Itasca man captures Grand Canyon with 'flat lighting'

When he first got started as a photographer, Emil Schiavo most often would focus on corporate executives posing for portraits when he looked through the viewfinder of his film cameras.

Nowadays, the Itasca resident still does portraits. But he has switched to digital photography and his attention has turned to nature.

His early February trip out West yielded a photo of the Grand Canyon that has been selected as the Daily Herald's March Photo Finish contest winner. Schiavo will receive a $50 gift certificate to PJ's Camera in Glen Ellyn as his prize.

He took the photo with a Nikon D750 digital camera fitted with a 24 mm wide-angle lens.

"That was pretty much at high noon," he said. "There was no shadowing like there was in the early morning or late evening. I would call it flat lighting."

Schiavo said he had to endure a bit of discomfort to get the shot.

"That was a side trip. I hadn't been out there in a long while. We stayed with friends at a house in Las Vegas," he said, noting that the midwinter temperatures there climb to the 70s.

At the canyon, temperatures hovered between 15 and 20 degrees.

"I was not prepared for the weather," said Schiavo, who said he'd brought only a light jacket and no gloves.

Still, the beauty of the panorama beckoned.

"The back of our lodge was right on the canyon. We toured the canyon from the south rim. It was very enjoyable," he said. "We had beautiful weather - blue sky and sun every day."

Schiavo said the resulting image was so striking that he had it enlarged so he could display it in his living room.

"I think the colors and composition of the photo show how beautiful the Grand Canyon must be in person," Daily Herald Senior Photographer Bev Horne said.

Schiavo said he's been a photographer since the early '70s.

"A lot of it was self taught," he said. "I did go to some classes and seminars over the years."

He worked for several photo studios before he was hired at Motorola, where he worked as a technician and a technical manual writer.

"And I actually had a stint in their photo lab," he said.

After leaving his full-time job with Motorola, he became the company's unofficial freelance photographer.

"I've been back there ever since I've left," he said.

Schiavo said his other clients include Elk Grove Village, where he often photographs events. He also shoots weddings, real estate photos and a variety of special events. More information is available at www.imagesbyemil.com.

Schiavo said he recently began frequenting places such as the Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden to photograph landscapes and wildlife.

And he is always accompanied by his digital equipment.

"I've been using Nikon cameras since the '70s. I started out with film cameras," he said. "Once I got my first digital camera, I had no interest in going back to film. It's a lot neater."

About our contest

If you'd like to submit a photo to our contest, email it in .jpg format with at least 300 dpi resolution to dupagecontest@dailyherald.com.

Be sure to include your name, address and a phone number, plus a description of where you took the photo, why you like it and what challenges you faced.

The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate, good at PJ's Camera, Pickwick Place Plaza, 662 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn.