Slowly Rising In the Lilly Pads

Searching For A New Pad

Unforgiving Rapids

Layers Of Blue Green

How Now Brown Cow

Mountains High, Clouds Low

Hints Of Green

First Light On Chicago Navy Pier

Pastel Fishermen

Connecting Islands With Steel

Carter Lake

American Devil's Marbles

Racing Through Lake Powell Canyons

Memories Of Grandpa

This photo was taken by my niece, Brianna, in Canada. It was captured in cottage country, White Lake, Ontario, not far from Ottawa. This serene lakefront property was provided to their family by a loving grandfather as a getaway from busy city life. Grandpa Doug always had a smile on his face when I saw him. He passed through the veil of this life a year ago today ... but memories of his kindness and generosity will always be cherished.

Top 7 Most Viewed NikonSniper Posts

Well, as of this moment there has been 82,293 pageviews on NikonSniper since starting 28 months ago. I guess I started my counter on the blog after there had been roughly 13,300 hits.
NikonSniper has grown to 9,513 pageviews in the last month! WOW! Honestly, I really never saw THAT coming when this whole thing started. Just in the last two weeks, we have been visited by people from 74 countries. That's CRAZY! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ... for all your kind words of support!

I never would have guessed that these would be the Top 7 Pageviews. I actually just found out this information myself ... because I actually spent some time reading all this info that is available for you on a Stats page. I had no idea all this info was here. Thanks again to all of you. I hope you continue to enjoy what you see here in years ahead.

#1 Worship The Creator's Majesty - 861 Pageviews
#2 Merry Christmas 2010 - 437 Pageviews
#3 Fall Wild Flowers - 330 Pageviews
#4 Childhood Fishing Creek - 299 Pageviews
#5 Sittin' On A Bluebird House - 211 Pageviews
#6 Thanking God For The Voice - 207 Pageviews
#7 Rango Makes Hollywood Billboards - 194 Pageviews

The Price Of This Photo Is Four Bucks

Tire Sale At Pier Friday (No Limit) 2-4 AM

Weather Baked

Airy Barn Windows

Capital Dome

Grand Canyon Layers

Green Grass Of Home

Midwestern Drizzle

Runway 19L You Are Clear For Landing

Coastline Vegetation

Mountain Mine

Denny's Pino's ... Far Out Man

Happy Memorial Day 2011

This is our daughter Tara assisting wounded soldiers during training exercises as a field medic. Tara left us on Memorial Day 2010 so she is gone now a year. Tara is stationed in South Korea and hopes to get home for a short rest in the next few months.
On Memorial Day 2011, we are praying for all our troops out there in harms way and also those serving here in the USA. May the Lord guide and protect you all.
Tara ... we miss you and can't wait to see you again on this side of the water. Proud of you!
Love, Mom & Pops

Silverton Or Whoville

Sunset Silouette

One Way, No Passing

Natural Bridges Waterfront

Rodeo Hoe Down At The Bellagio

Back In Woodstock Illinois

Well, Kyle and I have survived the 1886 miles. We only missed one target on our list. I will still have to visit Four Corners on another trip.
We slept a little less than normal and basically averaged 300+ miles a day looking for photo targets between the main spots.
Dads, I can't recommend anything more than getting away with your kids one on one, even if they are adult kids. Kyle and I talked about a million things. The TV was hardly ever on when we made it to hotels, mostly to see weather or news. Kyle and I had conversations of a lifetime and memories that will last forever.
We experienced everything from 30 degrees in ice, slush and snow to 91 and sunny in our week together. One of the most incredible things was the survival of the rental car in Monument Valley and Grand Staircase National Park.
I have also added the State of Arizona to my list of States where I got to personally speak with a State Trooper. He was graceful handing me a warning this time for my 85mph experience on the new Hoover Dam Speedway.
Our GPS was stolen at the Kayenta Monument Valley Inn so we had to fly in the dark for a few days. I called a friend of mine in Colorado to say hello and he told me they make maps out of paper that you could buy at gas stations. Who knew?
Thanks to all of you who came along for the photo ride on NikonSniper. We enjoyed your comments and good wishes. I will be chilling for a few days as my trigger finger is a bit tired. I am not sure how many photos we took ... but I kept 7238.
Have a great week. Keep on shooting! Only you can photograph the world around you!
NikonSniper Steve & Kyle

Landscape Arch

Good Morning Utah!

Northwest New Mexico

The Magnificent View Of Bryce Point

Getting Your Lines Crossed Again?

Midwest Kid Climbs First Mountain

Navigating Cottonwood Canyon Road

Meeting The School President

Well, that graduation deal is over and we are sitting at O'Hare for our flight West. Here is Kyle's handshake with the school president. Kyle will head back to Northern Illinois University to begin study in a Master's program after his 4th summer working for W-T Engineering in Hoffman Estates. W-T Engineering has played a significant roll in his career development and in helping to fund big college debt.
Now for the plane ride and we will begin posting our trip photos tomorrow.
NikonSniper Steve

Kyle's 85,000 Dollar Photo

Graduation Road Trip

Well, here's the plan for the trip starting on Saturday evening!
Our son, Kyle graduates from Northern Illinois University around 2:00 PM and we will hang around for a few photos and will head home and then straight to the airport for a late evening flight (May 14) to Las Vegas.
Here is the route we will be driving in a somewhat clockwise path and photographing Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase, Old Paria Town, Paria Canyon Wilderness, Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Lower Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, Goosenecks State Park, Arches National Park, Four Corners, Gallup, New Mexico, Painted Desert, Old Route 66, Petrified Forest, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and more Las Vegas Lights.
We will cover more than 1800 miles in a week and we are going to try to drive 50 miles straight through the dirt road desert to keep the mileage under 2100. How's about that? My last trip needed two rental cars ... this one might take three.
As I mentioned before, our trip will include a photography guide and will allow us to have a full moon to photograph over Monument Valley.
We hope you will join us for the ride on this complete photography trip. Kyle has always shown interest in photography and has even taken some pretty whack photos over the years. The photo at the top of the main page on NikonSniper is actually Kyle taking a picture into a mirror. I flipped the photo so you could read Nikon on the camera and altered his eye to give it a bit of a cyborg feel.
I will start posting photos from this trip on Sunday evening as we will be running and gunning until we can find an Internet connection to upload.
I will try to post a graduation shot or two from O'Hare Airport late on Saturday before we fly.

Hope you all have a great weekend!
NikonSniper Steve

Horse Taxi

Snow Dusted Blue & Gold

Milkhouse Blues

Floors A President Could Eat Off

Happy Mother's Day

I feel very blessed to have been able to spend a delightful morning in church with my Mom on this Mother's Day. Truthfully, I am very blessed because I do this every week.
For most of us, we are separated from our Mom's by many miles. It's makes the getting together very difficult so Mother's Day has become a great day to call home and talk to Mom. Years ago, I heard that Mother's Day is the heaviest phone call day in our nation. In keeping with that great tradition, my wife, Susan will be calling her Mom this evening in Canada.
For some of us, Moms are just a dear memory. Susan and I feel very fortunate for the dozens of times that our Mother's lifted us up after we had fallen and scraped our knees when we were little. But, ... We are far more grateful for the thousands of times when our Mother's lifted us up to God through prayer.
Moms, ... May your Mother's Day be great!
NikonSniper Steve

Welcome To Canada

These are brilliantly done "talking animal" videos. What a great idea. Click on the Facebook link for Andrew Grantham to find out more about this very cool idea. You can also look at this direct Youtube Site for Talking Animals. Click the link to view an interview with Andrew to learn a bit more about the man behind this humor.

North New Mexico On The Rio Grande

Gotta Love Teasing The Dog

This is hilarious! It's just a link ... I didn't do this! I just want you all to see it. Especially our daughter, Tara who left her German Shepherd with us while she is stationed in South Korea. The dialog is just perfect.

Actually, Uh, Not So Much

HELP! Disaster Relief for Tuscaloosa

I have mentioned before that my "day job" is working for a company called Web Printing Controls (WPC) in the printing industry. I am very grateful for WPC and very proud to have worked here for nearly 25 years.

In response to the recent devastating tornados in Alabama, Web Printing Controls is sending a truck from our company headquarters to several area churches in Tuscaloosa with items to help sustain their day to day battle back from this disaster. The first truck leaves tomorrow evening (May 4) with items that can be shared with the victims. If you would like to contribute to this, you can make online donations at OpenDoor Min. Drop down to the bottom of the Home Page on this link.

If you live in the Chicagoland area, you can drop off any of the following items at Web Printing Controls, 23872 N. Kelsey Road in Lake Barrington by May 4th at 6pm. I will personally shake your hand and pose for a photo with you! What a prize? huh! I am actually not in many photos so they will be collectors items but will still be worth nearly nothing. WPC will be making future shipments so bring what you can when you can.

May God bless all of you as you consider helping in this project of providing ongoing help, support and hope for the people of Alabama.

Thanks, NikonSniper Steve

These are the items that we have been told would be most helpful in this time of need.
Any Gift Cards from Wal-Mart, Target, Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, or Walgreens.

NEW ITEMS as follows:
Non perishable foods (cans pop off tops) & bottled water, shampoo, conditioner (hair products), nail files and nail clippers, contact solution and cases, face wash and moisturizer, lotion, Q-tips, toothbrush & paste, flip flops, make-up, shaving stuff for men and women, pillows, paper products (TP, paper towels), diapers & wet ones, non-electric can openers, first aid supplies, hand sanitizers, socks/ underwear, overcounter meds, shoes/workboots, work gloves, batteries, bathing clothes found in the adult diapers dept, all kinds baby supplies, baby formula.

USED ITEMS IN LIKE NEW CONDITION as follows:
Coolers, bedding, dishes (sets of 4 and up), cookware (sets), utensils, cell phone chargers, towels & washcloths, dish towels, hair dryer and flat iron (would be nice but not a necessity), summer clothing (in like new condition), nightclothes, camping lanterns, radios, anything you would use for camping.

FOR KIDS: (once again we want to take down items in like new condition). Barbie dolls, small toys, children craft supplies, arts & crafts, bubbles (small items), sports equipments.

Also, please note that we are taking donation at the following locations at different times this week: May 1st –May 4th.

Alternate Drop Off Locations:

Harvest Bible Chapel: 255 Quentin Road, Lake Zurich, IL, 60047 (during office hours).

Web Printing Controls Inc.: 23872 N. Kelsey Road, Lake Barrington, IL, 60010, (847) 382-7970 (9:00-4:00).

Treasure Seekers Church: 888 E. Belvidere Road (Rt 120), Unit 401, Grayslake, IL, (Tue & Wed, 9:00am to 12:00pm, May 3rd & 4th) Contact Kim, 224-715-7416

Faith Acres Farm: 120 W. Dowell Rd McHenry, IL, 60051, 815-669-0188 Monday- Wednesday 11:00 to 3:00.

Here are the major things that have been collected thus far and are being stored for tomorrow nights truck to Tuscaloosa, AL.

Boxes of blankets, clothing and shoes.
More than 1000 bottles of water.
250 pounds of rice
200 pounds of dog food
700 Diapers
40 Pounds of Soap, Shampoo, Handcream
Dozens of cans of Tuna and Soup.
3 New Tents.

Thunderous 129 Foot Drop