October 2024 – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on October 31, 2024October 31, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 29 Comments

A great day at the zoo!

It wasn’t just a great day at the zoo, it was an exciting day! Why? I was able to see and photograph our new lion Slamson II. The lion enclosure had been empty since both lions died; Kamau in June 2023 and Cleo in October 2024. Cleo passed at age 19 and was one of the oldest lions in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African Lion Species Survival Plan population. Slamson II came to the zoo via a partnership with the Sacramento Kings basketball team, whose mascot is a lion called Slamson.

He’s been kept from public view all these months. But, now he’s ready to meet his adoring fans.

Next, I was excited because the Red Pandas were active. Usually, they are sleeping and, if I’m lucky, I get a picture of their face when they lift it. This time I could see their entire body as they walked from tree to tree and feeding area to feeding area. And I’d watch out for their claws!

Oh, then there was the Zebra who, I think, was on a time out. Usually they are just eating. But this one wasn’t.

And the White Rhino was out and eating, which he does most of the day. Also the African Pancake tortoise was eating.

The Orangutans were also eating. They would grab a head of lettuce from a plastic box and start chomping. I’m thinking we arrived during breakfast.

The Cheetahs, having finished their bones, were prowling their enclosure.

One cutie that I was able to photograph through plastic is the small Meercat. Of course we want children to come and enjoy the zoo. But they do leave little hand prints on the plexiglass. This time, I got lucky.

Let’s end this visit with the beautiful Okapi and the Black Crowned Crane. The cranes had been out from public view because of the bird flu. It was good to see this beautiful bird again.

I had a great morning. As you can tell from my images, the sun was harsh and presented some problems. But nothing could dampen my spirits after seeing the new lion and the Red Pandas out and about.

Until next time!

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 37 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #322: There’s a crack in everything

Those of us who strive for perfection will see the cracks in everything. Those of us who accept life as imperfect will not see all the cracks, but see the beauty beyond those fractures. I’m one who looks for beauty to counter the world’s tension, especially here in the U.S.

I chose images for this challenge that offer “hope and redemption and spiritual insight,” as requested by Ritva in her challenge.

Let’s start with spiritual insight. Experiencing a total solar eclipse is a most spiritual encounter. I remember the awe as the day became dark and the only thing to remind us that we were not alone was the ring of light around the moon. Even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.

Next is fog which darkens the sky and, when thick, creates a blanket of gray mist. The following image was taken during a sunrise walk with my dog while camping. How amazing as the sun shows its dominance. How small are we humans!

Catching first light with your camera is a rewarding experience. This was true for waiting in the dark at Yosemite Falls in the extreme cold. The next image was much easier to catch as I woke up to a beautiful snowy sunrise while at my son’s home. Both brought me exhilaration and awe. For me, both were spiritual in nature.

The sun also accents its own beauty no matter what time of day. You just have to catch it right. As photographers, we know not to miss an opportunity! I’m wondering if this eagle will get a tan on it’s face? I love when flowers are backlit by the sun, creating shadows as softness.

Last come sunsets. The crack in the light diminishes and our view of the world changes. Whether it’s a sunburst showing through an open barn or a beautiful soft glow on a lighthouse, we know another day has come to an end. We anxiously wait to see what tomorrow will be.

Thank you Ritva for this insightful and soul searching challenge. When you reply, please link to her challenge and use the Lens-Artists tag.

And thank you for all your responses to last week’s challenge on ICM. All of your ICMs were amazing and some are still coming in. I did pick up a few tips like shaking the camera. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Next week Egidio leads our challenge, so be sure to look for his post. Until then, stay safe and healthy.

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 39 Comments

Catching up, once again: The nesting tree

Each April my friends and I go to Lincoln to two trees where herons and egrets nest. This year was no different. The difference is that I haven’t posted anything but LAPC posts. So I’m playing catch UP!

These trees are in the middle of a gully in between two shopping centers. It’s really tough to capture the birds with my 300 mm max lens, but I always give it a go. Thanks to Topaz and cropping, I usually come back with a few good ones.

These birds are magnificent, and to see them build and find material for their nests is a treat.

I’ll be back with more catching up!

Posted on October 19, 2024October 17, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 95 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #321: Intentional Camera Movement

Come along with me on my journey to discover Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). I’ve never really attempted to do this except for the occasional image. So we’re going down that rabbit hole together! Yes, again. You’ve got to love that rabbit. The rabbit hole was found at Bushnell Gardens and Nursery in Granite Bay. Photo buddy Richard came along.

The first tip came from my friend Laura when I photographed my only other ICM. Move your body and not your camera. That way your lines are straight. This was a gate outside the nursery. I bowed before it.

I think for this one, I just wiggled my body. Laura would be proud that I didn’t move the camera. Richard liked my dance. I like the burst of color surrounded by soft greens. I’ve found it’s important to have color in ICM. I think the bright floral color help this image.

Next are four images showing what the plant really was and three more showing various degrees of ICM. The last one being a horizontal move on my part. These pictures were hardly edited. I just cropped and saturated colors. The fun was taking them.

When I stood under a lattice and saw a sum burst, I just had to try ICM. The sunburst came out at as a super white stripe that dominated the image, so I tried to tone it down. Maybe I did too much cover with the brush. But you can see ICM can be done on more than just foliage.

I also wanted to try to do a swirl. So I chose a long shutter speed and bent my body to one side until the shutter closed. I’m happy with the way these turned out. The longer the shutter is open the more swirl and softness you get.

Of course, I had to zoom a bit, moving the lens and not the camera. I forgot to take a good picture, but you can tell what this plant looked like before the zoom.

For my last set, I chose to photograph two trees. One had leaves turning and the other was green. I enjoyed this experiment. I liked how the colors and light added vibrance to the images.

For all these images, I didn’t go lower than a shutter speed of 6. I found that the image lost definition. I also learned that the more light you have, the more difficult it is to photograph ICM. Next time, I’ll bring along a neutral density filter and/or choose a different time of day.

I had a lot of fun preparing for this post, and I hope you do too. Maybe you’ve been out already learning and picking up tips. And maybe you’re a pro at ICM. Whatever the case, please share your thoughts and images. I’m in the learning stage also, and every bit helps.

We all had fun picking images from the past as Sofia had us looking back last week. I enjoyed experiencing all your wonderful memories. When you share your post for this challenge, please link back to mine and use the Lens-Artist tag. In the meantime have fun learning and experimenting with ICM.

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 37 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #320: Looking Back

Looking back is one of my favorite things to do. It reminds me of where I’ve been with my photographic journey and where I intend to go. For Sophia’s challenge, I chose the year 2019 to review. It was the year before Covid and a happy year. So let’s dive in!

Each year the wonderful volunteers at Ananda Village plant tulips for their April festival. This terraced field is lined with colorful and varied varieties of tulips. I haven’t gone for a couple of years. Maybe April 2025 will see me return.

Next, I’m looking back at one of the last outings with my dear friend who passed away from a brain tumor. We went to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. That’s Jean standing next to a giant sequoia. The other photo shows a young girl running along one of the paths.

Daffodil Hill closed down the day after these images were taken. The family who planted and cared for these flowers said the hill had become too popular and was being damaged by the large crowds.

I have another wonderful memory of a time with Jean. We went on a road trip into Amador County’s wine country. How beautiful.

Another memory I don’t want to visit again is Folsom Prison. You know the place made famous by Johnny Cash! We weren’t able to go inside for obvious reasons, but the gift shop was great. Here are some pictures of the outside as close as we were allowed to go. Thank heavens for zoom lenses!

Christmas will be here soon enough and so will the Victorian Christmas celebration in Nevada City. I’m not that anxious to face the brutal cold again, but it was fun.

Another private residence, that has since closed to the public, hosted weddings and other celebrations. The owners live on the property. We were lucky to visit on one of the public visit days.

Finally, I’m showing you the Sacramento River Walk in West Sacramento. It’s a walk I’ve taken many times and will continue doing so.

Thank you Sofia for encouraging us to visit our memories. It was a delight to bring the past back to life. When you reply to this challenge, please link to Sofia’s challenge and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Next week, as Sofia announced, we will be having fun with Intentional Camera Movement. I’m new at this and went out today for fun and learning. One hint–find shade or bring along a neutral density filter! I’m looking forward to seeing your abstract images. Until then, take care and be safe.

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 56 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #319: Setting a Mood

No matter how dismal a day or my mood may be, the world is a brighter place when I have a camera in my hand. Photography is my mood enhancer. This week’s challenge, from Ann-Christine, is all about mood: how photography reflects it.

Sunflowers make me feel joyful as does a field of yellow mustard flowers. Watching the bees in a sunflower field shows me how nature naturally is at work. A vast blanket of yellow is inviting and beautiful. One flower is large and the other is small. Each has its importance.

We move from nature at work to human and animal companionship. Those of us who have pets know they can bring joy into a household. My husband loves animals and struck up a friendship with this horse. What are they saying to each other? Human and animal bonding is not restricted to pets, even for a fleeting moment.

While we’re talking about animals, one of my favorite places to stroll through is our local Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Deer find grazing here safe with few predators. They accept us humans as a distraction because we shoot with cameras and not guns. Their acceptance is joyful to me, especially since we are in their habitat.

I love fog. It sets a mood of mystery, It’s enveloping and cool. I remember this outing well. My husband was upset because it was foggy and would ruin my opportunity for good pictures. I thought it was great and exciting.

How sweet and relaxing is a meandering path. My friend was walking as I watched her. When the time was right, I asked her to stop and pressed my shutter. The yellow grass of summer against the green trees and brown fencing–well, what can I say. It was enjoyable. She was certainly enjoying her walk.

Ann-Christine asked us how a black and white image reflects our mood. I love black and white and wanted to see this sunset in monochrome. For me, the color version is more soothing; yet, the monochrome version is more dramatic. What do you think?

I’ll finish with a scene that left me awestruck and excited. In my 81 years, I’ve never woken up to a blanket of snow. I just stood there taking in its beauty.

Now you see why photography brings me joy. Even when an outing doesn’t produce the desired results, I find something to photograph. Just having the camera in my hand motivates me. How about you?

I was away for a couple of weeks and couldn’t participate in Patti’s challenge, but I did see many of your responses, and they were beautiful. When you respond to this challenge, please link to Ann-Christine’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Sofia will present next week’s challenge. I wonder what mood she’s going to set.

Until then stay safe and happy.