May 2018 – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 by Anne Sandler · 4 Comments

Didn’t you want to go there again? Nevada City, California

Challenges, I love them–most of the time. Visiting Nevada City in the Sierra foothills, was like that. If you’ve been following this blog, you have seen images of this quaint town and its neighbor, Grass Valley. We stopped there on our way to Downieville, walked and took photos and then went on to the city of no pizza!

I didn’t mind because it’s challenging to find something different to shoot, or maybe to shoot from a different angle which can give you different results. Exercises like these help improve your compositions and photographic abilities.

So here I am in Nevada City finding inspiration, seeing new opportunities and learning.

I was drawn to this flower pot attached to a window.

This picture belongs with the cover photo. Next time I’ll go inside.

This crystal was in a store. It was totally white; I worked with the color a bit.

Benches are occupied!

This tented crepe shop was opening for business.

Flower pots with character.

Window treatment!

I can’t resist a flower macro.

A very photo-graphical home.

The church on the top of the hill.

A home rental hiding from on-lookers.

A better view.

If I remember correctly, the end building is an entertainment venue.

I also can’t resist something old and rusty!

A cannon located in a small park.

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Anne Sandler · 4 Comments

What, still no pizza! Downieville, California

I was looking forward to going back to Downieville and having the pizza that my dear departed photo buddy Greg Morris promised Marlene and I a few years ago. Located at the North Fork of the Yuba River, Downieville is a small town with a population of about 300.

When we were there last, no restaurant was open, especially the pizza place Greg bragged about on our way up. Fortunately, the grocery store was open and we were able to buy our usual lunch there. Well, the term lunch is being generous. I had a cup of noodles, Greg had beef jerky and chips and Marlene ate her emergency peanut butter sandwich.

So, I was not altogether surprised that there was only one sandwich shop, Jadaa’s Kitchen, open in town the day we were there, but I was disappointed. Even though it was almost tourist season, the stores were open only on the weekends. I guess we’d have to go during the summer to see if Greg was right about the pizza.

This time our visit to the small town was cut short due to a thunder storm. We stayed as long as we could, shooting as much as we could. Will I ever taste that pizza?

The visitor’s center!

The local Inn.

The bridge that takes you over the Yuba River.

The Yuba River.

We had lunch at Jadaa’s Kitchen. Great food.

The grocery store.

Yuba River.

I was trying to handhold while using a slow shutter.

The river.

A unique fence made from skies.

Imagination continues.

A rowboat planter!

Viewing a house from below.

An outdoor heat source.

Someone’s property that is quaint.

The court house.

Someone’s property that is quaint.

An outdoor heat source.

Viewing a house from below.

A rowboat planter!

Imagination continues.

A unique fence made from skies.

The river.

I was trying to handhold while using a slow shutter.

Yuba River.

The grocery store.

We had lunch at Jadaa’s Kitchen. Great food.

The Yuba River.

The bridge that takes you over the Yuba River.

The local Inn.

The visitor’s center!

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Anne Sandler · 4 Comments

The unfinished story: The Clydesdale parade, Fairfield

Right now my life is like an unfinished story. I jump from one activity to another without finishing the first. And so it is with the second part of my visit to the Anheuser-Busch facility in Fairfield, California to see the famous Clydesdale horse team in action. So many things got in the way of my posting this blog, including a two-day Toastmaster conference.

But here I am at the computer ready to show you images of these beautiful horses. I received conflicting information of the horses’ ages. I can tell you that when they can no longer participate in parades, they live on a ranch and enjoy the rest of their natural life.

Another fact that amazed me was the time it took to dress the horses (in their fancy harnesses) and hitch up the team. Once the eight horses were hitched, they did one horse at a time, April (the dalmatian) and the drivers got on board for the ride around the parking lot.

I came home with over 500 shots to go through because I finally decided to use continuous shutter speed. Don’t worry, you don’t have to wade through them, just a few select ones.

April was out to greet everyone.

This is where the horses are kept until it’s time to get hitched.

The wagon. Notice, everything is red!

First horse arrives.

At least three of the staff were dressing the horses.

The process continues

In about 10 minutes, the first horse is ready to be hitched.

On the way to the wagon, horse and handler fall in step.

Hitching to the wagon.

The horses interact while waiting.

We’re now up to three horses hitched.

Beautiful face.

The parade begins.

They circled twice around the parking lot in one direction.

And then changed direction for two more rounds of the lot.

Now, that’s a fancy foot.

After the parade the team is still for everyone to come closer.

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Anne Sandler

Circling life: The Clydesdales, Fairfield, California

Both Alyse and I decided in a recent phone conversation that we were going around in circles–not literally but in the sense of getting nowhere with our lives. Returned from our 2-week road trip, neither of us felt that we were getting much done or advancing toward a goal.

I had wanted to take a course from Leanne Cole, a friend and fine-art photographer in Australia, but have yet to start it. I just don’t have the time. I’m still moving boxes around, unpacking the ones I can, shopping for new things for the house and beginning to get into a normal routine, including photography. Maybe, I’m wanting too much too soon. I want to have my house done, want to begin to meet people in my new community and want to advance in my photography ability–ALL AT ONCE!

Fortunately, I’m prioritizing photo outings with my regular Tuesday group. We recently visited the Anheuser-Busch plant in Fairfield to photograph the famous Clydesdale horses. We began with a plant tour (I’ll show the images in this post.) and then watched the hitching of the horses to the cart and the small parade. This was all done in their parking lot.

So, here are some pictures from the plant tour that lasted about 1 hour. I so enjoyed the outing, and had the feeling that I was accomplishing something. In the next post you’ll meet the horses and April, the dalmatian.

Oh, on a side note, when I met one of my new neighbors, I kept talking about going out to shoot this and that. I saw a puzzled look on her face, and realized she thought I was talking about guns! “I shoot with a camera,” I said!

This is a reflection of the truck and gates in a plant window.

Inside the plant, flags are displayed.

A mural.

On the main floor.

Lots of shiny steel.

Pipes.

The plant is immaculate.

Drums containing product.

Getting up close.

On the go.

We’re in the packaging area.

I think cases come down the circular conveyor belt.

Always a photographer, I look for an angle.

I really don’t know what this is, but it was hanging there as we excited. He’s cute.

Posted on May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 by Anne Sandler

Lost and found: Finishing up the Sedona trip

Great news, I found my rice cooker and some other things!! But, now where is the other speaker for my stereo? I know I saw it sitting apart from the other speaker and stereo, but where? This is the game Richard and I have been playing while trying to get things back to normal activity.

I did go out with my Tuesday group last Tuesday, and I’m still processing those pictures. I finally finished processing the Sedona trip. Time for shooting and processing has been minimal; plus I managed to catch a cold. I really wasn’t chasing after it.

So let’s look back at my fun time at the Blazin’ M Ranch in Cottonwood, Arizona. We went for the dinner show, and it was a blast. I, of course, ate way too much. The chicken was excellent and so were the ribs. The entertainment was even better. If you’re ever in Sedona, this is a must.

We got to the ranch early because I expected Old Town Cottonwood to be more of a photo opportunity than it was.

The hall where we dined and saw the show.

Another structure.

Some attendees taking pictures.

One of the shops.

The Jail.

One of the entertainers.

Happy Birthday folks.

The trio.

A little closeup.

This gal can yodle!

Her husband.

The comic relief.

His serious side.

On the way home, when I wasn’t driving, I shared my seat with my D7100. I was able to capture some drive by shots somewhere between Utah,Nevada and California.

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Anne Sandler · 14 Comments

Home again: Sedona, AZ

After a 2-week respite from our move, I’m back to finish up–or try to complete unpacking boxes, etc. The house is mostly set up now; things still need to be moved around and set up. We are still trying to find things. Do you know where my rice cooker is??

Now, back to Sedona. This visit was more of a relaxing visit with a bit of photography mixed in. We stayed at Sedona Pines where the 2-bedrooms were separate cabin-like structures. This suited our lifestyle since Alyse is up late and wakes up late while I’m the opposite. I’d get up in the morning, have breakfast, walk, work on photos, etc. By the time I was hungry for lunch, Alyse was up having breakfast. We would spend the day roaming around Sedona. In the evening, we’d come back and enjoy watching TV.

I’ll be honest, as much as I wanted to take Alyse’s car and go shooting, I really needed the rest. Anyway, here is a glimpse of the red rocks of Sedona in Arizona, just in case you haven’t seen it already.