Images: Photo contest finalists
The sun rises along Cocoa Beach in Florida last March.
Lydia Flynn of Vernon Hills
The winner of the Little Miss contest, Emily Chiarello, receives help from her cousin, Elena Hernandez, at the Vernon Hills Pageant on June 26th at the Sullivan Center.
Lisa Warner of Vernon Hills
Amy Knudsen of LibertyvilleA fire-bellied frog named Stipple stands on the 8-ball last spring in Libertyville.
A close-up of a Pink African Daisy in the English Walled Garden last spring at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe.
Deb Marak of Arlington Heights
The Observation Peak at sunset in Yellowstone National Park in June.
Mark Haeussler of Bartlett
A rocky beach along Maui, Hawaii in June.
Lauren Gebhardt of Schaumburg
I caught a silhouette of one of the balloonists at Lisles Eyes To The Skies festival preparing the balloon for launch and really liked the colors.
Larry Pearlman of Naperville
This picture of our sons hit was taken by me at our sons baseball tournament in Schaumburg over this past Fourth of July weekend.
Keren Cinzio of Naperville
On our recent trip to Aruba, my son was so thrilled to discover this giant starfish!
Margo Sanders of Algonquin
Hyde Mill is one of the last water mills located in Wisconsin. It reminds one of life in another era. The photograph was taken last summer. Hyde Mill is located near Dodgeville.
Sandra Wittman of Carpentersville
This photo shows a photogenic ladybug sitting on a leaf in my backyard.
Brendan McGee of Batavia