Capturing The Beauty Of The State: Best Of IL In Photos 2024

ILLINOIS — With the end of 2024 here, it's time to look back at some of the stunning images sent our way as part of our weekly Illinois in Photos feature. As I've been personally overseeing this for several years, this past was by far the most submissions we've received.

Whether we featured one of your photos or it unfortunately didn't get in, we thank everyone for sending them to us. Like this year, in 2025 we will continue hoping for your participation. To have your photo potentially featured on Patch, send it to Eric DeGrechie at eric.degrechie@patch.com. We just ask that you make sure the photo you send is one you have taken personally, and allow Patch to use on all platforms. Include your name for credit and a brief description of the photo, including where it was taken. Also, please remove any watermarks. Thank you!

Here are some of the best photos of 2024:

In January 2024, Kim Waters, of Oak Lawn, submitted this photo she took of her daughters, Maddy and Lilly, who made a snow cone stand equipped with a cash register and "order up" bell.

Judith Salstone sent in this photo she took of her "dear" friends at The Grove in Glenview last February.

In March, Alice Cooperman took this photograph of the Baháʼí House of Worship at night in Wilmette.

Lori Zera photographed her grandson, who she said was "mesmerized" by the lions at the Brookfield Zoo last April. The boy said of the lion, "he's staring into my soul."

Lynn Wesley, of Tinley Park, photographed this mute swan family in May.

Tyler Paydon sent in this photo he took at Hudson Crossing Park of the Fox River in June.

In July, Shauna Hauert captured this special moment of her brother, BJ Kettinger, marching in the Wheaton 4th of July parade with the STARS from College Church of Wheaton.

Joe Kloptowsky, of Tinley Park, was at the Chicago Air & Water Show in August and sent in this photograph he took of the Blue Angels.

In September, Clark Maxwell submitted this photograph he took of the York High School girls cross-country team versus Glenbard West in Glendale Heights' Camera Park.

Adina Skwarski, of Orland Park, submitted this photo she took of her grandkids this past October in downtown Frankfort. "At the spur of the moment, they both decided to taste the pumpkin," Skwarski told us.

Dick Davis, of Oswego, took this photo from his back window of a blue jay grabbing his morning peanut in November.