Outings

Opportunities to photograph local festivals, flowers, eagles, and other interesting
subjects with fellow club members. Learn from one another and have fun too.

Illinois Railway Museum

On Saturday April 27, 2013 we will be going to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. This is America's largest railway museum. They have a variety of operational trains and trolleys, several railway cars, locomotives and other equipment. There is also an area best described as a railway bone yard. This makes for some interesting photo opportunities. This is a large place so allow for a long all day trip. The museum grounds opens at 9:00 AM.

Union, Illinois is about a three-hour drive from Peoria so we will be leaving early. We will meet at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 6:15 AM and leave for the museum at 6:30. Many of us will stay all day and get home late afternoon or evening. If your schedule will not allow this we can try to match you up with someone to car pool on Saturday that will return earlier. If you want information about the museum go to http://www.irm.org. If you have any questions call me at (309) 339-6112 or e-mail at carlwclose@mchsi.com

Matthiessen/Starved Rock State Parks

Saturday, May 11, 2013 we will be going to find the water falls at Matthiessen State Park. This time of year there is plenty of water running so the falls will be looking good. For those of you who have never been there it is well worth the trip. A word of warning though: The hike down to the waterfalls and to the canyon and back again you will be climbing up and down a lot of steps. Also, some areas in the canyon can be difficult. This can be tuff especially carrying camera equipment. Also wear a pair of boots and take dry socks and shoes to change into for the ride home.  Most of the time, some areas in the canyon can be muddy and wet. After Matthiessen Park, if you feel like it, we will venture over to Starved Rock. They have a snack bar for lunch if you want. We can then go to some of the upper canyons like Kaskaskia or Illinois. Staved Rock is also having their "Art in The Park" that weekend. We will meet at Immanuel Lutheran Church about 7:45 AM and leave at  8:00 AM. We will car-pool and caravan from there. If you have any questions call Carl Close at 274-5103. 

Alma 2013

On July 21, 2013 Richard and Susan Day will be hosting our Camera Club on their property in Alma Illinois for a one day workshop and outing. They have 63 acres of prairie and forest  dedicated to nature. There is a wide variety of wildflowers to attract butterflies, two wetlands to attract frogs and dragonflies, plus they get a variety of birds. Our club has been down there a couple of times in the past. This workshop requires a minimum of 8 people and a maximum of 15. The fee is $50 per person. Alma IL. is just off I-57 just North of Salem IL about 50 miles South of Effingham. It's about 200 miles from Peoria and takes approximately 3 1/2 hours to get there. Because of this, some of the members make reservations in Salem IL. for the night before the workshop to avoid a long drive on Sunday morning. There is a Super 8 and a Comfort Inn in Salem just off I-57. Other members choose to drive down on Sunday morning. Richard begins the day with a short overview on how to photograph butterflies, dragonflies, and flowers. He and Susan are available during the day to help and answer questions on photography, species ID and gardening or habitat questions. I am beginning a sign up for those who want to go. I will have a sign-up sheet at the club meetings. You can also E-mail me at carlwclose@mchsi.com or call me at (309) 274-5103. For more information about Richard and Susan's programs go to their web site at  www.daybreakimagery.com

Contact us if you have a suggestion for an event or upcoming festival or photo opportunity?