Minooka Woman Wins September's Forest Photo Contest

Minooka resident Eileen Capodice endured a close encounter with a spider to win September's portion of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Preserve the Moment Photo Contest.

Her gorgeous shot of pokeweed adorned with water droplets and a spider web was beautifully composed and stunning in its detail. The photo was taken at McKinley Woods in Channahon.

Capodice said she decided to take a walk at Kerry Sheridan Grove after it had rained and she accidentally walked through a spider web. After removing the web from her eyelashes, she spotted the pokeweed.

"I love capturing water droplets with reflections, and was immediately drawn to one pokeweed that had a spider web hanging from it as well as a dark shadowy area of the trees behind it," she said.

"I took a few different photos, and when I went to review them on the back of my camera, I realized out of the corner of my eye that there was an eight-legged creature also reviewing them with me. It must have hopped on for a ride when I walked through the web on the trail.”

She brushed the spider out of her hair and snapped the winning shot. Capodice has been taking nature photos for about seven years.

"It’s a great way to relieve stress, and I love sharing those moments with others to enjoy as well. Entering the Preserve the Moment contest is a fun and additional way to challenge myself to learn new things about photography as well as the nature that surrounds us."

Honorable mentions for September were awarded to:

• Mark Hanna of Romeoville for a photo of a rabbit in repose at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
• Byron Morgan of Crete for a great shot of a great horned own chillin' in a tree at Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve.
• Ron Hodgen of Morris for a regal eagle at McKinley Woods.
• Debi Shapiro of Lockport for two eagles bowing their heads at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve.

All photo contest entries can be viewed at Flickr.com/WillCoForests. The contest will continue with monthly winners through December. Monthly winners will vie for overall contest honors in January 2022 via public voting on the District's Facebook page.

Entrants receive a participation gift, monthly winners receive a $75 Visa gift card, and overall contest winners will receive gift cards of $500 for first place; $250 for second place; and $150 for third place. Three random names will be drawn to win $75 MasterCard gift cards once the contest concludes. Prizes are funded by The Nature Foundation of Will County.

For contest rules and submission information, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.