Tuesday, March 29, 2011

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.

Friday, March 11, 2011

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.





Wednesday, March 09, 2011

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.



Monday, March 07, 2011

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.


Sunday, March 06, 2011

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.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sunday, February 13, 2011

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

Sunday, February 06, 2011

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.


Friday, February 04, 2011

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



Wednesday, February 02, 2011

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

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

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

Saturday, January 29, 2011

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.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

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.



Saturday, January 22, 2011

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

Saturday, January 15, 2011

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

Friday, January 14, 2011

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