Images: Photo contest finalists
Two wildebeests fight in the Ngorongoro Crater in Africa.
Tara Gille of Mundelein
The castle at Disneyworld is highlighted in colorful lights during a vacation in Florida last month.
Patrick Da Costa of Island Lake
An unusual plant in one of the greenhouses at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe in 2009 with an interesting interplay of colors, shapes, and textures.
Marge Botchie of Arlington Heights
A caterpillar hangs from a leaf in Holland, Michigan.
Jeanne Garrett of Arlington Heights
Two young riders ride to the field to compete in the Lamplight Stable Dressage Competition during July 2010.
Fred Gruber of Streamwood
This picture was taken in Carmel, CA this past June. It was early evening and the fog was coming in. I was in the parking lot of our hotel when I snapped this. I converted it to B&W from color because it looked more eerie.
Milton Hoskins of Hampshire
Even the bees like the summer flowers. This shot was taken on the south side of Woodstock.
Bob Williams of Huntley
I was at my moms house this week in Buffalo Grove and noticed this wonderful sunflower field nearby.
Cindy Smith of Cary
I took this picture in the idea garden at Cantigny earlier this summer. The blueberries were just starting to ripen and the birds hadnt gotten to them yet.
Jean E. Roe of Warrenville
This hummingbird was a first time visitor to my backyard last week and was able to capture it at 1/4000 sec. f/4 ISO 1250.
Stosh Walsh of Wheaton
Mother nature put on quite a show last night.
David Neesley of Naperville