in the Sand (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

It was so strange that two blocks away from Lake Michigan it was a bright sunny day, yet by the shore it was incredibly foggy.

There's times I take pictures and put music together with the photographs and it just comes out perfect. This batch of pictures is one of those times it happened. The pictures are in the sequence that I took them. The way it went with the music was spontaneous.

These pictures were created in honor of everyone involved in the Anti-Rape Movement

Music by Ayelet HaShachar - Darashti Et Hashem

Buckingham Fountain - Downtown Chicago

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Had a few minutes to stroll around Buckingham Fountain

Quick Trip to Springfield - Capital of Illinois

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Here's pictures from my 20 minute walk on the street that Abraham Lincoln Lived on.

Music by Mystic Warriors

Strolling Along Touhy Beach (Rogers Park - Chicago)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin
A childhood friend asked me to take pictures of Touhy Beach, one of her old stomping grounds as a child. It was a beautiful fall day, with temperatures in the lower 50's.

Music from the movie - Somewhere In Time

Summers End - Bahaii Temple (Wilmette, IL

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I took a stroll through the gardens of the Bahaii Temple, knowing this was near the end of the life of the garden for the year.

Music from the movie "Somewhere in Time" - Old woman

Surfing - Chicago Style (Rogers Park - Touhy Beach)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I was standing at Touhy Beach. The surfers were launching somewhere between Jarvis Beach and where I was standing. They were going out at least a mile out into the lake. It was about 52 degrees out by the lake or cooler.
I'm still learning how to take action shots, so some of the pictures are a bit fuzzy.

Music by Dick Dale - Ghostrider in the Ski

Farwell Pier and Beach (Rogers Park - Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Everyday I go out for walks for exercise and am trying to visit different places in the Chicagoland area each time I go. I often take my camera with me to document the beauty I see.

I was looking up the history of the Farwell Pier and learned that it was originally built by JV Farwell, prior to the great Chicago Fire. It was a part of his estate, which at the time was NOT a part of the city.

Music by Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul

Moments at the Sears Tower (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Spent some time up at the top of the Sears Tower with some friends.

Chol HaMoed at Lake Michigan (Chicagoland)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went for a walk along the lake on a beautiful fall day during succos in Chicago. I can't believe how much cooler it is here compared to this time of year in Baltimore.

Music by Cat Stevens - "Into White"

A Ten Year Journey

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I wanted to put together a collage of sorts of my favorite photographs taken with my camera that reflected the last 10 years of my life.

The photographs represent some of the time I spent in Israel, California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Washington DC and Illinois.

Music by Alon Michael And Israel Edelson - Zlotchover Rebbe's Niggun

My Weekend

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Went from the East Lakeview Art Festival to see a long lost friend, up to Highland Park to walk around and ended with going with friends for them to do Tashlich.

Music by Máire Breatnach - Breatnaigh Abu

Tashlich (2010 / 5771)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Tashlich (תשליך) is a ritual that many Jews observe during Rosh HaShanah. "Tashlich" means "casting off" in Hebrew and involves symbolically casting off the sins of the previous year by tossing pieces of bread or another food into a body of flowing water. Just as the water carries away the bits of bread, so too are sins symbolically carried away. In this way the participant hopes to start the New Year with a clean slate.


Photographs taken at Montrose Harbor - Chicago, IL

Music by Peter Himmelman - "Untitled"

Chicago Botanic Garden (Northbrook, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

It was a perfect day to walk through the Botanic Garden's with a friend.

Music by Jewel - Who will save your soul

Oakwood Beach - Hyde Park (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Took a stroll by the beach. To the north you could see downtown Chicago. To the south you could see the industry of Gary, Indiana. The list picture you can sort of see Buckingham Fountain.

Music by Doris Day - Que Serra Serra

Osaka Japanese Garden and the Museum of Science and Industry Lagoon (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went to pay my respects to both my grandmother and her sister, who's ashes were spread over the Japanese Garden years ago. This was their favorite place to go when they were children growing up in Chicago.

Music by Alon Michael And Israel Edelson - Mikdash Melekh

Between Rogers Park and Evanston on Sheridan Rd. (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I It was an absolutely beautiful day and I forced myself to go out and take some pictures near Lake Michigan. I was walking on Sheridan Rd., between the borders of East Rogers Park (Chicago) and Evanston.

While I was walking I met a woman who is almost 90. For almost 50 years she was a school teacher on Chicago's west side. She was totally inspiring. The woman went on and told me that she recently lost over 120 lbs. Since the weight loss she had her knees replaced and is now walking 3 hours a day along the lakeshore. The woman shared a few of her life long dreams with me. Next year she's going to China to walk the Great Wall, and the following year she's off to Africa to meet wild elephants.

The way she talked about her plans, I know she's going to do it. I know so many people who have all sorts of dreams, yet seem to always put them on the back burner. I'm hoping you will use this 80 something year old woman's story as an inspiration. I know that what ever it is that you've always wanted to do, you will be able to accomplish if you believe in yourself.


Hope you enjoy the show

Music by Rahel Jaskow and Ray Scudero - Lullaby in C

Port Clinton Art Festival (Highland Park, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I ran away from home and joined an art fair. This was the best art fair I've been to in a long time.

Music by Paco de Lucia - Siboney

Childhood Memory (Southern, Wisconsin)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went back to a place I used to go during my early years with my family.

Music by Diana Ross - Do You Know

Skokie's Sculpture Park (Skokie, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

They built the sculpture park several years ago and I always wanted to walk through it. Today I found the time. I only went through about a forth of it. Had no idea it was so big.

Music by Bill Quateman - Get It Right On Out There

Glenwood Art Festival and Farmers Market (East Rogers Park - Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Went strolling with my camera in a neighborhood I hadn't been in since I was in my early 20's.

Music by The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Rock Art (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went walking along a place I used to ride my bike to as a kid. This was a place I went when I needed time and space to myself. It is great to see the tradition of creating art on the rocks remains the same.

Music by Bill Quateman - Too Many Mornings

Lincoln Park Zoo's Nature Boardwalk (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

A dear friend of mine and her family are about to make aliyah to Israel from Baltimore. I was out walking around thinking about them, especially one of her children who loves to talk about "Downtown Chicago".




Music by Simply Tsfat - "L'Cha Dodi"

Driving through Lincoln Park (Chicago, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I had a zillion errands to run on today, and kept running over towards the lake after each one. It was so beautiful.

Some of the stops included Lincoln Park, Juneway Terrace, Rogers Beach, Montrose Harbor (including the doggy beach).

Music: 

3 Doors Down - Here Without You

Bughouse Square and the Newberry Library (Chicago, IL)

© (Photographs by Vicki Polin)
Music By Simon and Garfunkel - "Feeling Groovy"


I went back to my old neighborhood where I lived prior to moving to Israel and Baltimore. It was amazing to see how much it changed.





Here's the history of Bughouse Square: http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.or...

Gardens at the Baha'i House of Worship (Wilmette, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Took the long way to get to Walmart after attending the Evanston Art Fair and ended up walking around the gardens at Bahai Temple





Music: James Taylor - You've Got A Friend

Evanston Art Fair and Dog Beach - 2010 (Evanston, IL)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I spent part of the day at the Evanston Art Fair, which was right near the Evanston Dog Beach and Northwestern, University.




Music by Peter Himmelman - "Whispering Days"

Last Trip to Hunt Valley (Maryland)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I'm moving away from Baltimore this week and wanted to one last trip photographing Hunt Valley. It's been one of my favorite place to go when I needed time for myself.

(Cockysville, Sparks, Corbertt, Glencoe)

Music by Peter Himmelman

Forth of July 2010 - Chicago

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Happy Independence Day!

Went for a walk on the Forth of July in Lincoln Park. I walked from my friends home to Montrose Harbor.





Music: Star Spangled Banner

Quick Trip To Chicago - Pride Parade (June 27, 2010)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went to watch the parade to see a childhood friend who was on the Gay Chicago Hall of Fame float. The weather report said there would be severe thunderstorms, turned out to just be a very hot day.



Music:Barbra Streisand - Don't Rain On My Parade

My last trip to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I went up with a friend to the Lancaster area with a friend.







Music:  Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain

He Loves to Laugh (June 19, 2010)

© (2010) Filmed by Vicki Polin

My friend's son being himself -- just laughing away.  :-)

Gettysburg at Sunset (June, 2010)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Drove out with a friend to Gettysburg to watch the sunset.  This was my last trip out this way before I move to Chicago.

Music by Don Mc Clean - Vincent

It's all happening at the zoo (Baltimore, MD)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Spent the day at the Baltimore Zoo with some friends.

Music by Simon and Garfunkel

Psyched to be in Sykesville

 © (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin Spent the day with a friend photographing in and around Sykesville, MD

Strolling Around Mount Vernon (Baltimore, MD)

© (2010) Photographs by Vicki Polin It was a beautiful day in May that I went walking around Mt. Vernon to capture some of the architecture that surrounds this historical district.