Streetlight sets the mood for winning photo
Bill Seger of Lombard said he is often struck by the beauty he encounters while spending leisure time in Michigan.
The retired electrician was moved to record picturesque scenes when he discovered the capabilities of his new electronic acquisition.
"I bought an iPad about two years ago and I've been taking pictures with that," he said. "It takes beautiful pictures."
Seger's shot of a harbor at twilight won the Daily Herald's October Photo Finish contest. For his winning entry, Seger will receive a $50 gift certificate from PJ's Camera in Glen Ellyn.
"We were in Michigan. We went out to South Haven beach there. It was cloudy. This was a little bit after sunset," Seger said. "There was a streetlight there that kind of illuminated the sand."
"I like this photo because it has good composition and, because it was taken just after sunset, there is really nice color and light from the streetlight," Daily Herald photographer Bev Horne said.
Seger, too, appreciated the role of the streetlight in his photo.
"I like the way the overhead light highlights the pilings, rope and sand," he said. "Sometimes I try to get something in the foreground to compose the background. This turned out to be one of those lucky shots that turned out real nice."
Seger said he decided to submit this photo as a contest entry because the photo's composition and lighting convey a palpable mood.
"I've seen the photo contest winners and I thought, 'I've got one that's kind of nice.' I've got some pretty nice sunsets," Seger said. "This one, it just struck me as being a kind of a real scenic thing."
Taking photos has become a regular part of his vacation getaways, Seger said.
"I've taken pictures of the lake when I'm boating and sunsets," he said. "I have a small sailboat. I like to take pictures off the boat."
Seger said he also shoots videos.
"I'm impressed with the pictures and videos my iPad takes," he said. "When I see outdoor scenes, I take it around for taking pictures like that."
While he likes shooting landscapes and seascapes, Seger doesn't always stay on the water's surface with his photo equipment.
"I like to scuba dive also. I've been taking some underwater photographs. I just bought a Sealife digital camera," he said.
He said he may try his luck again and enter another Daily Herald photo contest with scenes shot in the depths of the Caribbean Sea. He's hoping to capture images of marine life during an upcoming trip to Cozumel, Mexico, an island off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.
"The tropical fish are colorful and amazing," he said.
About our contest
Each week our Neighbor section includes at least one entry in our Photo Finish photography contest. To submit a photo, email it in .jpg format with at least 300 dpi resolution to dupagecontest@dailyherald.com.