At the end of July, I had just two photos (an elaborate door knocker and a turtle) left to find for Rinda’s Summertime Photography Hunt. I knew I’d be able to find both, but I got a bonus photos as well.

I expected to find the door knocker on East Ave. in Rochester, but I didn’t have to wait until we got home. One of our last days in Chicago, Tracy and I took a walk through a beautiful neighborhood in Evanston, not far from Sarah’s new house.

Here’s a closer look:

One of my favorite places to visit in Highland Park is the Lamberton Conservatory (especially in the winter). There are several small ponds scattered among the plant displays where turtles happily swim about and rest among the plants. I walked up there a week or so ago, and here are three turtle photos.

And my favorite:

But actually, the find of the month was the three flags on a pole. I’d found an acceptable version at the Calgary Stampede, but the photo below is what I really wanted. I first saw it in June as we drove home from Chicago after helping Sarah and Adam move. We were zipping along the Ohio Turnpike, and there was No Way I was ever going to have captured it. In early August, we were (once again) zipping along the turnpike at 70 mph when Tracy said, “Quick, grab your phone! The flags are ahead.” I’m amazed at how clear this photo came out. I had exactly one chance to get it as we flew by.

And, lucky me, the wind was blowing so all three flags are flying in the breeze!

You can find all my Summertime Photography Photos for 2015 by clicking on the logo on my sidebar. It will take you to my SmugMug album with all the photos. Thanks, Rinda, for another great summertime photography hunt! It’s one of my favorite activities every summer.

I always love Rinda’s Summertime Scavenger Hunt, and it amazes me how quickly friends and family start looking for items on the list as we’re traveling together. My niece’s husband wanted to know what was on the list this year. He remembers the year I got a great photo of a train passing by as we were walking down to the Hudson to see the fireworks over the Fourth of July. This weekend we were on a road trip to the Hudson Valley. I knew exactly where I could find #6, a metal bridge (even though we have a lovely one right here in Rochester.) We got a bit of exercise in the process. 

This photo is taken from a metal bridge, The Walkway Across the Hudson, looking out to the Mid-Hudson Bridge that crosses at Poughkeepsie, New York. It’s 1.28 miles across and the longest pedestrian bridge over water in the United States. Here’s a better view of the Mid-Hudson Bridge.

And a map that shows the views from the bridge.

While we were in Hyde Park, I wanted to go to the Culinary Institute of America. They have a lovely shop, and I’ve purchased some perfect spatulas there in the past. I wanted a second small one, but they no longer carry them. It’s in an old monastery situated on the Hudson River and a wonderful place to take photographs. I’d forgotten how many architectural columns there were, however. Here is #5:

We took a scenic route to Hyde Park through the Catskills this year, and found #9, a tent along Rte. 20.

When my brother heard “tent” was on the list, he drove by this one. I took it quickly from the window, and didn’t check to see if it was blurry. It is.

# 11 is a cellular tower or satellite dish. I was looking out the window to the right on Rte. 30 when Tracy suddenly turned around. Out to the left he spotted this row of satellite dishes.

Someone plugged into social media is #8. Tracy and I regularly walk our neighborhood, and we track our distance on an iPhone app called Runkeeper. Tracy’s also known for adding to his “to do” list as we walk along, and here he is, doing just that.

The week we were in Chicago helping Adam and Sarah move, we took a morning off to take Caleb to the Chicago Botanic Garden. I have lots of photos from that morning, but this is the only one I’ve edited: #19 A ticket booth. The Chicago Botanic Garden has a separate Model Train Garden for which there is an additional charge (and well worth the price of admission!)

We’re very fortunate not to have significant traffic in the Rochester area, but Monroe Ave. which I travel regularly is getting busier and busier. We had quite a wait to get through the traffic signals one evening when Tracy was driving, so I got #14, a traffic signal.

So that’s eight items (#1 was posted earlier). I have my sign for #21 all printed and in my folder and hope to find a really beautiful spot in the Canadian Rockies for that photo. I’m thinking there are quite a few other items on the list that should be easy to find on our vacation as well. All my photos are in a SmugMug album you can access by clicking on the 2015 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt logo on my sidebar.

And a special thanks to Rinda for hosting, yet again, another fun hunt.

At the end of July, I had just six items left for Rinda’s Summer Scavenger Hunt. I was uncertain whether I would find all the rest or not, but indeed, I have.

#4 A group of tourists entering the Strong Museum of Play

#12 A mascot: I found this cutie at the RIT Book Store when I was there picking up some art supplies.

#13 A sunrise. This I knew I’d get. It was just a matter of getting up early enough to capture it. I talked Tracy into going up to Lake Ontario with me by offering to buy him breakfast afterwards. It was a beautiful morning. 

And here’s a side benefit of our early morning run: a Blue Heron catching his breakfast. (We also saw a river otter slink along the bank, but he was too fast for me to capture.)

#14 A parade (I love these guys!)

And a parade of ducks swam by the morning we were at the lake.

#15 A juggler. It turns out we have two friends who juggle. Rob happened to be at our house for a meeting, and cheerfully offered to juggle a few lemons for me. The fact that all three are not in the air is a photographer error. Should have set my camera for continuous shoot. Duh!

#20 A bus with a picture painted on its sides. We drove by this charter bus depot several days on the way to Conesus Lake in August before I realized they all had painted sides. Most of them had a small covered wagon painted on them. I could have lived with that, but as we drove out of the parking lot I spied this bus. Much more impressive.

I am, of course, always on the lookout for better subjects for the scavenger hunt. I recently found a “better” bakery, and who knows what might pop up before the Autumnal Equinox. You can see all my summer scavenger hunt photos (there are multiple versions of some) right here.

We’re off to spend the day with friends who’ve rented a cottage on Owasco Lake. It’s cool, but sunny, and another way to eek out the last of summer’s pleasures. I’ll link this up to Rinda’s Summer Scavenger Hunt when I get home.

How can it be the end of July already? The summer is flying by far too quickly, and it’s time for the July wrap-up of Rinda’s Scavenger Hunt. I have four more photos to add, and just five left to find. They, of course, are the hardest ones. I’m pretty sure I can find three of the five, but two are seeming pretty difficult right now. Maybe I’ll get lucky!

Here are the latest captures: #3 Birds on a wire. This proved a bit more difficult than I expected. We found a huge group of birds on a wire driving home from our camping trip a couple of weeks ago. Tracy pulled over a good distance from them. I got my camera ready, but as I walked toward them, most of them flew off. These were the brave ones.

 #9 A bakery. A new bakery and cafe just opened up near us. Sarah, Caleb, Tracy, and I ate lunch there on Tuesday.

#11 A horn. I actually have several images to share, all taken at the Antique Boat Museum two weeks ago.

And last, but not least, #21 A photo of you with soemting representing the season. Here I am relaxing at our camp site (definitely a summer-only activity in western New York) with a glass of wine before dinner.

By clicking on the Summer Scavenger Hunt logo on my sidebar you can find all my scavenger hunt photos in a SmugMug gallery. I’m off to discover what other finds have been made around the globe for this fun, summer project!