{"id":1162,"date":"2024-01-31T11:40:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T17:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/?p=1162"},"modified":"2024-01-31T11:41:29","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T17:41:29","slug":"winter-red","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Red"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter Red<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"The

The winter fog added a sense of mystery over the sand savanna of black oak and red-berried holly.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
So far this winter, the magic of frozen white was nowhere to be found. So, I tried to photograph it, anyway.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
With dense fog predicted for the morning of Dec. 24, I visited Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois. The fog wasn’t as dense as I had hoped, but nature always has a way of surprising me.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Mired in the mist amidst the lush gold, bronze, and auburn tones of the saturated savanna, I caught sight of a indistinct patch of red. I became confused at such vibrance at this time of year, for displays of crimson blooms are rare even in the growing season. Lured by the mystery, I found myself overlooking a low, damp stretch of savanna, home to phalanxes of long-legged winterberry shrubs topped with red berries, our native holly.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2014Mike<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winter Red So far this winter, the magic of frozen white was nowhere to be found. So, I tried to photograph it, anyway. With dense fog predicted for the morning of Dec. 24, I visited Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Winter Red","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[68,71,212,236,261,73,67,79,70],"tags":[269,262,268,267,142,270],"class_list":["post-1162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago-nature","category-digital-photography-lessons-tips","category-illinois-nature-photography","category-illinois-lake-county-nature","category-landscape-photography","category-landscape-photography-lessons-tips","category-nature","category-nature-photography-lessons","category-photography-lessons-tips","tag-holly","tag-illinois-beach-state-park","tag-landscape","tag-landscape-photography","tag-winter-photography","tag-winterberry"],"yoast_head":"\nWinter Red - The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Though winter wasn't living up to its promise of frozen white, I gave in and photograph it, anyway. Here's what I found amidst the mist.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Winter Red - The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Though winter wasn't living up to its promise of frozen white, I gave in and photograph it, anyway. Here's what I found amidst the mist.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ChicagoNature\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-01-31T17:40:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-31T17:41:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB-1024x768.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mike MacDonald\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mike MacDonald\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mike MacDonald\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8c444c85e2b9b785b7950e50044195e3\"},\"headline\":\"Winter Red\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-01-31T17:40:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-31T17:41:29+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":163,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"holly\",\"Illinois Beach State Park\",\"landscape\",\"landscape photography\",\"Winter Photography\",\"winterberry\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Chicago Nature\",\"Digital Photography\",\"Illinois Nature Photography\",\"Lake County Illinois Nature\",\"Landscape Photography\",\"Landscape Photography\",\"Nature\",\"Nature Photography\",\"Photography Lessons\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/\",\"name\":\"Winter Red - The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-01-31T17:40:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-31T17:41:29+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8c444c85e2b9b785b7950e50044195e3\"},\"description\":\"Though winter wasn't living up to its promise of frozen white, I gave in and photograph it, anyway. Here's what I found amidst the mist.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1500,\"caption\":\"The winter fog added a sense of mystery over the sand savanna of black oak and holly.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/nature\\\/winter-red\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"The Heart of Nature\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Illinois Nature Photography\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/category\\\/illinois-nature-photography\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Chicago Nature\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/index.php\\\/category\\\/illinois-nature-photography\\\/chicago-nature\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Winter Red\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald\",\"description\":\"A Celebration of Biodiversity & The Art of Nature Photography\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chicagonature.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8c444c85e2b9b785b7950e50044195e3\",\"name\":\"Mike MacDonald\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/56e4c1fb52bcc99fc82a12f49d68bc46e2a1a2c7cf3b849ac389ec3678126005?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/56e4c1fb52bcc99fc82a12f49d68bc46e2a1a2c7cf3b849ac389ec3678126005?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/56e4c1fb52bcc99fc82a12f49d68bc46e2a1a2c7cf3b849ac389ec3678126005?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Mike MacDonald\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.ChicagoNature.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/ChicagoNature\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/macdonaldphoto\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Winter Red - The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald","description":"Though winter wasn't living up to its promise of frozen white, I gave in and photograph it, anyway. Here's what I found amidst the mist.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Winter Red - The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald","og_description":"Though winter wasn't living up to its promise of frozen white, I gave in and photograph it, anyway. Here's what I found amidst the mist.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/","og_site_name":"The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ChicagoNature","article_published_time":"2024-01-31T17:40:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-01-31T17:41:29+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":768,"url":"http:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB-1024x768.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Mike MacDonald","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mike MacDonald","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/"},"author":{"name":"Mike MacDonald","@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8c444c85e2b9b785b7950e50044195e3"},"headline":"Winter Red","datePublished":"2024-01-31T17:40:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-31T17:41:29+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/"},"wordCount":163,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","keywords":["holly","Illinois Beach State Park","landscape","landscape photography","Winter Photography","winterberry"],"articleSection":["Chicago Nature","Digital Photography","Illinois Nature Photography","Lake County Illinois Nature","Landscape Photography","Landscape Photography","Nature","Nature Photography","Photography Lessons"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/","url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/","name":"Winter Red - The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","datePublished":"2024-01-31T17:40:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-31T17:41:29+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8c444c85e2b9b785b7950e50044195e3"},"description":"Though winter wasn't living up to its promise of frozen white, I gave in and photograph it, anyway. Here's what I found amidst the mist.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","width":2000,"height":1500,"caption":"The winter fog added a sense of mystery over the sand savanna of black oak and holly."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/winter-red\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"The Heart of Nature","item":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Illinois Nature Photography","item":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/category\/illinois-nature-photography\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Chicago Nature","item":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/category\/illinois-nature-photography\/chicago-nature\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Winter Red"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/","name":"The Heart of Nature\u2122 by Mike MacDonald","description":"A Celebration of Biodiversity & The Art of Nature Photography","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8c444c85e2b9b785b7950e50044195e3","name":"Mike MacDonald","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/56e4c1fb52bcc99fc82a12f49d68bc46e2a1a2c7cf3b849ac389ec3678126005?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/56e4c1fb52bcc99fc82a12f49d68bc46e2a1a2c7cf3b849ac389ec3678126005?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/56e4c1fb52bcc99fc82a12f49d68bc46e2a1a2c7cf3b849ac389ec3678126005?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Mike MacDonald"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.ChicagoNature.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ChicagoNature","https:\/\/x.com\/macdonaldphoto"]}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-231224-0010-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcGjD3-iK","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1172,"url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/illinois-nature-photography\/go-with-the-blow\/","url_meta":{"origin":1162,"position":0},"title":"Go With the Blow","author":"Mike MacDonald","date":"February 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Go With the Blow Well, I did my first below-zero photo shoot of the winter season on January 15.\u00a0 It was one below, so it qualified. Most of the time, the wind is my nemesis. But on this bitter afternoon, instead of fighting it, I decided to go with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chicago Nature"","block_context":{"text":"Chicago Nature","link":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/category\/illinois-nature-photography\/chicago-nature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The wind whips the grasses along the edge of a partially frozen Dead River that empties into Lake Michigan.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-240115-0010-FS-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-240115-0010-FS-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-240115-0010-FS-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-240115-0010-FS-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1190,"url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/photography-lessons-tips\/nature-photography-lessons\/bunnys-view-of-springtime-woodland\/","url_meta":{"origin":1162,"position":1},"title":"A Bunny’s View of a Springtime Woodland","author":"Mike MacDonald","date":"November 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In the woodlands of early May, shy waxy white blossoms of mayapples hide under their umbrella-like foliage.","rel":"","context":"In "Chicago Nature"","block_context":{"text":"Chicago Nature","link":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/category\/illinois-nature-photography\/chicago-nature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An intimate view from underneath a miniature forest of mayapples in the woodland known as Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, Illinois.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Raccoon-Grove-240506-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Raccoon-Grove-240506-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Raccoon-Grove-240506-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Raccoon-Grove-240506-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Raccoon-Grove-240506-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C959&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":124,"url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/new-nature-photography-blog-the-heart-of-nature\/","url_meta":{"origin":1162,"position":2},"title":"New Nature Photography Blog: A Celebration of Biodiversity & The Art of Nature Photography","author":"Mike MacDonald","date":"January 30, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"It's a new day and a\u00a0new year,\u00a0and with\u00a0them\u00a0come\u00a0a fresh new resource, a nature photography blog\u00a0that speaks to\u00a0the avid photographer\u00a0and the\u00a0lover of nature. I call it: The Heart of Nature. The purpose of this blog\u00a0is to share my insights about photography and my\u00a0explorations in the wilds of Chicago. It's a celebration\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Biodiversity"","block_context":{"text":"Biodiversity","link":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/category\/nature\/biodiversity-nature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The morning sun peaks above the horizon to illuminate a large display of Foxglove Beardtongue at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois. \u00a92007 Mike MacDonald Photography\u2014All Rights Reserved","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Tender-Kiss-of-Light-600px-Copyright.jpg?fit=600%2C439&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Tender-Kiss-of-Light-600px-Copyright.jpg?fit=600%2C439&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Tender-Kiss-of-Light-600px-Copyright.jpg?fit=600%2C439&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1181,"url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/illinois-nature-photography\/it-can-take-decades\/","url_meta":{"origin":1162,"position":3},"title":"It Can Take Decades","author":"Mike MacDonald","date":"September 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The image here showcases a hanging fen and a sedge meadow, two unique wetland habitats Mike has been trying to photograph for over twenty years. The fen, fed by a gravel hill's seep, features rare plants like Ohio goldenrod and sphynx lady tresses orchid, adapted to its alkaline water conditions.","rel":"","context":"In "Chicago Nature"","block_context":{"text":"Chicago Nature","link":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/category\/illinois-nature-photography\/chicago-nature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"At Lake in the Hills Fen, late-summer flowers decorate the seep of one of its hanging fens.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Lake-in-the-Hills-Fen-220908-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=982%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Lake-in-the-Hills-Fen-220908-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=982%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Lake-in-the-Hills-Fen-220908-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=982%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Lake-in-the-Hills-Fen-220908-0010-FS-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=982%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1071,"url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/nature\/the-extraordinary-in-the-ordinary\/","url_meta":{"origin":1162,"position":4},"title":"The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary”","author":"Mike MacDonald","date":"February 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Extraordinary in the \"Ordinary\" I am both haunted and fascinated by a phrase that's often used to praise and describe my work. It all came to a head one day after I performed my one-man show about Chicago nature. Three audience members separately visited me at my book-signing table\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chicago Nature"","block_context":{"text":"Chicago Nature","link":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/category\/illinois-nature-photography\/chicago-nature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The winter sun warms the oak savanna on the kame at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Bluff-Spring-Fen-Snow_Ice-220125-0010-FS-FINAL-800px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=582%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Bluff-Spring-Fen-Snow_Ice-220125-0010-FS-FINAL-800px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=582%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Bluff-Spring-Fen-Snow_Ice-220125-0010-FS-FINAL-800px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=582%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1115,"url":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/illinois-nature-photography\/from-dreary-to-dreamy\/","url_meta":{"origin":1162,"position":5},"title":"From Dreary to Dreamy","author":"Mike MacDonald","date":"February 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"From Dreary to Dreamy Just in case you're unaware, all of my images are available as big, beautiful photographic prints. More than just pretty, they tell elaborate stories that celebrate Chicago's wondrous habitats and inhabitants. Click here for more information. On overcast days like this, I usually stay home. Rarely\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chicago Nature"","block_context":{"text":"Chicago Nature","link":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/category\/illinois-nature-photography\/chicago-nature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Shelves of ice form along the sandy shore of a turquoise Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-220129-0010-FS-00-FINAL-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-220129-0010-FS-00-FINAL-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-220129-0010-FS-00-FINAL-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-220129-0010-FS-00-FINAL-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IL-Beach-SP-Snow_Ice-220129-0010-FS-00-FINAL-UNCROPPED-2000px-copyright-sRGB.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1162"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1178,"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162\/revisions\/1178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chicagonature.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}