Posted on by Anne Sandler · 12 Comments

The Biggest of all Steam Locomotives: Union Pacific Big Boy

I’m not a train buff, especially in triple digit temperatures, but our friend Ken is. So when Union Pacific brought the “Big Boy” to the Roseville switch yard as one of the stops on their tour, Ken and his wife Sandy came up from Tuolumne to see it and we joined joined them.

You can read more about this train on the Union Pacific’s website.

The information from the City of Roseville states:

No. 4014 is the only Big Boy in operation today. Weighing in at 1.1 million pounds, it was restored in 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad’s completion. Twenty-five Big Boy locomotives were built for Union Pacific to haul heavy freight during World War II, but only eight still exist. The other seven are on display around the United States.

The exhibit opened at 9 a.m. and we got there at 9:30 a.m. The temperatures we already in the 90 degrees F. While we were there, we entered the triple digit zone. I will say that they were prepared–not only for the crowd, but to keep us hydrated. They had buckets of bottled water on ice free for the taking. They also urged us to drink.

I think I could have tolerated the temperatures if it weren’t for the crowd. However, everyone was nice and tried their best to help others. I didn’t walk to the museum car which was halfway down the long train. We did stay for the Q&A session handled by the train’s crew.

In answer to a question about the temperatures in the locomotive, one crew member said it was about 140 degrees F. They kept sort of cool by putting ice packs down their backs and around their necks.

We left after the Q&A. It was just too hot. When you’re in your 80s extreme temperatures are difficult. Walking back to our car, we sat in the shade at Roseville’s Vernon Street Town Square where children were cooling off in the fountains of water. I was tempted!

Even though I didn’t take full advantage of the visit, I’m glad I went. I saw a bit of history and can only imagine the Big Boy riding the tracks back then. I don’t think that crew realized the history they were making and the importance of their part in it.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 42 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #307 Tourist Attractions

It’s funny that Leanne Cole should pick this topic since my last trip took me to her home town, Melbourne. Here’s the story.

I’ve always wanted to go to Australia but never had the opportunity. When we did travel overseas, we were younger and I took pictures with a small point and shoot, and I can’t find those old prints. Back to Australia, last year my friend Sandy offered me an opportunity I couldn’t refuse, “We’re going to Australia, do you want to come?” she said.

I couldn’t say no! The “they” we were her family. The trip consisted of a cruise to New Caledonia from Sydney Australia. Sandy added on a week in Melbourne and several days in Sydney. After saying YES! I emailed Leanne, telling her I was coming. Leanne and I had a day-long photo outing to Monterey when she visited the U.S.

I absolutely fell in love with Melbourne. We have two rivers bordering Sacramento, but the Yarra River runs through Melbourne town, leaving the city with beautiful bridges, my favorite being the Webb Bridge.

Then there was the architecture. Beautiful buildings all around me. Here are some. I seemed to focus on the new structures. But the old were gorgeous too.

We did get to see the sites along the Great Ocean Road and stayed in Port Campbell for a few days. I’ll save those images for another day. I do hope to get back to Australia and see other areas where some of our bloggers live. Maybe if I wish hard enough!

A great big thanks to Leanne for taking me back to her home town. When you post your response, be sure to link back to her post and use the Lens-Artist tag. We have two more treats coming up for you this month.

July 20: Elizabeth of Albatz Travel Adventures will challenge up with PAIRS

July 27: PR of Flights of the Soul will challenge us with BALCONIES

So be looking for their posts. I hope you are having a safe and wonderful summer!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 58 Comments

Lens-Artists Challenge #306: Habitat

My disclaimer: I’m really not a wildlife photographer because I don’t have a lens with extraordinary reach, and I’m not fast to react. But, isn’t there always a “but,” I do enjoy going out to our local wildlife areas a couple times a year. Usually, I get lucky and come home with a few good pictures.

So for Tina’s Habitat challenge, I’m sharing some pictures taken at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and Gray Lodge Wildlife areas. I usually tag along with my friend Laura who is a true and great wildlife photographer.

You never know what you’re going to see when you visit these wildlife areas. And, it’s hit or miss. I enjoy these outings and their challenges anyway.

So enjoy these pictures which are mostly from the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.

There is a funny story behind the eagle image: To photograph this eagle, I had to climb through Laura’s sunroof (waist high). Now you know why the eagle is looking a me with a surprised stare!

Thanks Tina for prompting this wonderful journey back in time. When you respond, please remember to link to Tina’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag in the reader. And thank you Egidio for another educational challenge. Now I’m seeing rectangles everywhere!

While the Lens-Artists team takes some time off during July, we have amazing guest hosts to lead our challenge:

July 13: Leanne of Leanne Cole explores TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

July 20: Elizabeth of Albatz Travel Adventures leads us with PAIRS

July 27: PR of Flights of the Soul presents BALCONIES

Patti will be back to lead our challenge on August 3rd. Until then stay safe and healthy.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 27 Comments

Sunflowers: 3M Ranches, Woodland, California

Sunflowers always make me smile. It seems like they are smiling as they follow the sun through the day. We recently went on a Yolo Arts & Ag Project outing to 3M Ranches to view their sunflower field. They had a warning to alert us of the bees, asking us not to interrupt their mission of pollinating the countryside.

Thanks to the bee boxes along the field, there were plenty of industrious bees working hard. I’m glad they were concentrating on their work because I’m allergic to them. I give them plenty of space. Watching them is amazing. They have one job and that’s all they do.

It was difficult to find a flower without a bee on it, but I managed. You’ll have to look into the full field pictures to find a sunflower with no bees. Unfortunately there was one casualty. I don’t know what happened to that one flower since the field looked young.

This ranch also had old equipment that we were allowed to photograph. In my next non-LAPC post I’ll show you the beauty of rust.

Until then, stay safe and healthy!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 33 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #305: Two Rectangles

Once again I’m finding I’m following a compositional rule without knowing it! Hopefully, that’s a good sign 😎. This week Egidio of Through Brazilian Eyes, challenges us to show how we use rectangles in our photographs and how they help our composition.

I’ve chosen to look through my 2018 archives to discover rectangles in my images and how they enhanced my composition. I found some and I’ve also found that one rectangle can lead to more–another rabbit hole! Not my challenge this time.

A stand out for me is architecture. I love photographing buildings because of the leading lines. Little did I know that would mean rectangles. The empty barn is built from rectangles more or less in formation. The modern building is showing rectangles in its windows and concrete supports going across the glass structures that are, indeed, rectangles within a larger rectangle. The old bank building is a rectangle structure with rectangle windows and doors. It even has a rectangular truck parked in front!

Now let’s go to nature. Landscapes are best for seeing rectangles. The horizon line separates land from sky, creating two rectangles. Sometimes shore and water create the rectangles and a reflection makes it a definite unit. Eye catching sunsets, especially over water, help create two symmetrical rectangles.

Now for my last three images. Square boxes stacked upon each other become rectangular towers. A fence made from individual rectangular skis become an attractive rectangular unit. Fabric sewn together can yield many rectangles.

I had fun finding rectangles and it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. How about you? When you create your post, please remember to use the Lens-Artists tag and link to Egidio’s post. He does request that you also put your link in the comments section of his post.

I also enjoyed seeing how backgrounds affected your compositions as asked by Ritva last week. Tina is up next with an exciting challenge, so be sure to look for her post.

As those who follow her know, Lens-Artists team member Donna of Wind Kisses is taking a break from blogging for personal reasons. She will be very much missed but, hopefully be with us again before too long. We wish Donna and her family only the best, as our thoughts are with all of them.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 21 Comments

What’s in a title? Dead Cat Alley

The answer to that question is everything! In a photography competition, your title tells the judge what story your picture is telling. So, I didn’t know what to expect what I would see in Dead Cat Alley, Woodland, California. Needless to say I was curious. I had been to Woodland several times and never saw this Alley, but there was a write up about it. So intrigued by the name I just had to visit. My friend Diane came with me. Although she’s not a photographer, she was great at spotting the cats.

The alley is three blocks long and is difficult to find. There are ceramic, iron, and painted cats. The write up says to look high and low, and it was right. A lot were on roofs, some on gates and some on fences. A lot of the ceramic cats are getting old and could use some rejuvenation.

But it was fun. We parked and walked the three long blocks back and forth. With eagle eyes pierced for finding the cats. Here’s what we found:

Check out the above link to find out more about this historic alley.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 33 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #304: Behind

Composition can make or break a photograph’s impact for the viewer. I always take the time to compose an image in the camera, but never really concentrated on why. In this week’s challenge Ritva explains why the background is an important component of composition. She explains that the background sets the mood and context of the image.

If you follow my posts, you know I love to create macros. In doing a macro, I’m setting the background to be soft and blurred, helping my subject (usually a flower) stand out. Sometimes the foreground can also be softened like in the tulip below. There’s no doubt as to the images’ subjects.

But sometimes a simple soft focus will be enough to spotlight a subject. In the images below, there is just a slight bokeh on the background–just enough to have the viewer’s eye go to the ladybugs on the leaf and the mushrooms attached to the tree. In these instances, I thought it was important that you understand the environment as well as having the subjects stand out.

Ritva also suggested that a black background and complimentary colors can help the subject stand out. The neutral colors of the lizard against the black along with the blurred flower help it be noticeable. The cat’s patchy orange face and coat are a stand out against the dark background and white midrange fence. And his yellow eyes are sure sending a message! I’m not going near that garbage can.

Negative space also sets the stage for viewer interpretation. These cormorants, one posed on a branch and the other in flight, attract attention on even a dull day because they make up most of the image with no background to interfere.

My next example needs the fore, mid and background in focus to tell its story of beauty, nature and serenity. What do you think?

Light is my last example. This is of the Sun Dial Bridge in Redding, CA. When it’s lit up at night it is spectacular. At the end, it is an actual sundial. During the day, it’s not as beautiful. If you are ever visiting northern California, near Redding, you have to visit it. It’s a walking bridge made of glass.

Now, thanks to Ritva, I’m aware of why I compose the way I do. And I’ll be more inclined to think of backgrounds as I am composing. When you respond to this challenge be sure to link to Ritva’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week Donna had us concentrating on connections. It was a great exercise and I enjoyed seeing all your contributions. We connect on so many different levels. Next week, Egidio challenges us. I wonder what he has in store for us. Be sure to look for his post.

Have a wonderful photo week and stay safe!