Posted on by Anne Sandler · 22 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #390: Color in Black and White

Is there color in black and white (B&W)? Absolutely. The color defines the tonality of the B&W image. I typically photograph for color, and usually it’s not until I process photos do I realize the image would be better in B&W. For this challenge, Egidio wants us to explore the form, texture, and light in B&W photography.

I’m just going to jump in with this photo. Because it was an overcast day, the color image lacks a certain punch. I certainly would not have processed it in color. However, in B&W the contrast made the image and created texture. You can now see the mountains’ detail and the movement in the water shows in various tones. To do the conversion I used Silver Efex 2 after basic editing in Lightroom.

Now for a landscape that I think looks better in color because of the richness of the golden grass, the shadows and blue sky. While the B&W has rich tonality, I am so drawn into the grass by the fence. I told you that I’m easily attracted by color!

I’ve done a few flowers in B&W, but this one was originally in color. I like the reflection in the water drop, and (because of this challenge) I wanted to see how it would look in black and white. This was a fun experiment. Actually, it looks better in B&W than I thought it would. I like them both. What do you think?

Now lets move on to a street photography capture of a homeless (I think) person in Old Sacramento. I just liked the way the light was outlining his face. This was processed in color and I created the black and white for this challenge. Once again, I took the B&W from Lightroom into Silver Efex 2. I think I like the color version better. I said I think! Maybe if I were better at editing, I could have made the B&W more dynamic.

Last is an incoming storm I captured while visiting the kids in Reno. Again, originally processed for color, I wondered what the rain would look like in B&W. I’m not sure the B&W adds anything to the story that the color doesn’t tell. What do you think?

I invite constructive criticism since I was using this challenge as a learning tool. Thanks Egidio for this challenge. I had a great deal of fun and learned a few things.

I so totally enjoyed your responses to my challenge last week. Most of us chose nature as a way of finding relief from our hectic lives. Your images were just beautiful, resulting in relaxation for me. When you post your response for Egidio’s challenge, please use the Lens-Artists tag and link back to his original post. Tina will be challenging us next week! In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient!

We’d like you to join in our fun permanently. Here’s how to do it, excerpted from Egidio’s post:

Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history. If you don’t want to miss any future challenges, please consider subscribing to the team members’ websites. Here they are:

Beth of Wandering Dawgs.

Tina of Travels and Trifles.

Patti of P.A. Moed.

Ann-Christine of Leya.

John of Journeys with Johnbo.

Anne of Slow Shutter Speed.

Sofia of Photographias.

Egídio of Through Brazilian Eyes.

Ritva of Ritva Sillanmäki Photography.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 78 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #389: Time to Relax

Looking Back 2018 #3 Time to Relax

I never thought I’d have enough relaxing time and want to break loose–with my camera. Since November 2025, I’ve been forced to relax due to a back injury. If you are a senior, you don’t want to fall and injure yourself because you’ll be put on a fall watch!

It’s been 4 1/2 months that I finally got out with my camera. I chose to visit Jensen Botanical Gardens–a small and beautiful local park. It’s especially pretty now that tulips are filling the front flower bed. On a recent visit, I got there at 10 a.m. and it was quiet, but soon families started to arrive. Fortunately, for the photographers, the tulips weren’t their attraction.

But wait! For the price of no admission you can see, enjoy and relax by just walking up the single path to the top of the park. Couples, families with children and dog walkers meander along the path.

Pets are welcomed to relax. Thirsty? Along with a human water fountain, there is an attached bowl with a spout for our four legged family members to use. Here’s our sweet dog, Poppy, who joined our family while I was healing my back. She was re-homed at 7 years and is now my accountability partner. Somehow she knew I couldn’t do much and supported me emotionally right away. Once I could stand up straight, she has been keeping me moving and walking. We go further each day and I’m getting out of the house at least once a day.

It probably wasn’t a surprise that flowers and nature help me relax. I’ve often said in this blog that when I’m out with my camera, I forget my stressors. But what relaxes you? What gets you away from the stresses of daily life. What’s your passion? I’m looking forward to seeing all your posts. Not to put any stress on you, but please link to my post when you reply and use the Lens-Artists tag. I want to read all your responses. I’m still not getting out much and have lots of time! Next week Egidio will be leading our challenge, so be sure to look for his post.

In the meantime, take care, stay safe and be resilient.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 43 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #388: Your Journey in 5 – 10 Images

I didn’t hesitate when Sandy called and asked if I wanted to go on a cruise through the Panama Canal. YES! That trip has been on my bucket list just waiting to be fulfilled. I wasn’t thrilled to be on a ship for 16 days, but if that’s what it took. And, better, Richard, my husband, came with me. Ann-Christine’s challenge was perfect timing for me.

What a fun trip that ended up being. Traveling in October, it was mostly a senior tour. Leaving from San Francisco, California and ending in Galveston, Texas; we were mostly Californians and Texans. We enjoyed each other’s company–no State conflicts!

I was also concerned about the ship being a Carnival ship, but that was great too. The ship’s interior was beautiful, the food great and the entertainment awesome. The most photogenic part were the elevators.

Now for the reason I went on this trip–the Panama Canal! We went through the old locks. The new locks are reserved for larger ships. The last picture shows our ship entering the lake mid-way through the canal.

The Lake

Entering the Atlantic Ocean was a mirror image of exiting the Pacific Ocean. I went to the cabin to rest and watch the rest on the television.

It was an amazing experience. We did visit other ports in other countries, but with a limited number of pictures as directed by Ann-Christine, those will have to wait.

We also took the opportunity to visit the Huston Space Center before we came home. My homecoming is another story to be told next week as I lead the challenge. Stay tuned!

Thanks Ann-Christine for pushing me to process my canal transit images. Be sure to link to her post when you respond and use the lens artist tag. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 27 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #387: Shadowed

It’s shadow play this week! I remember playing with shadows as a kid, and we still do–with our cameras. This week John is encouraging us to show shadows affect our photos. I’m going to dive right in.

I’m always looking for shadows when I photograph flowers and leaves. They add dimension and interest to the subject. It’s almost like seeing a flower within a flower or leaf within a leaf. Shadows also accent the folds and lines in the subjects.

Next are shadows captured during museum visits. Here are two different sculptures. The first was at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento and the second at the, unfortunately, now closed Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, (Not to get political.) I liked how the lighting created two shadows in the first picture. And somehow the shadow of the photographer shadow bombed the second! I remember thinking the lighting on the sculpture was fantastic.

Sometimes shadows make photographing the beautiful Sacramento murals difficult. Or do tree branch shadows add a mysterious dimension?

Sometimes shadows make a ramp more interesting, accenting lines, and an old window look more mysterious.

Finally a shadow can culminate the end of a fun photo outing with a good friend.

Thanks John for encouraging my shadow play. When you respond to his challenge please remember to link to his post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week we had fun with Patti’s juxtaposition challenge. I totally enjoyed seeing your responses. Next week Ann-Christine will be leading our challenge, so be sure to look for her post. In the meantime stay safe and be resilient.