Nature Photography in the Chicagoland Area: Part 1

Where there’s a lot more than architecture and pizza

I find myself, along with roughly 8 million other humans, living near one of the greatest cities in the world, Chicago, Illinois. Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism department, records a record 60 million visitors in 2019 and even 30.7 million in 2021, at the height of the pandemic. Conde Nast Traveler magazine says of their readers that 240,000 list Chicago as their favorite place to visit.

Why do people come to Chicago? Choose Chicago lists events (sporting, concert, festivals), food (of course food, it is fantastic here) and attractions as the top reasons people visit the city. Top attractions include “The Bean” (ok, it’s really called Cloud Gate), Navy Pier, the Willis Tower (it will always be the Sears Tower to me) and architectural tours.

But where does nature photography fit in on that list? Hmmm, nature photography near Chicago? Really? Who comes to Chicago to photograph nature? With this and future articles, I intend to entice you to make nature photography one of the reasons why you want to visit the Chicago area.

I’ll start with landscape photography, where do I go around the area, what would I find there and when might be a good time to go. In the next few articles, I’ll discuss wildlife and bird photography, macro photography and backyard photography and maybe a few others.

So where would anyone wanting to experience and photograph landscapes in and around Chicago go? Well, there are over 70,000 acres of forest preserve in Cook County (Chicago’s county) alone. According to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC), in 1913, the Illinois state legislature passed an enabling act to allow counties to establish forest preserves. In 1914, Cook County voters approved the creation of a forest preserve district, and in 1917, the FPDCC dedicated its first preserve, Deer Grove.

The mission of the FPDCC remains the same today as it did in 1917 and that is: To acquire, restore and manage lands for the purpose of protecting and preserving public open space with its natural wonders, significant prairies, forests, wetlands, rivers, streams, and other landscapes with all of its associated wildlife, in a natural state for the education, pleasure and recreation of the public now and in the future.

And that’s not all. The surrounding counties of DuPage (26,000 acres), Lake (31,000 acres), Kane (23,000 acres) and Will (23,000 acres) have all set aside and preserved land for the enjoyment of anyone who wants to wander. Additionally, there are state parks within an hour or so of downtown Chicago that are stunningly beautiful and these natural areas truly deserve your attention. So let’s get started with my favorite forest preserves.

Pratt’s Wayne Woods sunrise over a prairie field.

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve is located about an hour west of the city in Wayne, IL. At 3,400 acres, it is the largest DuPage County forest preserve, so there are plenty of hiking, birding and fishing opportunities. Pratt’s is home to a heron rookery, so during spring nesting season, make sure to bring your longest lens.

A portion of the preserve is locked from sunset until sunrise, but much of the preserve is accessible any time of the day, by parking on the shoulder of the back roads. Getting there at sunrise gives you a chance to see the woods and fields bathed in golden light.

Spring and fall are my favorite seasons due to spring green and fall colors, as well as the lack of biting insects, but always be sure to check for ticks. There is a great rails-to-trails bike path that runs through the preserve that is a great hiking path you could check out.

Be aware there are railroad crossings that don’t always have traffic gates.

Another great spot is Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve. The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission designated Wolf Road as one of the highest quality natural areas in Illinois.

The preserve is crisscrossed with walking trails (sidewalks really) that allow you to get really close to the blooming prairie plants that you might want to photograph. Get there early, stay late, it is open sunrise to sunset. There is a designated parking area too. My favorite times to visit are May — August when the prairie comes alive with blooming flowers and grasses.

The preserve is surrounded by development, so many of your images might contain signs of that in the background. But that can make for some interesting juxtapositions of nature and human development.

Then there is LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, which is probably my favorite. You will find high quality prairies, woodlands and a cool little creek that meanders through the preserve. Unlike most of Illinois, which was farmed at one point, there is a relic prairie here (Murray Prairie) that was never plowed under for farming.

You’ll also find old barns, the Durant House Museum and the Pioneer Sholes School. The museum was built in 1843 and the school in 1872. All are great living history museums that show what life was like in the 1800’s and are wonderful inclusions in your landscape photos.

Try black and white mid-day for a different look to your images.

If you like horses, then Spring Lake Forest Preserve is your best bet to capture images of horse and rider. You can get up close to the horses near the equestrian parking area or hike the trails to find a great overlook and use your telephoto lens to capture your image.

There are 4,000 acres and over 45 miles of winding trails through Spring Lake. This preserve can feel like a hidden gem that not many people visit. Take your time and wonder around to find your images.

Using a telephoto lens can create a sense of intimacy.

So next time you visit Chicago, please remember to bring your camera, a wide variety of lenses and head on out to the natural areas around Chicagoland. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much nature you can find within an hour’s drive of Chicago. Hope to see you there soon.