Posted on by Anne Sandler · 41 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #291: Cityscapes

Cityscapes? Patti wants to see our citiscapes either from our home town or travels. My town is more like suburban-scapes! I’m probably not giving Sacramento its due. It has grown a great deal since I moved here in 2001. We don’t live in Sacramento proper, but in one of the small surrounding cities in Sacramento County, Citrus Heights. You can drive about 5 miles and still see country homesteads.

But when we talk about the city, we talk about the City of Sacramento about 20 minutes from Citrus Heights. I don’t go there often because of the one-way streets. It would help if the grid was consistent, but it’s not. Yes, one time I did turn the wrong way. I heard loud yells and was able to turn around quickly!

We don’t have skyscrapers, but our newer buildings are glass that reflect other buildings. So I’m going to show you those today. I do love reflections.

I also love murals. These two show murals. The Johnny Cash mural takes up the entire building side. I liked the way the artist incorporated the window in the train design.

To entice people to live downtown, residential apartments are being built above stores. Window terraces help bring in the outside.

I just liked this stairwell.

And here are some reflective buildings.

Give Sacramento another 10 years and it will be more cosmopolitan and grown up. It is the capital city of California. If you haven’t posted your cityscape yet, please remember to link to Patti’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

I truly enjoyed seeing your amazing replies to Ann-Christine’s Circular Wonders challenge last week. Some were truly creative. Next week, Tina will be challenging us, so be sure to look for her post. Take care everyone!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 26 Comments

Looking for a Sunset: Gibson Ranch

The night would be perfect: some clouds and sun. This was a rarity for us in Sacramento lately. Taking the opportunity, Laura and I went to photograph the sunset at Gibson Ranch Regional Park.

This is a Sacramento County park and equestrian center that has picnic areas. a dog park, small lake, and other activities. It’s a perfect place that is local to catch a sunset. We were not disappointed.

Before sunset: The equestrian area was gated off, but these facilities were available to photograph.

As the sun was getting low in the sky, fishermen were still trying to catch their limit.

And I became taller! Okay, with the help of my shadow!!

Finally a great sunset and lake reflection!

After all those weeks of overcast and rain, I was a happy camper! The damp, overcast and rain did come back, so I was glad we went that evening.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 62 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #290: Circular Wonders

When I first read Ann-Christine’s challenge, the song “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round” came into my head and I can’t get it out. My youngest grandchild is 13 years, and I still remember that song. I’m hoping to get some of you to find it catching also. No, I’m not mean; I just like company!

Okay getting serious now, circles have no beginning or end and are continuous. I’ll start with metal and rust. I love the texture and patina of rust as it ages.

Nature’s floral treats are round also.

Now to round out my post with some fun single images.

Darn, I couldn’t find a bus with wheels. We’ll just have to imagine it. When you respond to this challenge, please link to Ann-Christine’s amazing post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Last week we learned some compositional rules. Thanks John. All your responses were great. Next week Patti will be challenging us, so be sure to look for her post.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 41 Comments

Monochrome Madness: Textures in Black and White

Black and White allows texture to come to the forefront. It’s amazing how well we can see the texture in an image once we change it to monochrome. To be really effective there must be enough contrast.

This picture of Lake Waterton in Alberta Canada was a pretty image. However, once I changed it to monochrome (I thought there was enough contrast.) I saw the texture in the mountains and water.

This is submitted for Sarah’s challenge which she created for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness. I hope that linking to each works.

Now off to more on my list! Thanks Sarah and Leanne!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 60 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #289: Tools of Composition

When I’m out with my camera, I see and notice things differently. I mentally compose the picture even before I pick up my camera. So, I really don’t pay much attention to the rules and tools of composition. I do believe I needed John’s challenge today. He has me thinking of how and why I do things regarding composing a picture.

Mostly I look for shape and texture. I do love texture. Anything wood is texture whether it’s a tree, a fallen tree or a barn made from a tree.

Actually, everywhere you look you’ll find shape, form and texture. We can build stores, machines and buildings that show off shape, form and texture.

Rectangles and circles

Squares, triangles and rectangles

Triangle and half circle

Nature’s perfect circles

And my favorite, nature’s freeform.

The next time I take my camera out, I will be more aware thanks to John’s challenge. Thanks John! When you respond, please link to John’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. I totally enjoyed window shopping with you and Ritva last week. Next week Ann-Christine will be presenting our challenge so look for her post.

We are having blizzard conditions in the Northern California foothills. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are a beautiful white. My children live in Reno and are getting a lot of snow also. We are okay with just a lot of rain and wind here in Sacramento. Take care everyone.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 39 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #288: Window Shopping

I think my problem with shopping is that I go with an intent and usually don’t find what I want or need. I come home frustrated. I’ve learned to go out with nothing in mind and usually come home with something that I needed or not.

So window shopping is even more difficult for me. But a challenge is a challenge and Marlene and I went out to the fountains, a small outdoor shopping center, to walk and photograph.

Here’s what I found. I enjoyed playing with and capturing reflections.

Fashion in windows. I laughed when I realized that I would never wear some of these clothes, especially those boots. That’s what happens when you’re 80!

Now for some odds and ends.

I am a dog mom and love that little Schnoodle. Windows must be washed for us to do window shopping. This last one is a reflection of across the street with the ghost like image of a male mannequin in the store window. You can see him in the window being washed.

Now it’s time to stop spending money! I just liked this palm tree. Saving buttons instead of pennies.

I do love red umbrellas and shadows!

We followed our non-shopping experience with lunch. Thank you Ritva for getting me out. When you respond to Ritva’s post, please remember to link to her challenge and use the Lens-Artist tag.

Last week, I totally enjoyed seeing how you all portrayed sound in your images. Some were very creative. Next week John will be presenting the challenge, so be sure to look for his post! Take care!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 50 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #287: Sound

All of our senses are connected. When you see a plate of well-presented food, can’t you taste it before you take a bite? When I’m walking my dog, I can hear a car long before I can see it, giving me plenty of time to navigate to the side of the road. I once interviewed deaf students through an interpreter. I watched their faces and body language to understand their excitement and other feelings.

This week Donna opens the world of sound for us. This challenge helped me understand how we show sound to our viewers through our two-dimensional presentations. Let’s get into my selections.

This Civil War Reenactment image shows the canon being fired. Can’t you just hear the loud boom as smoke fills the air?

And more booms and pops during this fireworks display.

If you’re really into music and you’re in a setting with a wood floor, you can actually feel the music’s beat with your feet. But in a picture we can imagine the sound of musicians and their music.

Waves crash rocks, making a serene sound as we watch a beautiful sunset. Here two senses are working together.

Remember those cars I mentioned. Just stand next to a freeway and close your eyes. You can hear the passing whish and feel the rumble of the cars. But don’t close them now, see the light trails!

I’ve saved the worst image, but most meaningful to me for last–my grandson’s elementary school class’s performance during the holidays years ago. They were singing holiday songs. These performances show that music reaches our hearts beyond what we hear. Ryan is in the second row, right side in back of the girl wearing a red dress that has a white heart on it. Ryan is now 15 years.

When I started looking for sounds, I thought I wouldn’t have much. But I have even more. Sound is all around us and in our images.

When you respond, please link to Donna’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. We would all like to see your sounds.

Thank you for your responses to my Weather Challenge. I’m so glad you all weathered the week and found amazing images. I also enjoyed that some of you played along with the homophone. One of you even got in wether, admitting they didn’t have a picture of a young castrated ram!

Next week, Ritva will be presenting her first challenge as a team member. So be sure to look for her post.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 22 Comments

Driving through the countryside: Plymouth and Sutter Creek

It’s been a wet winter. Well, wet by California standards. While we want rain, having rain for weeks is something we are not used to. If I had my choice, it would rain every night and the days would be sunny! But I don’t have my choice do I.

So, on a sunny day Marlene, Ray and I decided to head off for the countryside and the small towns of Plymouth and Sutter Creek.

We stopped to photograph a barn along the roadside. We do pull over for photo opportunities.

We haven’t been to Plymouth in a few years. It’s still the same few blocks that it’s always been. It’s nice to know that some things don’t change.

I did find a unique sign that might be new in Plymouth. Here’s the sign and the object it’s talking about.

Now to see the rest of Plymouth.

Sutter Creek is a slightly larger town, and its main street caters to tourists. I’ve seen stores come and go. We like it best for lunch! Here are some new photos.

The highlight of the outing was meeting this gentleman and his cockatoo. They’ve been friends for more than 20 years.

So that was our sunny get away! More rain is coming!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 147 Comments

Lens Artist Challenge #286: Weather

You check the weather forecast to find out whether the weather is good for a photo outing! Yes, it’s rabbit hole time again! 

According to Grammarly.com weather can be a noun as in when we make a weather forecast, or a verb as If the team can weather the injuries it has faced this year.

When used as a conjunction, whether is the correct spelling. And did you know that a Wether is a ram or goat that is castrated at a young age. Honestly, I didn’t dig this rabbit hole! It just happened. And these words are homophones–words that have the same sound but different meanings.

This challenge is about the various types of weather conditions in which we photographers find ourselves pursuing our hobby or vocation.

We all look for nice weather. Sunny, nice puffy clouds, or sometimes even a cloudless sky will do. The direction from which the sun hits an object can intensify its color or cast a shadow.

Sometimes those big puffy clouds turn dark and gray. That’s a sign that a storm is coming. Better hurry and take those pictures!

Did you hurry and duck inside or under a shelter. Or, maybe, you just like to photograph in the rain. Just make sure your camera is covered.

After the rain, we are left with puddle reflections that entice children to jump into. Right now, we have a one-day break in rainstorms here in sunny California. That’s okay, it’s better than being in drought.

If its very cold, rain turns to snow that covers the ground with a beautiful white blanket. Just try to keep your children away!

My favorite weather is fog. I love to photograph in the fog. There’s something mysterious and calming about fog.

So, we’ve talked about the weather and now it’s your turn. Do you enjoy taking your camera out in all types of weather? Whether or not you do, I’m sure you have some enjoyable images taken on outings or vacations. And if you have some pictures of Wethers, let’s see those cute little animals too. Okay, I’m done! I promise!! Well, one more thing. When you respond to this challenge, please link to it and use the Lens-Artists tag. That way I can see whether you responded with weather images and stories. I guess I wasn’t quite done!

This week Egidio asked us to show how warm colors can affect our images and the feelings they leave behind. I enjoyed seeing all your amazing responses. Take care everyone and enjoy your weather!

Next week Donna will be challenging us, so be sure to look for her post.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. 

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 24 Comments

When it rains it’s off to the: Antique Trove

It’s been raining in California since late December. At first it was welcomed in this normally dry state, but now in February, with two atmospheric rivers passing through, we need a break. We photographers need some sunshine or at least a cloudy day!

Here’s a photo taken this week of the little creek in my neighborhood. It just about crested after one of the storms. Don’t worry it flows into the American River. But this happened overnight! The next day it was at normal flow.

Needing to take our cameras for a walk, we visited our indoor favorite, the Antique Trove in Roseville. There’s always something new to photograph. This time I decided to give myself a macro lens challenge. I photographed everything up close. I did have fun.

Here’s a sample.

We had a respite yesterday with just clouds. That was great. Sun would be even better!