Images: Photo Contest Finalists

This is Holy Hill Basilica located in Hubertus Wisconsin approximately 30 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The photo was taken approximately 30 minutes before sunset during a mid-June trip I made to photograph the church interior and surrounding grounds. I shot this from a side road location about 1 mile from the structure and my original plan was to get this shot with sunrise light. I got up at 4 a.m., was on site by 4:45 a.m., but the entire grounds were completely covered with fog. I went back that evening and was blessed with beautiful sunset light. Larry Lato of Lisle

This photo was taken at Cricket Creek in Addison. Michael Chapman of Addison

Watching my granddaughters (Sophia and Bailey ... ages 8 and 6) and the Sunset while on vacation in Florida with my daughter and her family who live in Kennesaw, Georgia.Photo was taken at Redington Beach, Florida. Mary E. Huske of Lombard

Gracie plays on the dunes earlier this month at New Buffalo Beach in Michigan. Pat Yuska of Lake Zurich

Woods are reflected in Sugar Creek at Turkey Run State Park, Indiana on October 28, 2002. Ken Michalik of Prairie View

A camel at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago finishes drinking some water on July 17. Marty Krogh of Ingleside

Kayla Smith takes in the sunset after swimming in Jackson Lake in Tetons National Park in Wyoming. Richard Smith of Arlington Heights

I photographed this flower on a trip to Cantigny Park in Wheaton. This cone flower explodes with radiating orange and pink colors. The variety of nature's patterns is amazing! Mike Weimer of St. Charles

I took this photo on a recent road trip through Iowa, this pastoral tableau caught our eye. Nick Freeman of St. Charles

I saw this DC 3 on an airstrip in Ottawa Il. It's in pretty bad shape, never to fly again. I looked up it's tail numbers on my smartphone. It started it's life in 1940 at Delta. If only airplanes could talk. Don Smith of Hampshire

This is an overpass near Millennium Park on Columbus Drive in Chicago with the reflection of the sun creating an interesting pattern against the sky. Deb Marak of Arlington Heights

Chicago Cubs player Luis Valbuena completes a double play against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field on April 24. John Wysocki of Mount Prospect