
Alexa Bejarano, 5, of Aurora, runs to a yellow slice of color under the parachute activity at the annual Fitness Fun Fair for Kids at the Vaughn Athletic Center in Aurora on Saturday. The Bejarano family are members of the center and have been coming to the Fun Fair for the past three years.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Dressed in WWI French infantry soldier wearing a gas mask, Josh Melnychuk of Barrington caught my eye at the recent Military History Fest at the Pheasant Run Resort and Conference Center in St. Charles. To me, the mask made him look like a cross between a Lego character and something out of the Star Wars trilogy, though its design dates back to 1916.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

I took over 4,000 photographs at the IHSA state cheerleading finals in Bloomington, including this one, where I positioned myself so the spot lights came from the right. This creates a draping effect of of light on the Mundelein High School cheer squad. Light from a side-angle creates shape and texture. Next time you take a portrait, place the subject next to a window so light is coming from a side-angle. This photo was published in the weekly Perspective column in the print edition.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer




Joyce Senters, of St. Charles, snow shoes through Wheeler Park in Geneva Tuesday. Tuesday's relatively balmy high in the 40s had Senters all smiles as she trekked through the snow. "It's so beautiful out with the fresh snow and the blue skies," she said. "What's not to smile about?"
Rick West | Staff Photographer

This massive icicle, dripping into an alley from the back side of the Piece-A-Cake Bakery store in East Dundee, drips constantly in the warm weather Wednesday. The two-story ice formation was the result of a roof drain leading out onto the face of the building. And from the size of it, it's going to take more than just a few warm days to make it disappear.
Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Mike Hamlin, 26, of Schaumburg, clears out the ice and snow from his driveway as his house sits on a low end of the road as the winter thaw starts. "It was a couple of inches deep, enough to cover my foot," he said as his first order of business was to clear the grate in the street. For over two hours until it was time for him to leave for work he chopped away at ice chunks at the end of his driveway and street.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer



Christopher Hankins/chankins@daillyherald.comStrong winds created near white-out conditions on the eastbound Jane Addams Tollway west of Elgin Friday morning.



Streamwood firefighter/paramedic Brandon Mears simulates going down the Streamwood Fire Station No. 1's pole on Thursday in Streamwood. Mears said it's the only Streamwood station with a pole and the firefighters really use it. Their bunks are near the the top of the pole.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer



Larkin High School faculty member Adam Baxter braces against the wind as he helps to porter racks of vintage clothing into the Hemmens Auditorium Friday afternoon in preparation for the Cat's Pajamas Chicagoland Vintage Clothing, Jewelry and Textile Show & Sale.
Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer



Grayslake Police Department members Joe Holtz, as Chewbacca, left, and Steve Teschner, as Darth Vader, dive in the pools during Fox Lake's Polar Plunge Sunday at Lakefront Park. The ice on the lake was over two feet thick and could not be cutout this year, so almost 500 participants took to jumping into frigid pools set up near the lake.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer