Posted on by Anne Sandler · 34 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #378: Last Chance

When I look back at my photographic experiences in 2025, I can’t get too excited. Except for my Panama Canal Cruise (which I haven’t been able to process yet), it was a repeat of places we had been before. So, I just picked a few that I liked. I’m sure I posted pictures of the outings from which these were taken, but these were not edited or posted.

Let’s start with the one image I processed of the Panama Canal. This is of the lock just before entering the lake.

Next are pictures of birds. It’s difficult for me to get pictures of Sandhill Cranes because I don’t have a super long lens. I got lucky with this one being closer to the road. The next image is my first of a pheasant. Too bad it was a super foggy day.

You know I enjoy photographing flowers.

I love trees. They are so expressive.

My back is telling me to end this post, and I must listen. Thank you Beth for encouraging us to spread our wings last week. Have a wonderful holiday and happy New Year. I’ll see you in 2026! In the meantime stay safe and live in gratitude.

I’m plagiarizing Patti because she said it so well:

Who are the Lens-Artists? Subscribe to our blogs to get our latest challenges.

1. Tina of https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com 2. Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com 3. Ann-Christine of https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com 4. John of https://photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com 5. Sofia of https://photographias.wordpress.com 6. Anne of https://annegeephoto.com 7. Egidio of https://egidio.photography/ 8. Ritva of https://sillarit.com/ 9. Beth of https://wanderingdawgs.com/ To find out more about the Lens-Artists Challenges, click here.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 38 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge 377: Holiday Fun

One good aspect of being housebound this year is there is no holiday stress! Yesterday, I drove for the first time in a month and I’m at my computer right now! I’m headed in the right direction!!

This week Ann-Christine is asking us to share some holiday fun. We are now a blended family, celebrating Chanamas or Christmacha! Here’s a picture from one of our Chanukah celebrations on the eighth night. I’m missing the Christmas celebration in Reno.

Each year, my photo buddies and I go out to capture the beautiful holiday lights. The first indication that it’s Holiday time are the displays in the store windows, including reflections.

Next to find a festive store display and a picture within a picture.

What would the Holiday be without tree displays. First in Old Sacramento and next in front of the Sacramento Capitol building. I had a bit of with that tree.

It’s that time of year to look for snow. Yes, I like to look but not play in it!

No matter what or how you celebrate, the holidays are a time for gathering together–friends, family or neighbors.

Last week, we spread our wings with Beth’s wonderful challenge. Your responses sure brightened my week. Next week, we’ll host our annual Last Chance Challenge, inviting you to share any photos you took in 2025 that haven’t been part of our earlier challenges! Time to take a deep dive into your archives. Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 45 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #376: Wings

I’m flying! At least it feels like I have wings–I’m able to sit at a chair for a while. A month ago I fell and hurt my back and have been going from the couch to the bed. Each day I tried more standing up movement. So here I am ready to do a short post on Beth’s wonderful challenge of wings.

Most of my wings are of birds in flight.

Hawk ready for flight.

In flight at the annual Sacramento Chalk it Up.

Crop dusters in rural Yolo County.

Even the Sacramento Zoo had flights in fantasy for a while.

That’s it for my short post today. Next week Ann-Christine will lead us into the Holiday season. I’ve been enjoying all your posts for the last month, especially how all of you expressed mysterious. I’d better not push it. Thank heavens for laptops and a couch that reclines. See you next week. In the meantime stay safe (I need to listen to my own words.) and live in gratitude.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 25 Comments

Down in the Delta: Heringer Family Estates Winery & Vineyards

Oh, it is tough to get back into routine after a vacation. Almost over a sore throat, I checked to see what outings I hadn’t shown you before we left for our Panama Canal trip. I found this delightful winery in the Delta region sponsored by the Yolo Arts and Ag Project.

It was delightful because of the photo and artistic opportunities the Heringer Vineyards offered. There were many photographers and artists in attendance. Although late in the season, some grapes were still on the vine and beautiful against their colorful leaves.

All wineries have tasting rooms and beautiful grounds. Being in the Delta, the Sacramento River is nearby.

And there were many painters sketching and painting the beautiful scenes.

Let’s not forget the traditional old and rusted farm equipment.

My camera always leads me to plants, and that morning was no different.

I think this was the last outing planned by the Yolo Arts & Ag Project for 2025. They will start again in Spring 2026. I do appreciate the opportunities they offer us.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 53 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #371: Street Details

One of my joys in my photographic journey is to visit small towns and stroll their streets. This is when I look for details that I may not find in Sacramento. In fact, I’m seldom in downtown Sacramento. One-way streets drive me crazy. So, I’m happy that Ritva chose this subject for her challenge.

Doors always catch my eye. Here are three that caught my eye while on photo outings.

And where there are doors, there must be windows!

Sacramento used to be known as the City of Trees until it became The Farm to Fork Capital.

Now for some street scenes from my wanderings.

Thank you Ritva for encouraging us to see as our cameras do and to pay attention to details. When you respond to her post, please link to Ritva’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag.

I’m sorry to have missed Ann-Christine’s and Sofia’s challenges, but I did have an enjoyable time cruising the Panama Canal. And it’s great to be back. Next week Tina will be leading the challenge, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 49 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #368: Looking Back to Lens Artists Challenge #106, Autumn

It’s not John who has presented me with a challenge this morning, it’s Adobe! Lightroom and Photoshop lost my account. I tried to be a good Adobe user and follow their instructions, but so far it’s not working. So I resized my images with Microsoft, and hope they will be okay. Now back to John’s original challenge–the beauty of Autumn.

We do not get much of a leaf changing season here in Sacramento, so we travel to higher ground.

One place is Hope Valley (A mountain valley known for its fall colors, outdoor recreation, and historical significance as a route for Gold Rush emigrants.) It’s located on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains. And it’s beautiful in the Fall season with the aspen trees changing color. All the photographers drive up there, about 1 1/2 hours away, to photograph “The Cabin.” It’s not occupied now, but it’s a landmark.

Here is another bit of Autumn in Hope Valley.

Let’s travel north up Highway 49, still in the Sierra Nevada mountains, to the Empire Mine State Historic Park. We happened to be at the right place at the right time–when the Gingko trees were changing color.

Let’s go back down south on Highway 49 to Apple Hill which is known for many apple farms, apple pie, and apple everything.

That’s about it for Fall color. When you post your beautiful colors, please remember to link to John’s post and use the Len’s Artists tag. I really enjoyed reading about and seeing your images posted for Joanne’s “Everyone Should See This.”

Richard and I will be cruising for the next three weeks, and not taking our computers. Yes, not even one! This means, I won’t be able to post or comment on posts. I’ll see you again in November. In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 42 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #367: Everyone Should See This

When was the last time you hugged a tree? Have you ever hugged a tree? Or maybe you’ve just stood by one and soaked up their energy. I love trees, their energy and graceful branches. This week our guest host Joanne Mason wants us to share some photographs of things/people/places that are inspiring.

I find trees inspiring. I don’t know why. They give me peace, energy and relaxation. Let’s go to the forest first. I love the smell of pine trees. Unfortunately it will take this forest, in the picture on the right, a long time to recover from this fire. Please be careful and show nature the respect it deserves.

It’s Autumn let’s enjoy the beauty of the leaves.

Trees and fungi have a mutually beneficial relationship, where fungi provide trees with water and soil nutrients, while trees supply the fungi with sugars. And they look pretty too!

We have a lot of almond orchards in the Yolo County countryside. When the trees blossom, they are so beautiful. When they are bare, you find a carpet of mustard plants.

I love trees in the fog, especially during the winter season.

And if you’re able to catch that special moment when a tree allows a sunbeam through its leaves, that is just WOW!

I hope this post has you inspired to enjoy trees. When you respond to Joanne’s post please link to hers and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week, we looked at the lives of city and rural dwellers urged on by Tina, and it was fun. Next week John will be hosting the challenge.

Until then, stay safe, hug a tree and live in gratitude!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 45 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge# 366: City Mouse/Country Mouse

Yikes, there’s a mouse in the house! No, not really, but we did have “super rat” once when we lived in Antelope. But you don’t want to hear that story. This blog post is not about mice, but about Sacramento City and our neighboring countryside. Actually it takes me about the same time to get to either from my home in Citrus Heights.

Tina challenges us, this week, to show the differences between a city and a countryside.

Let’s see Sacramento City first. Being the California Capital, Sacramento has been growing during the past years. We have more tall buildings (not skyscrapers) and restaurants drawing in city, county and state workers. Some of our downtown restaurants have been awarded a Michelin Star rating! Not bad for a former “cow town.” Most of our newer buildings are built so the glass windows show reflections.

I’ve posted about Sacramento’s annual mural festival. My examples are very different. Left is a building painted in a “tagging” style and on the right, a rather large image of Johnny Cash.

And last, there’s the Old Sacramento nightlife. This was taken from the Tower Bridge,

Now for our countryside, where I’m sure many mice live. But, we do have to cross over into Yolo County. These were taken on many different outings my photo group went on. It’s fun getting lost in the countryside when all roads are named County Road XX. Oh the stories I could tell, and not about mice. But the result is worth the extra gas.

If I had to choose, I would choose to live where I do–in the suburbs. After all, either the city or the country are 20 – 30 minutes away. Thanks Tina helping me find that I’m happy right where I am. Please link to her post when you respond to her challenge and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week Egidio taught us a new Portuguese word, Saudade, meaning longing. I had a lot of fun reading about your thoughts and seeing your images. Next week, guest host Joanne of Joanne Mason Photography will be challenging us. Stay tuned!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 49 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #365: Longing

After reading Egidio’s post and his challenge this week, I thought heavily on what I’m longing for. Health, wealth, increased life expectancy. Yes, really deep subjects. Then I got real. What am I truly longing for. I had the ride in the small 2-seater airplane, but I didn’t take to the sky in a balloon. That’s it. I want to ride in a hot air balloon!

It almost happened at a balloon festival back in 2012. I had just bought my first DSLR, a Nikon D3100 and was anxious to use it. We went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Windsor, California. This was a great introduction for me since it was relatively small.

We pulled in with our trailer the night before. I was woken at 4 a.m. the next morning to grab my camera and take pictures of the dawn patrol. In the dark, the only setting I could see on my camera was a green “A.” I knew that would put me on “auto.” That’s the way the following images were captured.

Later that morning, with my camera set to “manual,” I photographed these:

I was signed up for a balloon ride the next morning, but they cancelled all rides because of wind. I’ve not had a second chance yet. However, maybe next year I’ll have another opportunity for a ride with two neighbors who also have the same longing.

Meanwhile, In 2017, my friend and I attended the balloon festival in Reno, Nevada. This was a much bigger festival and the availability for taking pictures was less. But once the balloons got in the air, it was a magnificent sight.

I’m still longing for that ride and hope that 2026 will be the year it happens!

Thanks Egidio, for helping me isolate another activity from my bucket list. When you reply to his post, please link to it and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week we saw a great deal of quiet — the places you go to for solitude and relaxation. They put me in a very mellow mood. Next week Tina will return and challenge us. Stay tuned!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 25 Comments

Out for a stroll at the Car Show

It was a cool Saturday morning; a great time for my husband and I to drive to the car show at Denio’s. Denio’s is a large farmer’s market and swap meet in Roseville. Occasionally they host members of car clubs who enjoy showing off their old, rare and souped up autos.

I sort of knew what to expect; you know, having cars parked next to each other. So while my husband talked to the owners, I photographed the cars–mostly close up! It was fun and challenging for me. Here’s what my camera found.

I liked the care the owners gave their cars. They were all polished and clean. Well, except for my first photo. But there was a certain pride of ownership in that truck also. Maybe the next time I visit, it will be painted and shiny too!