Glen Ellyn snaps photo of a lifetime

Things weren't going Maura Eggert's way when luck intervened.

In July 2007, Eggert and her husband were taking photographs during a sunset boat tour of the Apostle Islands in northern Wisconsin when the boat passed a series of scenic caves.

At that moment, the batteries in Eggert's digital camera died.

"So I missed probably like 30 great pictures," the Glen Ellyn woman recalled.

By the time she was able to get new batteries into the camera and reposition herself to take more photos, the boat turned around and Eggert snapped the image that won her October's Photo Finish photography contest.

"It just looked like skulls," Eggert said of the unique rock formation she photographed. "It was so cool.

"I was just very lucky as far as getting the right lighting," she said.

Daily Herald Photo Editor Scott Sanders praised Eggert for being able to take the photo when the unusual rock formation presented itself.

"Being prepared by having your camera with you and ready to shoot is the first step to great photos," Sanders said.

These days, Eggert keeps a copy of the image in a pirate-themed picture frame.

"We keep it out all year round - not just Halloween," she said.

Each Sunday's Neighbor section includes at least one entry to our Photo Finish photography contest.

Our photography staff picks some of their favorite submissions to run each week and one overall monthly winner to receive a prize.

If you would like to submit a photo for consideration, e-mail it in .jpg format with at least 300 dpi resolution to ssanders@dailyherald.com.

Include your name, address and a phone number (for contact purposes only), plus a description of where you took the photo and what the occasion was for it. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate, good at PJ's Camera, Pickwick Place Plaza, 662 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn.