We recently went up to Reno for my grandson’s 15th birthday and to see the Ostrich and Camel Races. Half way through the 2 1/2 hour trip, all of you had better sit down for this, I realized I left my camera at home! Can you imagine that?? Since I started photography, I’ve always had my camera with me for events.

In fact, my camera has taken me to many fun places I wouldn’t have gone if I wasn’t looking for an outing. I now realize, thanks to Egidio and his wonderful challenge, that photography has given me the opportunity for fun.

For instance:

The Sacramento Zoo has been a favorite of mine. It’s fun to get to know the animals and watch them through the years. I always check the red panda enclosure to see if they are awake. Being nocturnal, they are usually napping. This one was awake! The cheetahs are a relatively new zoo addition. One day they were grooming each other. What an opportunity.

The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is a natural habitat where deer, coyote, birds and other animals roam free. It’s located on the banks of the American River. The deer are used to humans and remain calm when we photograph them. However, they do have natural predators. Once we saw the remains of a deer carcass.

Not being a true “birder” with a super long lens, I enjoy my yearly visit to what I call the Nesting Trees in Lincoln. The trees sit in a gully in the middle of two shopping centers. The birds, blue herons and egrets, feel safe and build their nests there. Even though I only have a 300mm stretch on my Fujifilm camera and Tamron lens. I do manage to get a few good ones. I’ve also learned to bring a chair!

I do have fun at carnivals. Not riding the rides; but photographing them. I have fun zooming in and out, moving my camera up and down, combining both on a longer shutter speed. The Ferris wheel provided me with a lot of fun times.

Last, you know I like reflections. At the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, they put a locomotive on mirrors. Did they do that just for me? Here’s one result.

All of these destinations bring me fun each time I visit. But the joy comes from being with my friends for these outings. Photography has brought me wonderful photo buddies and also a great community like LAPC. About leaving my camera home, it must have been an omen. Two days before the races, a fire broke out in Washoe Valley. It looked like they had it contained, but the wind picked up and it changed direction. While we were watching the first ostrich race, my son got an alert to evacuate. Richard and I came home, and my son and family went to stay with his in-laws. It was an intense two days, but the fire didn’t get to their community, and they were able to return home.

Your posts to Ritva’s Common Objects challenge were just the diversion I needed last week. I was amazed at all the different interpretations you had for that challenge. When you respond to Egidio’s Fun challenge, please link back to his post and use the Lens-Artists tag in the reader. Next week Tina will be challenging us, so look for her post.

In the meantime, find the joy in life and have FUN!

34 thoughts on “Lens Artists Challenge #316: Destination Fun”

  1. Wow, Anne! I think I’d have panicked if I had forgotten my camera. Nowadays, our cell phones serve as second best. Your gallery is like a fairy tale. I had never seen a red panda. What a beautiful animal! Watching wildlife is unpredictable and part of the fun. Those long-exposure photos are beautiful, too.

    I’m glad that everyone was safe an unharmed with the fires.

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    1. Thanks Egidio! My cell phone doesn’t have a great camera. It’s an Apple SE. It’s weird, but I felt sort of free. I could relax and enjoy rather than looking for the best angle, etc. It was a tense couple of days, but everything’s okay.

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  2. These are beautiful shots of the animals and the train, Anne! The red panda is so unusual. I only made it to the Sac Zoo 2-3 times. I suppose I was spoiled with years of visiting the San Diego Zoo. Have you ever been to the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary? I visited with one of my Sac State classes a few years ago (I knew the general manager) for a facility tour. You can really appreciate these animals, some exotic, now that they have been rescued from their situations.

    Sounds like your trip without your camera was meant to be that way. Glad everyone was safe!

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    1. Thanks Terri! I’ve been to the Folsom zoo, but it’s not really meant for photography with thick cages. The Sac Zoo is also getting difficult for photography by putting up Plexiglas rather than bars. The sun glares off it and the kids smudge it. Progress!

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  4. I love that train image, that is incredible Anne. I also think you do well with the bird photography. I don’t think you always need a long lens. Great job.

    I forgot to say in my blog that the destinations were about photography for me as well. A good reason to travel.

    How could you forget your camera, lol.

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  5. Wow, I can just imagine how you felt when you forgot your camera! I once forgot mine when we were holidaying in Norfolk and had booked a day trip to get close to the seals that breed along that coast. There is no way I could have got good photos with my phone but my kind husband, who isn’t as into wildlife photography as I am, lent me his camera for the boat trip 🙂

    I share your enthusiasm for how photography helps to add fun on outings and brings us closer to others who share our hobby. And I love your ferris wheel photos in particular as they really capture the fun and excitement of a fair 😀

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    1. Sarah, it was strange, but I felt free to enjoy things without wondering how best to photograph them. I still haven’t looked at the photos I took with my phone of the race. I probably won’t given that the fire broke out. We’re going glamping today and my camera is already in the trailer!

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  6. Anne, you’re so right about visiting places specifically for photography, and the great friendships that have evolved from that! And what a scare you must have had over the fire! Thank goodness all resolved without issue. Loved your images as always, especially the mirrored train. John is going to love that one!!

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    1. Thanks Tina! It was a tough two days after we returned home until they were allowed back into their house. You’re probably right about the train. I wonder who thought to put it on mirrors.

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    1. Thank you Xenia! Family is back in their home and back to normal life. My small sweet zoo is moving to much larger quarters and further away. It’s going to be an adjustment for photographers, but better for the animals.

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  10. I’m not sure if I could cope without my camera and, at the same time, how liberating it could also be, if that makes any sense…

    Love your Zoo photos, I always do, that red panda is too cute! And the train, it’s a work of genius, Anne.

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  11. I’m glad your family is safe from the fire. They are so prevalent these days.
    I love the zoo photos, but you had me at that train engine. 🙂

    For over a decade, I’ve gotten by with Tamron zooms, first 270 maximum, current one 300 mm maximum for my D500. In February, I purchased a used Nikon 200-500 MM. It’s a beautiful lens, but its drawback is that it is much too heavy.

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  13. I’m glad everyone was safe from the fire. It must have been such a tense wait. And forgetting your camera…I’d be lost without mine, too! Maybe it’s time to upgrade your phone to one with a good camera. I just got the Samsung S-24….and wow. Incredibly powerful zoom lenses and all around great features. Your nature images are a treat. And I love that locomotive, too.

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