Kevin Palmer

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  • A group of trees grow against a wall in Kaskaskia Canyon.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 6, 2015
    Against the Wall
  • This covered bridge is located just outside of Princeton, Illinois. The bridge was built in 1863 and has a weight limit of 5 tons.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 27, 2015
    Red Covered Bridge
  • Franklin Creek flows quietly past sandstone bluffs. After a recent snowfall, this state park was looking especially beautiful. The creek is fed by several natural springs, which flow directly out of the rock. Pioneer families took advantage of this location in the 1830's by building a nearby grist mill powered by a spring.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 27, 2015
    Leaning Tree
  • A steep sandstone bluff slopes down to the water at Franklin Creek State Park.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 27, 2015
    Sloping Cliff
  • Purple wildflowers bloom in the verdant Chino Hills with the snow covered San Gabriel Mountains in the background.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 24, 2015
    Chino Hills Wildflowers
  • San Juan Hill in the Chino Hills provided a great view of the valley with the snow capped San Gabriel Mountains in the distance.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 24, 2015
    Baldy Green Hills
  • This was the 3rd time I've been to Chino Hills State Park and I've never seen it this green. Fresh snow on the mountains and clear air made for some great views. This was taken from the top of San Juan Hill.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 24, 2015
    Chino Hills Panorama
  • I found this old barn on the side of a road outside of Lincoln, IL. The foundation is fractured and the entire front end is sinking into the ground. The late evening sunlight was painting the barn gold as it melted what's left of the snow. It probably won't be long before it collapses and turns into a pile of rubble.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 6, 2015
    Leaning Barn of Lincoln
  • I was able to catch these starlings taking flight early one morning in Sand Ridge State Forest.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 2, 2015
    Taking Flight
  • Kaskaskia Canyon contains a 20 foot high waterfall, with several dead trees that fell down and became stuck. Behind it is this cave. The ice in the cave was just barely thick enough to support my weight and I could see fish swimming underneath. I liked the way the light was reflecting on the ice.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 6, 2015
    Cold Cavern
  • Southern California is never more beautiful than right after a winter storm. It left the air very clear with snow on the mountains and greened up the Chino Hills.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 24, 2015
    Snowcapped Green
  • Morning sunlight illuminates the trees above a snowy road in Sand Ridge State Forest.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 2, 2015
    Snowy Gold
  • Snow begins to drop from tree branches as the sun climbs higher in the sky. It was still only about 10 degrees though.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 2, 2015
    Sunlit
  • I always like being the first person on a trail after a fresh snowfall. It's easy at Sand Ridge State Forest since there are 150 miles of trails and there usually aren't many visitors.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 2, 2015
    Untouched
  • The Rock River flows quietly between small islands and steep bluffs. The side of the river was covered with ice but the middle remained ice free.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 27, 2015
    Winter Silence
  • The waterfall in Ottawa Canyon had frozen halfway to the ground on this cold 10 degree day. An ultrawide 10mm lens gave a unique perspective looking up from the end of the canyon.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 6, 2015
    Halfway There
  • The fog was mesmerizing as it swirled around Spring Lake on this night. That is until it got too thick to see the stars.
    When Clouds Fall
  • Golden sunlight illuminates the Buffalo River valley. I really loved this view. I chose a nearby campsite so I would be able to watch the sunset, the night sky, and the sunrise from this ledge on the Goat Trail.
    Illuminated Valley
  • The sky was fairly dark in rural Stark County and the milky way was shining brightly above this railroad crossing.
    Crossing in the Sky
  • Clouds light up over the Mississipi River at sunset near Muscatine, Iowa.
    Sunset on the Mississippi
  • A storm begins to block the sun as it gets closer near Emden, Illinois
    Sunshine and Storm
  • If you have never seen the aurora, you should definitely make it a goal. This was a once in a lifetime show for me as I have never seen a better geomagnetic storm. I was only in Wisconsin but it felt like I was in Alaska. The aurora was pulsating, moving rapidly and it covered much of the sky. Most of my pictures were taken with a 10mm lens which tells you just how much of the sky was filled with color. This was taken from the top of Blue Mound, which is the highest point in southern Wisconsin.
    Rising Intensity
  • If you have never seen the aurora, you should definitely make it a goal. This was a once in a lifetime show for me as I have never seen a better geomagnetic storm. I was only in Wisconsin but it felt like I was in Alaska. The aurora was pulsating, moving rapidly and it covered much of the sky. Most of my pictures were taken with a 10mm lens which tells you just how much of the sky was filled with color. This was taken from the top of Blue Mound, which is the highest point in southern Wisconsin.
    Once in a Lifetime
  • Sunrise from Mary's Rock was amazing. But it was also very challenging to photograph. With the strong winds, it was difficult to keep myself and my tripod standing. Often I would see a picture, point my camera, set the exposure, and then it would be gone as another cloud came and hid the light. But this was one of my favorites.
    A Place in the Clouds
  • I was almost to Hawksbill Crag when the western sky turned pink. So I stopped at the closest cliff to shoot the clouds before they faded.
    Upper Buffalo Wilderness
  • From high up on Big Bluff, I could hear splashing in the water. There were 3 or 4 deer playing in the Buffalo River below me. I wish I had a telephoto lens with me. But there's only so much gear you can bring on a backpacking trip.
    Fog and Deer Crossing
  • This is one of the caves in Wildcat Den State Park. It was a bit tricky getting my tripod and camera up here to take a picture.
    Wildcat Den Cave
  • September is always a really good month to shoot wildflowers around here. After finding this thick clump of black-eyed-susans, I placed my tripod underneath them with a backdrop of the milky way. I didn't really like the color temperature of the light from my headlamp. So I actually just found a yellow image on my phone, made the screen bright, and light painted with that. This is a focus stack of 2 images.
    Milky Way Bouquet
  • Fog drifts through the Blue Ridge Mountains shortly after sunrise.
    Blue Ridge Mountain Fog
  • This dawn marked the end of a very long night backpacking in Shenandoah National Park. Between chasing away pesky mice and having very strong winds topple my tent on me, I got very little sleep. I just hoped the sunrise would be worth it. It was. For about 30 minutes preceding sunrise I couldn't see more than 10 yards as Mary's Rock was trapped in a thick fog. But then the sun broke through. It was a struggle to keep myself and my tripod steady as the winds continued to gust. Clouds would race up the western slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But once they reached the eastern side, the clouds would slow down and hardly move at all because the winds were calmer. Often times I would compose a picture, set my exposure, and then the opportunity would be gone as conditions changed by the second. This was my favorite picture from the morning. Mary's Rock is a 3,514 foot tall mountain above Thornton Gap near Luray, Virginia.
    Between Heaven and Earth
  • As soon as I stepped outside this vivid halo commanded my attention. I have never seen one this vivid. The colors at the bottom were very obvious although I didn't see the color in the corona until looking at the picture afterwards. It didn't last long as low-lying clouds came in and obscured the icy cirrus clouds higher up. A full moon on Christmas is somewhat rare. But even more rare is the fact that it was in the mid-60's late at night in Maryland when I took this.
    Christmas Eve Halo
  • A narrow area of sunlight lights up Roark Bluff above the Steel Creek Campground. I went for a hike before sunrise, but there wasn't much color as a rain shower was about to move in.
    Above Steel Creek
  • I'm not sure what this farm implement is called, but I liked the way it looked with the milky way behind it.
    Wheels in the Sky
  • A colorful pink sunset fills the sky on the evening of Summer Solstice. This scenic view is from the top of Blue Mound, the highest point in southern Wisconsin.
    Blue Mounds Sunset
  • San Antonio Falls is a 100 foot high waterfall in the San Gabriel Mountains. It flows year round from springs higher up the mountain. I passed this waterfall on my hike up Mount Baldy.
    San Antonio Falls
  • A wave crashes against a rock as the clouds in the west start to light up at Crystal Cove State Park.
    Crashing Sunset
  • Clouds race past the summit of Mary's Rock in this view looking west.
    West of Mary's Rock
  • After being surrounded by a very thick fog before sunrise, it finally began to burn off as the sun rose. The light was changing by the second as a warm glow lit up the trees.
    Unearthly Glow
  • The view from The Pinnacle wasn't what I was expecting. The Blue Ridge Mountains are supposed to stretch out into the distance with Mary's Rock visible. But it looks a lot different with thick fog. I hiked up here from my campsite just in case it cleared at sunset, but it didn't.
    Foggy Pinnacle
  • Late evening sunlight light up trees at the edge of a small snowy pond.
    Johnson Sauk Pond
  • Ryan's Round Barn is one of the first things you see when entering Johnson Sauk Trail State Park. It was built in 1910 and is one of the largest round barns in the country.
    Ryan's Round Barn
  • A few minutes earlier I couldn't even see across this lake. But it was peaceful after the storm ended.
    Snowstorms End
  • There was a beautiful sunset at Rathbun Lake, Iowa, after severe thunderstorms moved through.
    Rathbun Lake Sunset
  • In My 2 hour time lapse I captured 1 bright Taurid meteor. There was another similar one right after this. But it somehow occurred in the 2 second gap in between pictures.
    Freefall
  • The small town of Jasper, Arkansas sits in a valley in the Ozarks. After driving through town I hiked to the top of Roundtop Mountain to see this view at sunset.
    Jasper Arkansas
  • After taking the wrong trail I accidentally came across this old cabin in the Buffalo River Valley. "Granny Henderson" lived here until 1979 when this became a national park. There was no electricity or running water.
    Granny Henderson's Cabin
  • A colorful tree grows against a wall along the Buffalo River.
    Buffalo Wall
  • I loved the light in this small Starved Rock canyon covered with fallen leaves.
    Under the Bluff
  • I waited a total of 9 hours at this location. Early Wednesday morning thick clouds blocked my view of the aurora. The geomagnetic storm got even stronger during the day, and then died down as soon as it got dark. I returned here Wednesday night and was determined to see the aurora. Finally at 12:45 the northern lights brightened and I could see pillars rising up and moving from east to west. It didn't last very long, but I could finally go home happy.
    Northbound
  • Because of the lack of rain lately, the fall colors have not been as widespread this year in Illinois. Many of the leaves are just drying up and falling. But there is still some colorful foliage to be found, you just have to look for it. I found this bright red tree in a local park just before the setting sun painted the sky a soft pink and purple.
    Fall Meadow
  • This massive sandstone wall is just around the corner from a small cave in Wildcat Den State Park.
    Cracking Wall
  • This grist mill sits at the edge of Pine Creek in Wildcat Den State Park. It was built in 1848, but has obviously been restored to its present condition.
    Pine Creek Mill
  • This is the 4th and final lunar eclipse of the tetrad. I was able to view it between clouds near Muscatine, Iowa.
    Dilapidated Barn Eclipse
  • This is the 4th and final lunar eclipse of the tetrad. I was able to view it between clouds near Muscatine, Iowa.
    Blood Moon Tree
  • The deep blues of twilight begin to overtake the eastern sky as the zodiacal light continues to glow. In the middle of the picture is Venus, the brightest object in the night sky besides the moon. I woke up at 5:20 AM in this campground, took a few pictures, and then went back to sleep.
    Ghostly Glow
  • After descending the steep sand dune on the Cowles Bog trail, this is the view.
    Bailly Beach
  • After the northern lights began to fade and the clouds cleared, a strange wave pattern became visible in the sky. This is airglow, a chemical reaction that occurs at the same altitude as the aurora, but it's a separate process. This night was the only time I've ever seen it with the naked eye. I'm pretty sure it was caused by gravity waves from powerful severe thunderstorms that impacted Illinois earlier in the evening.
    Gravity Waves
  • In the midst of a very rainy and cloudy summer, a night this clear was a rare treat. The milky way was reflected in Spring Lake, Illinois.
    A Rare Night
  • A colorful sunset fills the sky over the Pacific Ocean. This was taken at Crystal Cove State Park in California during low tide. Many of the tide pools were exposed and hermit crabs, anemones and other sea creatures could be seen. Both low and high tide usually occur twice a day approximately 6 hours apart. During a quarter moon, when the moon is at a right angle with the earth and the sun there is less variation between high and low tides. This is called a neap tide. But when there is a full moon or a new moon the tides are especially high and low. The gravitational force of the sun and the moon combine to generate more of a pull on earth's oceans. This is called a spring tide.
    Reflected Tidepool
  • Wind blows through a Shenandoah National Park meadow as clouds hide the highest peaks.
    December in Shenandoah
  • Lichen covered trees disappear into the fog near the Pinnacle in Shenandoah National Park. I don't think it rained at all on this day. But the fog was so thick that it was condensing onto the trees, and then the wind constantly blew water drops onto the ground.
    Lichen Trees
  • The light was very flat after sunrise with no colorful clouds. But finally after waiting an hour and a half the sun came out. Now I could pack up my campsite and hike back to my car.
    Buffalo Morning
  • Lost Valley in Arkansas is full of wonders such as towering cliffs, massive boulders, caves, and, waterfalls. This picture was taken inside a natural bridge, looking out at the colorful forest. During the dry season Clark Creek flows underground. The water comes to the surface at the other side of this natural bridge. It flows through and then ends in this pool where it seeps back under the earth. Even though it was raining quite a bit on this evening it didn't make the creek rise any higher.
    Under the Bridge
  • I thought I had missed capturing the best light, but then I came across this section of the woods in Farmdale Recreation Area. The light from the setting sun was hitting it just right.
    Autumn Wonderland
  • This part of the trail was really colorful with many wildflowers on both sides. It was just before an area that the map calls Paradise Valley.
    Indiana Dunes Trail
  • If you have never seen the aurora, you should definitely make it a goal. This was a once in a lifetime show for me as I have never seen a better geomagnetic storm. I was only in Wisconsin but it felt like I was in Alaska. The aurora was pulsating, moving rapidly and it covered much of the sky. Most of my pictures were taken with a 10mm lens which tells you just how much of the sky was filled with color. This was taken from the top of Blue Mound, which is the highest point in southern Wisconsin.
    Full Spectrum
  • This was my first time seeing a fallstreak (or hole punch) cloud. It had a tail that it made it look like a sting ray. It appeared for a short time above the bluffs at Crystal Cove State Park.
    Crystal Cove Fallstreak
  • Rocky Top is the high ridge to the left and Brown Mountain is on the right. This view is from one of the overlooks on Skyline Drive.
    Rocky Top
  • Illinois received an early snowfall before Thanksgiving. 9 inches of snow fell at Johnson Sauk Trail State Park. After walking through most of the park this was the only tree I could find that had any colorful leaves remaining. I liked the way it illustrated the clash of two seasons. So far this has been about the only taste of winter Illinois has seen this year.
    Clash of Seasons
  • Johnson Sauk Trail State Park was a winter wonderland after an early season snowfall. I don't know what trail this was since the sign was covered and it wasn't on the map.
    Unknown Trail
  • The Buffalo National River is one of the only free-flowing, undammed rivers remaining in the United States. Cutting 135 miles through the Ozarks, the Buffalo is surrounded by rugged mountains and steep cliffs. "Big Bluff" where this was taken is the tallest sheer bluff face found between the Rockies and the Appalachians. Dozens of vultures ride thermals to heights above before swooping down at incredible speeds. Some of the twisted juniper trees clinging to the edge have been dated at over 800 years old. After hiking into the wilderness, a path known as the "Goat Trail" takes you out onto the face of the bluff on a narrow ledge only a few feet wide. This is an incredible place especially during the fall.
    Precarious View
  • This was my first time visiting Starved Rock in the fall. The colors were gorgeous, especially in the area just west of LaSalle Canyon.
    Rooted
  • It wasn't even October yet, but the leaves were already beginning to change to yellow at Wildcat Den State Park in Iowa. Most of the trees there were still green but I found a lot of color in this section of trail that goes down into the canyon.
    Beginning of Fall
  • Sawtooth sunflowers bloom in a small prairie at Weinberg King State Park.
    Weinberg King Prairie
  • After hiking several miles past Cowles Bog and through the woods I came upon this view. 100 feet below the sand dune was this Lake Michigan beach. It wasn't very big since it was located right in between a private subdivision and a power plant.
    Dune Vista
  • It was a very hot summer day in Illinois with oppressive humidity and extremely unstable air. At 5PM this storm exploded into existence near Utica and in less than an hour it was dropping 4" hail. After leaving the storm to cross the Illinois River and avoid getting caught in the hail, I met back up with it here. The supercell was showing some of the best structure I've seen with an obvious spiral shape. The clear slot caused by the rear flank downdraft made it easy to pinpoint where a potential tornado would form. A likely funnel cloud can be seen just above the distant group of trees. But even though conditions in the upper atmosphere were more than enough to support a tornado, the winds at the surface were too weak. I followed the supercell for most of it's life cycle but nothing ever touched down.
    Red Barn Supercell
  • The San Gabriel Mountains tower 10,000 feet above Los Angeles. This is the view from just below the summit of Mount Baldy. Normally in February deep snow would cover the peaks. But warm temperatures and a drought meant only a small amount of snow remained on north-facing slopes. Down in the valley the blue skies were obscured by smog. But up here the air was clear and clean. This was a challenging 11 mile hike but the views were well worth it.
    Above the Desert
  • Hawksbill Crag is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Arkansas. After driving a rough dirt road up Cave Mountain, the trailhead sits at the edge of the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. The trail passes several creekbeds and waterfalls, but they were all dry this time of year. This rocky overhang which is also known as Whitaker Point, is bigger than it looks. Sunrise is a great time to watch the valley fill with golden sunlight. But I only had minutes to take pictures on this morning since the sun soon went behind a cloud deck and the light went flat.
    Hawksbill Crag
  • This is the 4th and final lunar eclipse of the tetrad. I was able to view it between clouds near Muscatine, Iowa.
    Emergence
  • A blooming goldenrod sits at the edge of an algae-covered pond in Weinberg King State Park.
    Goldenrod Sunset
  • I was very surprised by how photogenic this storm was. It had a beautiful circular, rain-free base. This was just a smaller cell out in front of a bigger supercell and it didn't even look that interesting on radar. I was glad I came across this small prairie near Emden when I did.
    Prairie Storm
  • After snowing for over 18 hours straight, the sun finally came out at 2PM over Johnson Sauk Lake. The total snowfall was about 9 inches.
    Johnson Sauk Lake
  • My goal after setting up camp near Big Bluff was to hike into Hemmed-in-Hollow. But I couldn't find the trailhead and it was only afterwards that I realized I walked right by it. After getting lost for an hour I had to make my way through thick bamboo to get back to where I was.
    Hemmed in Hollow
  • The milky way shines above a small pond in Weinberg King State Park. I took 300 pictures here for a time lapse. In a few of the frames, I pointed my car headlights at the pond from 100 yards away. When the headlights were on for the full 30 second exposure it was too bright. But when the headlights were only on a part of the time it was just right.
    While the Frogs Croak
  • Pink colors linger in the east after sunset at Spring Lake, IL on a frigid winter evening.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 9, 2015
    Wind Chill Warning
  • As the sun sank lower it cast a deep red glow on this snow covered ridge in Farmdale Recreation Area.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 12, 2015
    Crimson Snow
  • The 5 inches of snow that fell this week was extremely dry and lightweight. This allowed the gusty winds that accompanied the arctic front to lift up the snow and carve it into drifts and strange patterns. In some places, the ice at Spring Lake was left bare. Despite the warm colors, the wind chill was -10°F as the sun slipped beneath the horizon.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 9, 2015
    Spring Lake Sunset