Winter Solstice Bonfire - Somme Woods

Winter Solstice Bonfire - Somme Woods  
© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music "Dulamoan - by Women of the World Celtic

The photographs in this film clip were taken on December 22, 2012 at the annual winter solstice bonfire at Somme woods in Northbrook, IL

Emily Park (Skokie, IL)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now

When I was in grade school I went to camp at Emily Park (which is now known as Emily Oaks Nature Center). I have so many found memories of my time here. One includes learning to row a boat, or shoot an arrow with a bow. I also learned the words to the song "both sides now" when I was around 7 or 8. We were always told not to go swimming in the lagoon since it was packed with leaches.

 Emily Park also had one of those secret paths only kids who grew up in Skokie knew about. We would cut over the train tracks to go to Oakton Bowl or Oakton Park.

I'm so amazed at how different this park is now. It used to be an open field with three campfire rings. Now it's like a jungle. The wildlife is unreal. It's hard to believe this is the same park that I wandered in back in the 1960s and 70s.

Sculpture Park (Skokie, IL)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by The Beatles - I've Just Seen A Face

I went wandering around the Sculpture Park in Skokie between Demptster and Main Streets back in August.

Timber Lake Park

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music By REM - Mad World

A place filled with childhood memories.

Leaving Southeastern Minnesota (July, 2012)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by "The Church" - Under the Milkyway

I had a few hours before I had to fly out of Rochester, so I went driving off into the countryside to see what I could find.

Thank you!

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by James Taylor - "You've Got A Friend"

I took these pictures after a very long day of having medical testing done at the Mayo Clinic.  I really needed to be around nature, cows, horses or what ever else I could find. I would never have been able to take these pictures if it wasn't for a group of amazing people.   I don't know how to begin to thank all of you who helped me to get to Rochester, MN all for times that I had to go there so far year.  Each and everyone of you helped to save my life.  The love and support you have shown me has been amazing.

This Father's Day

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by Peter Himmelman - "This Father's Day"

I took the following pictures over the last few days.  I created this video to mark my father's 80th birthday. 

Road To Mukwonago (May 20, 2012)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by Diana Ross - "Do You Know Where You're Going To"

I really wish I had been in NYC for a protest rally, yet it was too far for me to travel.  Instead I headed to southern Wisconsin to be in the rolling hills and to find the solace I used to find when going to the mountains of western Maryland.

Day's Before NATO Summit - Chicago, 2012

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin Music by Christina Perri - "A Thousand Years" I had to be downtown and figured since I had some time I would take pictures of the Museum Campus area before the city closes it down before NATO comes to town. It was so strange to see very few boats in the water on such a beautiful spring day, let alone very few in Burnham Harbor. I also don't believe I saw a single plane flying over the city. My hope is that Chicago will shine before, during and after the chaos hits our beloved city.

Illinois Beach State Park

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by Five For Fighting - "100 Years"

I haven't been to this park since I was a kid. I was surprised to that I could see downtown Chicago from the beach. This state park is about 50 miles away.

The Great Escape - May 8, 2012

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin Music by Bill Quateman - "What are you looking for" I was feeling bogged down, so I started my day off by going to the Bog in Volo IL and on to the Mc Henry Dam. Once I was done there I wandered around the countryside. I just needed to see farms, horses and what ever else I could find.

Farwell Beach - East Rogers Park, Chicago

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin Music by Simon and Garfunkel Had a little time to go for a short walk along the lake and took a few pictures.

Hail Storm on the northside of Chicago (May 3, 2012)

© (2012) Filmed by Vicki Polin

Got trapped in a building when the hail started coming down. Here's what the parking lot looked like. I didn't think of taking my camera out until the hail started to slow down.

A Celebration of Life - Gillson Beach

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by Paco de Lucia (A Pesar De Todo)

The pictures today were taken as a way to celebrate my life. It's the 2 month anniversary since I had surgery.  It was also the first day that I saw sailboats out on the lake. 

Benching at the Chicago Botanic Gardens (April 18, 2012)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin
Music by: Natasha Bedingfield - "Wild Horses"

Today was an absolutely beautiful day. I'm still recovering from surgery, yet needed to get out in the fresh air. I went from one bench to the next resting as I captured the beauty that surrounded me with my camera.

Spring at the Chicago Botanic Gardens (April 2, 2012)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

This was my first time at the Botanic Gardens in a very long time.  It was a beautiful day to be out in nature.

My first day out this spring (2012)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I haven't been able to get out to take pictures until yesterday. My walk was very short, yet at least I got spend a few minutes by the lake.

Trip to Olmsted County, MN (March, 2012)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

These were taken during the early part of my trip to Minnesota. The pictures were taken on the last day that I'll be able to drive for several weeks. I had no choice but to take a ride down as many country roads I could find in a very short period of time.

Enjoying the Fox River with Paco de Lucia

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I took a ride around the Fox River. I heard that people spotted some eagles. I didn't see any, yet I did find a bunch of kids snowboarding at Raging Buffalo Snowboarding Park. I passed the Norge Ski Club, yet it was way to warm and not enough snow for anyone to be skiing.

Montrose Dog Beach and Harbor (Jan. 27, 2012)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I had some time before an appointment so I wandered over to the lake to see if I could capture the moment. This is what I saw.

Coming home from Minnesota

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

On my way home from Rochester I decided to take several breaks along the way to photograph what I saw.  I needed to clear my thoughts to prepare for March.


The photographs start off in southern Minnesota, then on to the area around Mississippi River. I took a break in the Wisconsin Dells and then caught some folks skiing down Cascade Mountain.

Just outside of Rochester, MN

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I had some time to wander on the country roads outside of Rochester, MN today. Many of the roads were still packed with snow and were pretty slick, so I didn't do that much exploring.

Minnehaha Falls, Como Conservatory and the Mississippi River (Minneapolis, MN)

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

I spent a few days in the Minneapolis area. While there I went to see the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Falls and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (AKA: Como Conservatory).

Happy New Years Chicago - 2012

© (2012) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Went with a friend to see the fireworks at Navy Pier to celebrate the new year.