Posted on by Anne Sandler · 52 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #415: Move Your Body

I love my 18 to 300 mm lens. I use it all the time because I don’t like to change lenses in the field. How many of you use a zoom lens? Now what would happen if you had a fixed lens and had to walk forward, backward or sideways to get the shot?

You would have to think a bit more before you decided to squat down. It depends on how difficult it would be to get up! For me, it’s very difficult and not very pretty, but sometimes I do it to get the shot. Your challenge this week is to move your body up, down, forward and back.

Here are three photographs that I bent down and stood up for. This was my first time out with my Nikon D3100 and were taken at a balloon festival. It was the first time using my camera in the field. How excited I was. In the beginning, I laid on the ground, then got up and at last looked up. The first two are the same balloon, the third is not; but you get the idea.

Next, we are going to start close to the subject and then walk back to get a different view. Moving back does tell a different story. These were taken at Ananda Village during their tulip festival that they hold every April.

Now for the lotus blossoms. One was taken while I was squatting so I could get the light on the petals. The other was taken standing over the flower so I could get the bud.

Next at Lassen National Park’s Sulphur Springs area, I walked back for a shot of the Sulphur pool and then came up to the fence and looked over the area for the bubbling Sulphur.

Fortunately, the smell wasn’t as bad as the Sulphur pools at Yellowstone National Park!

These movements are one reason I like photography for seniors. It’s exercise! Younger folks can also take advantage of extra exercise! So, get out there and squat, bend down, and walk!

When you post your response to this challenge, please link it to mine and use the Lens-Artists tag.

We built a lot of bridges with Beth’s challenge last week, and I thoroughly enjoyed the variety. Next week, Ritva will be leading the challenge, so look for her post. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 44 Comments

Lens-Artists Challenge #414: Harmony

Such a simple word with different meanings for everyone. Typically, harmony is associated with music. However, Ann Christine associates it with color: Harmony is the combination of separate but related parts in a way that uses their similarities to bring unity to a painting, drawing, or other art object.

I see harmony in nature, and I find joy in capturing it with my camera. During a photo outing a few years ago, we were driving along on curvy Highway 49 and saw this field of golden poppies–the California State Flower. Oh the harmony of orange and green. Add in the rugged rocks on the hillside, it was just beautiful.

I’ve been on that road many years since, but have not been able to find the same scene. I’m so glad I have these images.

We were heading to a town in Gold Country called Jackson, and on the way back we stopped in another small town, Dry Town, to capture some more poppies.

Here it was the placement of the poppies that created a harmonious scene. Again yellow, green and brown. Just lovely.

So there you have my harmonious joy. Thanks Ann Christine for helping us notice harmony in our lives. When you post your response, please link to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Oh the bridges we crossed last week. They were just great. Thanks for all your contributions. I’ll be leading next week’s challenge, so stay tuned. In the meantime stay healthy, safe and be resilient.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 40 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #413: Bridges

I’m late! I’m late! But not for a very important date–for my blog post on Beth’s Challenge of Bridges. I was caught by a bad cold, and this is the first clear headed day I’ve had in almost a week.

I don’t have to look far for bridges because with two major rivers, the American and Sacramento, there are plenty of bridges to choose from.

The most famous bridge spanning the Sacramento River is the Tower Bridge linking Sacramento to West Sacramento (which is in Yolo County.)

Here’s a view of one bridge framing the I Street bridge.

Now on the American River we have another famous bridge–The Rainbow Bridge near Folsom.

Let’s take a trip to the city of Roseville to see the walking bridge over Linda Creek. It’s a pretty bridge, especially in Autumn.

My last bridge is the Fair Oaks Bridge in the town of Fair Oaks.

There are more bridges, but my energy is leaving. Thanks to Beth for initiating a wonderful week of bridges. I’ll have a more robust post next week when Ann Christine leads the challenge. In the meantime try to stay healthy and be resilient.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 27 Comments

A FUN FESTIVAL: Chalk It UP!

Remember when you were a kid armed with sidewalk chalk. What did you draw–hopscotch, pictures or other sidewalk games. Each year the City of Sacramento shuts down all the sidewalks around Fremont Park’s perimeter and divides them into “squares” that become artists’ canvases for the weekend. 

Each “square” is sponsored by individuals, schools, non-profit organizations, or businesses. Sponsorship is a $250 donation for individuals or non-profits and $350 for for-profit businesses for a standard-size single “square.” There is also an option to choose a double-sized “square.” These sponsorship donations help to cover the cost of putting on the festival.


Chalk It Up! celebrates creativity, and for three days attracts people from all over the Sacramento area. Each year we go down to experience the fun, go through the vendors in the middle of the park and walk the perimeter.

This year, my photo buddies and I went very early on the second day hoping to find a great parking space and avoid the crowds. We did get a great parking space, but others had the same idea! And, the wind decided to make things difficult. The artists were busy fanning leaves off their pictures and many were mid way through their art pieces. While I did mind the wind, I enjoyed seeing how the concept became art pieces.

Some created chalk outlines and others worked from pictures.

The wind wasn’t the only problem, I put the wrong lens on my camera–55 to 200–instead of 18 to 55. Since my back injury, I carry my camera and one lens. So instead of walking close and bending into the pictures, I walked to the curb! So you’ll see mostly close-ups. Also, the sun was streaming through the trees, creating spots on the pictures. But I think the artistry is great.

These are my final picks out of many. I hope you can appreciate the effort that went into them. Until next year when hopefully there will be no wind and I’ll bring the right lens!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 44 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #412: Places shaped by water

Water! It’s a conundrum here in Northern California. We either have lots of it or not enough. For instance, We have the Salmon Falls Bridge, near Folsom Lake, Now you see it and then you don’t! That’s because the bridge and the town that once flourished as gold-mining boomed is usually submerged under the American River. The bridge only appears during a drought, and our Discovery Park, along the American River, is sometimes flooded during heavy rains.

The Downie River is a tributary of the North Yuba River in Sierra County, California. The river originates from the confluence of the West Branch Downie River and Rattlesnake Creek in the Tahoe National Forest, and flows south to its confluence with the North Yuba at Downieville. Downieville is definitely a tourist town with one cafe which is closed during the non-tourist season! I know from experience.

Every California landscape has wetlands. They form where rainfall or runoff accumulates, or where groundwater saturates the topsoil. Many parks, nature preserves, agricultural lands, and private lands have wetlands that are carefully managed for waterfowl and other wildlife. We visit various refuges and parks each year to photograph birds.

I cannot forget our many lakes. This is Donner Lake, of infamous history. It is a natural freshwater lake formed by glacial activity that created a moraine acting as a natural dam. This picture was taken from Donner Pass during the winter. Donner Lake is at 6,000 ft. elevation and often receives a good amount of snow. California depends on the Sierra snow pack for our water supply.

Let’s go west for my final image–the beautiful and rugged Northern California Coast Line. This was taken somewhere between Point Reyes and Half Moon Bay.

These are my six choices for John’s challenging challenge! When you post your response, please link to John’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week Sofia’s challenge created puzzle challenges with her “What Is It?” challenge. It was enjoyable fun. Beth will be leading next week’s challenge, so stay tuned. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.