8 minute read
WHERE CANYONS CUT THE PRAIRIE
Local photographers, in their own words, share their favorite Starved Rock Country spots
Story by Steve Stout | Photos by photographers mentioned
If a poll was taken among Midwestern photographers asking them to choose their favorite places to capture memorable images in Illinois, Starved Rock Country would almost certainly be one of the top locations.
That guess was made from personal experience.
When I first moved to the Illinois Valley in 1974, I had little knowledge of La Salle County. I had never walked the miles of wooded trails at Starved Rock State Park or stood so close to towering waterfalls. But it only took my first hike into the popular park, camera in hand, to understand the unique massive sandstone canyons, which slice the surrounding prairie, were photogenic dream scenes for nature and family photographers.
My love for this community began with landscape images I captured throughout Starved Rock and within its magnificent, rustic lodge. However, it didn’t take me long to explore (and appreciate) the other local parks, the shores of the Illinois River, the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal and the many classic buildings in such towns as Ottawa, Peru, Marseilles, Streator and Oglesby. Over the many decades since my arrival, I found the places and community events (I love the annual Burgoo Festival in Utica) here around Starved Rock provide many unique image opportunities and picturesque backgrounds for both amateurs and professionals.
On the following pages you’ll meet four Starved Rock Country photographers and images that illustrate both their love of photography and appreciation of their own backyards. These photographs invite all visitors with their cameras to explore the many natural and manmade wonders found here in the heart of the Illinois Valley. The photo possibilities seem endless. Come and capture some of the beauty and community celebrations for yourself this summer. C S R AURORA REED
“When it comes to photography, I have recently discovered working with my camera is one of those things which now has a big place in my heart. It has given me a different perspective of the world and to enjoy the little things in life through the lens of my camera. I started to get an interest in photography towards the beginning of COVID when we first went into quarantine and since then, as a junior, I have joined the La Salle-Peru High School yearbook as a staff photographer. I began with using my mother’s cell phone and taking pictures of sunsets, my family, friends and small things that caught my eye until I eventually bought my first camera at a pawn shop in Spring Valley. I now carry it everywhere with me. “One of my favorite spots to photograph is the woods in Oglesby here in Starved Rock Country not far from my home. It’s easily accessible, and I have found exploring nature through photography to be a worthwhile venture for me. My dream these days is I hope to become a professional photographer someday and travel the world to capture all the world’s greatest eye-catching images. I will always be grateful to have started that career here in my home community where the photo possibilities seem endless.”
“When photographing couples and families in Starved Rock Country, I’m always on the lookout for a beautiful location that’s just an easy walk from nearby parking. Council Overhang at Starved Rock State Park checks those boxes and then some. The 400 million-year-old sandstone formation awaits after just a 10-minute hike from a nearby parking lot. For those who have never experienced the natural band-shell with superior acoustics, it really is awe-inspiring. Used as a sacred Native American gathering place for 8,000 years, Council Overhang was the perfect place to capture this surprise engagement.
“Photography has been a passion of mine ever since I would pose and photograph my Cabbage Patch Kids collection with my Kodak Disc camera. I believe in capturing relationships between loved ones and creating beautiful wall art to hang in my clients’ homes. A photograph has the power to let the subjects relive the experience every time they view that image on the wall, in an album or online. Celebrating those connections is incredibly important in a world that can feel so isolating. I feel fortunate to work and live in such a beautiful area where there are plenty of outstanding scenic locations to use as backdrops for my professional and personal images.”
PAULA GUTTILLA
“My passion for photography began when I was age 10 when I received my first camera. I love being out in nature. Looking through a lens enriches the experience by making me slow down and focus on my surroundings. There is so much beauty in life. “The best thing I personally enjoy about photographing Starved Rock Country are the comments I receive from the public. Here are a few examples: ‘Wow, the local area certainly has a lot of beauty!’ or ‘Your photos certainly show how pretty it is here along the Illinois River.’ There are a lot of great places here in Starved Rock Country to hike or drive to within a short distance from each other. One of my favorite places to photograph is Illinois Canyon, located near the eastern entrance to Starved Rock State Park. I especially enjoy the sandstone canyon in late April when it is carpeted with Virginia bluebells. Other wildflowers that one may find on the isolated path are red trillium, Dutchman’s-breeches and squirrel corn, to name a few. The trail winds along a peaceful stream which ends in a charming flowing waterfall. Go there, see for yourself and do not forget your camera.”
– Aurora Reed
“There are so many interesting places and events to photograph here in Starved Rock Country and — with my 30 years with The Times newspaper as Photo Editor — I’ve pretty much photographed them all. If I had to choose what I enjoy photographing the most, beyond a doubt, it would be the La Salle County 4-H Fair. There are so many Norman Rockwell-type moments at this five-day event and I never tire of photographing them. To watch the young kids lead their cow, hog or sheep to the show ring is something to see. It is so interesting visually to photograph them preparing their entry in the livestock barn hoping to take home that coveted blue ribbon. And it is not just about farm animals; it is also nice to see them competing in the best vegetable display or best homemade dress. The action-packed rodeo might just be my favorite part of the fair. My photo suggestion is: If you want to take a trip to find the farm life images, grab your camera and head to the photogenic fair which is scheduled for July 14-17 in Ottawa at the 4-H Fairgrounds. I guarantee you will get some interesting shots.”
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