Just think about the photographs you’ve reviewed lately. I bet a lot of them include either a foreground or background of water. Water enhances our photos, adding impact. Photographing it is also fun and sometimes a challenge.  My dear friend Jean, who passed away recently, loved to photograph anything water. In fact, many outings were diverted because she saw a sign saying there was a lake or other water nearby. This was taken on one of Jean’s detours.

The San Francisco Bay near Port Costa.

Water is featured in many landscapes.  This ocean picture was taken in Pacific Grove.

This Folsom Lake image was taken before the drought hit last year. The sailboat is the focus, and the water gives it location.

Bridges usually go over water and in Sacramento County we have many that help us get to the other side of the rivers. I took this one recently of the Rainbow Bridge, a Folsom landmark, and the American river. Reflections in the water add a certain dynamic.

Water can also be the focus of our pictures. Waterfalls, from the great Niagara Falls (the American and Bridal Veil falls), to the small falls at our local Dry Creek are focus points. At Dry Creek, I was handholding the camera and trying to show water as silky by slowing down the shutter speed. I’ve yet to master that because I don’t often carry my tripod! One day I will get up early, plant myself at the ocean, put on my neutral density filter and photograph beautiful waves as they hit the rocky shoreline.

Here’s another handheld close-up image of water coming out of a pipe. This just shows that water of any kind can be fun to shoot. Next is a macro image of a water drop on a leaf. I had a lot of fun taking that one. Finally, the last of this trio shows simple drops of water on lotus pads.

Oh, the last bit of water I’ve had fun with is the snow. Fortunately, here in Sacramento we don’t live with the snow, but we can visit it. Here’s an image of a home in Blue Canyon one hour up the interstate. The second image is of icicles (And their reflection in a window) on a cabin at Donner Lake which is 1 ½ hours away.

I’ll end my show and tell here, but what water fun have you had? Please show us your water fun and tell us about it. Go through your archives and retrieve some memories or find new liquid delights to photograph this week. We’re anxious to see your images. Please remember to use the Lens-Artists tag and to link to this post.

Thank you for participating in Sophia’s challenge of “Low Light” last week. Next week we are pleased to have Karina of Murtagh’s Meadow as our guest host. I wonder what she has in store for us.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, we have easy to follow instructions. Just click this link and join us:

https://photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com/about-lens-artists/

 

106 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #187: Water

  1. ‘ Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.’ (Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner?) Good topic, great photos. I’m always partial to water reflections, such as your bridge shot. Excellent.

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  2. Lovely photos, Anne. Great prompt for this week. I’ll swim around in my photos for a while and find some that match the theme. 🙂 Our son lives in Sacramento. I hope to be coming up that way in April.

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  3. Hi Anne

    What a wonderful topic you have chosen, and your sweeping masthead photo from Pacific Grove is an invitation to soak in the beauty there. I’m sorry for the loss of your dear friend Jean, and grateful that you have shared some of her detours with us.

    I adore your waterfall images, even the frozen water falling from the roof – aka icicles. That water drop at the very tip pf the leaf is exquisitely focused.

    Here’s my Lens Artist 187: Water offering:

    Great Blue Herons Guest…Graceful Egret

    Best, Babsje

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Your thoughts on including water in images are so on-point. Photographers so often find themselves near water to accentuate the beauty in their images.
    I, too, am guilty of wishing for silky smooth long exposures of moving water, yet failing to bring a tripod.
    Sorry about the loss of your friend.

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  5. Beautiful photos and inspiring theme, Anne. I love how you use the tree branches to frame the first image. I’d love to walk the Pacific Grove enjoying the blue sea and colorful wildflowers. Your macro images are truly amazing!

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  6. Lovely photos Anne – my favourite is the macro shot of the drops on a leaf. Like you I’d love to properly capture the silky waters of a waterfall but carrying a tripod is just too much hassle! Maybe if I had one near home and could go there specifically for a photo-shoot, but waterfalls are in short supply in London!

    I’ve decided to focus on the sea for my own contribution. I hope you like it! https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-water-water-everywhere/

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  7. Hi Anne! Water provides the most beautiful images, doesn’t it? I especially like your Niagara shot and the San Francisco bay with the hovering clouds. And the carpet of lilac blooms on the shoreline is a sight to gladden the heart. Wishing you a happy week!

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  8. That’s a lovely set of images. I must’ve visited Pacific Grove in a less spectacular season, so your photo tells me that there is a good r/season to go back. That clean arch of an early 20th century bridge is also delightful, especially the way you paired it with its reflection. And the water on leaves, always my favourite.

    Wet pentameter

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